Religion Communicators Council Gets Hands On

The Religion Communicators Council meets each month to hear about a topic of interest. In November, the Nashville Chapter visited the volunteer organization Hands On Nashville.

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) hears regularly from a variety of organizations and groups which better the community, promote messages of faith or give tips on how to spread the good word. This month, the Nashville chapter went to Hands On Nashville which rose in prominence in Nashville during recovery efforts after the historic flood of 2010.

President of the Nashville chapter and Pastor of the Church of Scientology, Rev. Brian Fesler says, “The mission of RCC is to promote excellence in the communication of faith and religious values, so it ties right in with our purpose to hear from organizations doing good works in the community.”

RCC met with the Director of Corporate Relations, Tara Tenorio, who discussed upcoming volunteer opportunities such as ReCYCLE forKids, a program to bring used bikes to kids in need, as well as the MLK Day of Service. Tenorio encouraged RCC members to promote these events by directing people to the website, hon.org.

This isn’t the first time the RCC has met with non-profit groups doing good for the community. In October of 2013, the group held a special meeting called “Putting Faith into Action” and had representatives of The Rescue Mission and the Salvation Army. Prior to that meeting, RCC has met with members of Amnesty International, Thistle Farms, Room in the Inn, and more.

RCC is open to members from all denominations, and the Nashville group includes Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, and more.  For further information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org. 

Religion Communicators Council Decides to Get Hands On

The Religion Communicators Council meets each month to hear about a topic of interest. In November, the Nashville Chapter will visit and hear from volunteer organization Hands On Nashville.

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) hears regularly from a variety of organizations and groups which better the community, promote messages of faith or give tips on how to spread the good word. This month, the Nashville chapter will visit volunteer organization Hands On Nashville which rose in prominence in Nashville during recovery efforts after the historic flood of 2010.

“It’s important to hear from groups that are doing good works,” says President of the Nashville chapter and Pastor of the Church of Scientology, Rev. Brian Fesler, “The mission of RCC is to promote excellence in the communication of faith and religious values, so it ties right in.”

This isn’t the first time the RCC has met with non-profit groups doing good for the community. In October of 2013, the group held a special meeting called “Putting Faith into Action” and had representatives of The Rescue Mission and the Salvation Army. Prior to that the group has met with members of Amnesty International, Thistle Farms, Room in the Inn, and more.

The RCC meeting will be held on November 18^th over lunch at the Hands On Nashville office. RCC is open to members from all denominations, and the Nashville group includes Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, and more.  For further information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org. 

Religion Communicators Council Hears About Health, Disaster and Faith

The Religion Communicators Council meets each month to hear about a topic of interest. In October, the Nashville Chapter heard from the Tennessee Department of Health on faith and disaster preparedness.

Faith is not always front and center in today’s world. It is a mission of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) to promote the good news of people of faith through communications work. The Nashville chapter does this by providing meetings once a month to learn about new ways to improve religious communications or hear about topics of interest. For the October meeting, members heard from Dr. Michele Gourley, Director of Faith-Based Initiatives for the Tennessee Department of Health as well as two of her staff who spoke to disaster preparedness.

This wasn’t the first time Dr. Gourley has reached out to the RCC. In 2012, she came as a special guest to talk about her position and what it means to faith groups in the state. Her position had just been re-introduced at that time.   

“We are excited that Dr. Gourley was able to speak with us again,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, President of the Nashville RCC chapter and pastor of the Church of Scientology, “She brings faith and health together, and hearing from her is always a treat.”

Prior to serving in this role, Dr. Gourley worked for the state of Tennessee in the Division of Health Planning, where she helped write and oversee the 2010 and 2011 State Health Plans. She obtained her medical degree and Masters of Public Health degree from East Tennessee State University with an emphasis on rural primary care and community health.  She has also completed studies in wellness coaching, trauma and resilience and health impact assessments.

Dr. Gourley has spent the majority of her life as a part of faith communities in Middle and East Tennessee, has served as part of faith-based medical and public health projects in Central America and has participated in ecumenical faith communities in the Middle East and Europe.  In 2010, she was selected as a participant in Duke Divinity School’s Center for Reconciliation’s Summer Institute, where she focused on the role of food as it pertains to faith and reconciliation.

During the meeting, Dr. Gourley discussed the importance of being prepared in case of a disease epidemic in the community, such as Ebola, as well as having Points of Dispensing Clinics (PODs) set up well in advance so communities have a location to turn to in case of an outbreak of this nature. She encouraged congregations to set these up and also to visit the state department of health website to learn more.  

For more information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org.