wfn.org | RCC 2000 to feature more than 120 workshops and seminars

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

December 13, 1999

Contact: Kelly C. Martini, Promotions Co-Chairperson
kmartini@gbgm-umc.org
(212) 870-2985

RCC 2000 will be held at the Chicago Marriott Downtown March 29-April 1, 2000

More than 120 Workshops Offer Incredible Opportunities for Religion 
Communicators

Workshops are certain to be one of the highlights of next spring's 
Religious Communication Congress (RCC) 2000. Participants who arrive in 
Chicago in late March for the international, multi-faith communications 
forum, will be able to sharpen their skills in more than 120 workshops and 
seminars, led by some of the world's most creative and knowledgeable 
communicators.

The congress theme, "Faith Stories in a Changing World," will focus upon 
sharing the faith through spoken, electronic, cyberspace, written and 
artistic stories. According to RCC 2000 chair Shirley Whipple Struchen, 
"The goal of RCC 2000 is to broaden the perspectives of professional 
communicators at every level of expertise. Opportunities for learning and 
professional growth will abound at the four-day event."

Workshops in each of the five subject areas will be tailored to meet the 
special needs of each congress participant. "Jump Start" sessions have been 
planned for beginning communicators, while "Fast Track" workshops will 
challenge those with more experience.

"At RCC 2000, participants will become better communicators of their own 
faith stories and experience the rich diversity of other religious 
traditions," said Dave Pomeroy, chair of the RCC 2000 Workshop Committee. 
"Our workshop leaders have an incredible range of both faith perspectives 
and talents."

Here are a just a few of the dozens of experts who will conduct workshops 
in each the five congress focus areas:
* Rabbi Bob Alper and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist John White are 
among the headliners in the category of Artistic Stories. Alper, a stand-up 
comedian, will examine "When You Hear Them Laughing, You Know They're 
Listening," the value of laughter in communicating religious beliefs. 
White, of the Chicago Sun-Times, will demonstrate the Use of Photography by 
Photojournalists in communicating stories of faith.

* In the area of Written Stories, Michelle Carter, an award-winning writer 
and editor who consults on newspaper design and management, will give a 
"how to" workshop, "Contemporary Newspaper Design." Religion writer David 
Crumm of the Detroit Free Press will look into the future of how religious 
groups can tell their stories in "Telling Stories in the Cave of the New 
Millennium."

* One of the Electronic storytellers is Adan Medrano, long-time producer of 
religious programming for the Hispanic community, who will discuss Hispanic 
Teleministries in a Multi-Ethnic World. Another featured presenter will be 
John L. Peterson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; his 
"Murdoch, Mickey and Madonna Meet Ministry" explores how our theological 
and spiritual practices are connected to the influence of mediated pop 
culture.

* In the category of Spoken Stories, Anisa Kintz, a teenager active in the 
Baha'i faith, will lead "Calling All Kids: Kids Communicating to Kids About 
Race." Award-winning author Marjorie Kimbrough will explain how to tell 
effective stories about women in the Bible in "Telling Her Story-Biblical 
Women Are Worthy."

* Among the Cyberspace storytellers is Richard Stewart, a professor at 
Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Stewart will explore 
"Building On-line Community: How Many Neighborhoods Do You Live In?" Sue 
Hamly (UCC pastor) and Susan Preece (ELCA layperson) in "Touched By a 
Modem" will show how Internet stories are fast becoming important to our 
faith expressions.

Most of the RCC 2000 workshops will be an hour in length, and some will be 
conducted in Spanish. A few will be
offered more than once.

A number of three-hour workshops have been planned for Friday, March 30, 
including: Religion-Based Stories by Roy Larson of the Chicago Tribune; 
Tour of Moody Ministries; Marketing Our Message, The Internet and the 
Church, featuring Jim Skillington; Interplay: The Body, Story and Dance of 
Communication with Cynthia Winton-Henry and Phil Porter; Museums, Religion 
and Modern Society; Starting an Interfaith Conversation in Your Own 
Backyard; and Women and Media with a panel of international women 
communicators.

RCC 2000 will be held at the Chicago Marriott Downtown March 29-April 1, 
2000. Participants can save $50 by registering by December 31, 1999.

  For more information, call (212) 870-2985 or visit the congress website 
at www.rcc2000.org.

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