wfn.org | Journalist Mary Alice Williams to emcee RCC 2000 banquet

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

Feb. 8, 2000 News media contact: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York
10-71BP{052}

NOTE: A photograph is available with this story.

By United Methodist News Service

Emmy Award-winning journalist Mary Alice Williams and Grammy Award-nominated
gospel singer Yolanda Adams will headline the closing banquet at Religious
Communication Congress 2000.

More than 800 communicators have registered for the multifaith event, which
takes place March 29-April 1 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown. Participants
can register through the end of March, according to Shirley Whipple
Struchen, a United Methodist and RCC 2000 chairwoman. However, she warned
that the availability of hotel rooms is becoming limited.

A number of United Methodists already are among the participants, along with
three representatives from the Methodist Church in India. The event's theme
is "Faith Stories in a Changing World."

RCC 2000 begins with an opening banquet the evening of March 29, but
participants have the choice of attending one of six pre-conference
symposiums for an additional charge. Teresita Hermano of the Philippines,
director of the women's program for the World Association of Christian
Communication, will moderate a global seminar on "Women in Communication."
Members of the International Study Commission on Media, Religion and Culture
will lead a discussion on "Media, Culture and Technology: Challenges for
Change." A panel will discuss the first president of Ecunet Inc. in "A
Reflection of David Lockhead's Work."

"Taking the Next Step in Effective Internet and Web Communications" will
focus on building firsthand knowledge of Internet tools and techniques. The
other two seminars are "Marketing the Church in Today's World" and "Tour of
Chicago's Architecture."

The March 30-April 1 programs include a mixture of plenary sessions,
workshops, luncheons of various communications organizations and evening
performances. The plenary presenters will include the Rev. Martin Marty, a
Lutheran pastor and well-known authority on American religious tradition;
Ken Medema, a singer, composer, poet and storyteller; and Patrick A.B.
Anthony, a Catholic priest who serves as the WACC Caribbean regional
president. A media panel discussion of the relationship between religion,
community and media in the next decade is scheduled for the morning of March
31.

Participants can select from more than 120 workshops in categories that
reflect the five petals of RCC 2000's flower logo: Spoken, electronic,
written, artistic and cyberspace. Topics include "The Risen Christ in
Electronic Culture"; "Murdoch, Mickey and Madonna Meet Ministry"; "Telling
Her Story - Biblical Women are Worthy"; "Calling All Colors: Kids
Communicating to Kids About Race"; "Touched By a Modem"; "God and Computers:
Do Robots Have a Soul?"; "Communicating Faith and Values to Boomers and
Busters"; "Telling Stories in the Cave of the New Millennium"; When You Hear
Them Laughing You Know They're Listening"; and "For Heaven's Sake:
Cartooning and Faith."

Odyssey, a Henson and Hallmark Entertainment Network, will sponsor the
program for the closing banquet, with Williams serving as emcee. The former
CNN and NBC news anchor is president of Ice Blue Productions, where she has
produced specials for ABC/Lifetime Television on women, work and the
American family. Williams also is host of Odyssey's "Quiet Triumphs"
interview program.

Adams, who will perform during the banquet, is considered one of gospel
music's hottest voices, with seven Stellar Awards, two Dove Awards, a Soul
Train Lady of Soul Award and five Grammy nominations to her credit. She
recently signed with Odyssey to star in upcoming music-based television
projects being developed by the network. 

Through its Global Partners Fund sponsorship, RCC 2000 is bringing eight
young international communicators to the event. Local RCC chapters have
given scholarships to an additional seven young people.

Registration for RCC 2000 can be done online at www.RCC2000.org or by mail.
For registration information, call (212) 870-2985.
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United Methodist News Service
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