wfn.org | RCC 2000 to focus on 'faith stories'

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Nov. 19, 1998	Contact: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York     {681}

 By United Methodist News Service

More than 1,500 religious communicators are expected to attend the
Religious Communications Congress (RCC) 2000 meeting March 29-April 1,
2000, in Chicago.

The multifaith forum will include state-of-the-art communications
exhibits, workshops, expressions of faith, banquets, denominational and
interfaith meetings and award presentations.

"Faith Stories in a Changing World," the congress theme, will focus on
sharing the faith through spoken, electronic, cyberspace, written and
artistic stories.

The fourth such event since 1970, RCC 2000 will continue to reflect the
goal of the first congress, organized by the Religious Public Relations
Council:  to broaden the perspectives of professional communicators of
religion.

Since that first event, participation has expanded, according to Shirley
Whipple Struchen, a United Methodist and RCC 2000 chairperson. "We're
not talking about just Protestant, Catholic, Jewish.  We're talking
about a larger religious gathering," she said.

During the event, communicators will be able to:

* exchange views of communications issues affecting people throughout
the world;
* explore the effectiveness of current religious communications models;
* examine new technologies for the effective communication of values and
faith in the new century; and
* enhance cooperation among people of diverse media disciplines, faiths,
cultures and nations.

Ken Medema, a singer and poet from San Francisco, will help dramatize
the "faith stories" theme. His music, in various styles, is considered
"earthy and direct, full of stories and humor."

Other confirmed presenters are Patrick Anthony, a Christian communicator
from St. Lucia who will discuss the challenges of technology in relation
to the politics and cultures of developing countries, and Carlos Valle
of Argentina, who will bring global insights from his work as general
secretary of the World Association for Christian Communications.

Workshop topics already confirmed include: Story Sharing; Telling
Stories in the Cave of the New Millenium; In Search of a Story;
Preparing the Story; the Influence of Popular Culture on Religious
Communicators; Hispanic Teleministries in a Multi-Ethnic World; Murdoch,
Mickey and Madonna Meet Ministry; and Public Access TV and Democracy.

Also, Religion and the Internet; Community Communications; Touched By a
Modem; Women in Media; Media Awareness and Media Education; Crisis
Management; Liturgical Dance in Congregational Settings; Using the
Internet; and Religion and Film-International and User.

A Web site for the event can be found at http://www.RCC2000.org.
Registration will begin in February. For information, call (212)
870-2985.

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
Releases and photos also available at
http://www.umc.org/umns/