Nashville Religion Communicators Council Discusses Teaching Religion in Schools

The longest running interfaith communications organization in the United States, the Religion Communicators Council (RCC), has chapters across the country that meet regularly and promote “excellence in the communication of religious faith and values in the public arena and encourage understanding among religious and faith groups,” according to the RCC website. 

In Nashville, the RCC Chapter recently shifted the style of meetings to maintain the organization’s historic integrity while adjusting to 21^st century ideals by holding bi-monthly meetings to discuss hot topics and how they, as people of faith, may influence others.

In November, the group talked about the teaching of religion in public schools, citing the recent news of parents in Williamson County who were upset about the amount of attention paid to teaching about Islam during a social studies class.

During the meeting, the group reviewed the possible ways that religion could be discussed in a grade school setting to promote tolerance and diversity without enforcing any one particular belief or faith values on students. RCC members also agreed parents are the ones that need to teach their children about religion, not just their own, but open the discussion so their kids understand that there are other people in the world who believe differently than oneself.

According to the President of the Nashville Chapter, Rev. Brian Fesler who also Pastors the Nashville Church of Scientology, the chapter meetings take place on the second Tuesday of every other month during breakfast. “The concept for these meetings is to bring diverse people together to dialogue about hot topics and how we can unite to bring more inspiration and good news to the world,” he said.

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Sikhs, Hindus and more. For more information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org.

Nashville Religion Communicators Council Announces New Series of Breakfast Meetings

The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council has announced a new series of meetings, beginning in September.

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) was formed in the 1920s to promote “excellence in the communication of religious faith and values in the public arena and encourage understanding among religious and faith groups,” according to the RCC website.  As such, the RCC is the oldest interfaith communications organization in the United States. In Nashville, the RCC Chapter is shifting the style of meetings to maintain the organization’s historic integrity while adjusting to 21^st century ideals.

Beginning in September, Nashville’s RCC meetings will consist of more open dialogue and communication among members about hot topics and current events. This shift comes after the organization’s executive committee did a survey of members and found that they were looking for more participation.

According to the President of the Nashville Chapter, Rev. Brian Fesler who also Pastors the Nashville Church of Scientology, the chapter meetings will take place on the second Tuesday of the month over breakfast. “The concept for these meetings will be to bring diverse people together to dialogue about hot topics and how we can unite to bring more inspiration and good news to the world,” he said.

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, and more. For more information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org.

Religious Communicators Discuss Care for the Environment

The Religion Communicators Council exists to spread the good news to the world. Its members come from all religious groups and work in various public relations arenas.

What does the environment have to do with religion? That is what a group came together to discover in June during the monthly meeting of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) in Nashville, Tennessee.

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 topic was care for the environment.

Guest speakers discussed the community garden in the Edgehill neighborhood and how young and old alike join forces to create wonderful fruits and vegetables. A horticulturist was happy to share the best practices for planting trees so they aren’t going to grow to be a problem for power lines and so they aren’t planted near water pipes underground. She also discussed the best ways to trim trees so they grow big and healthy while at the same time not growing in such a way that would be dangerous, in the case that they were to fall in a storm for example.

“It’s great to know what we can do to make the city a more beautiful, greener and cleaner place to live,” says president of the Nashville RCC chapter and pastor of the Church of Scientology, Rev. Brian Fesler.

The discussion was all the more appropriate due to the timeliness of the United Nations annual World Environment Day which occurs in the month of June.

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

April 2015: Paul Galloway, American Center for Outreach

In April, Nashville's RCC Chapter met at the American Center for Outreach Office to meet Paul Galloway and learn more about the center which was formed in 2011.
 
What does a religious community do when they are attacked on the political stage? The answer: form a non-profit to address this. That is exactly what happened in 2011 when the American Center for Outreach was formed by Muslim leaders in Nashville, Tennessee.

Paul told Nashville RCC members about how he was recruited from Houston, Texas to come to Nashville which was steeped in anti-Muslim legislation and how the American Center for Outreach was formed as a 501(c)4 to address this.

Tennessee already had AMAC (American Muslim Advisory Council) which operates as a 501(c)3 to address issues with law enforcement, but the Muslim community didn't have a way to fight bigoted legislation at the capital. ACO (American Center for Outreach) was the answer to this need.

Current legislation that ACO is working to address includes Senate Bill 1040 / House Bill 1141 which deals with "no-go zones." It states that there are areas in Tennessee that are "controlled" by extremist gangs where average citizens aren't welcome. This is entirely untrue and perpetuates myths surrounding faith communities.

Paul has written for a blog titled "Muslim Matters." Some of his writing can be found here under the name Paul "Iesa" Galloway.

For more information on the American Center for Outreach or current campaigns, visit www.acotn.org.

Feb 2015: MaryAnne Howland, Ibis Communications

In February, Nashville's RCC Chapter met at Ibis Communications Office on a cold and icy day to meet MaryAnne Howland who formed and runs the International office based in Nashville. 

The Ibis is the bird of wisdom and symbol of knowledge, an omen of good things to come, the mythical scribe of powerful, transformative and beautiful messages. That’s the Ibis specialty, reaching niche markets across a broad spectrum of demographics, with fluent, resonant, and persuasive communications.

MaryAnne's personal philosophy is to include all people and help make the world a better place by serving others. She gave RCC members an insight into why she is passionate about this. Her son was born with a disability, but he is the bravest, most wonderful person and inspires her every day. 

MaryAnne, in her mission to help others will only serve as the communications agency of organizations of goodwill. 

She is also Founder and CEO of the Global Diversity Leadership Exchange, that launched in February 2012. This unique forum is designed to facilitate an on-going dialogue with global thought leaders and C-Suite executives on global diversity, inclusion and sustainability in the US, BRICS nations, and other emerging markets. 

During the Obama Administration, she attended four White House Summits: Women Leaders in Climate Finance and Investment, Women and the Environment conducted by the EPA, White House Business Council as a participant in Business Forward, and the Green Business Summit led by the American Sustainable Business Council. During the Clinton Administration, recognition for the success of her business led to the prestigious honor of an invitation to lunch on Capitol Hill for a White House tribute to the nation’s Women Business Leaders. 

Mayor's Office of New Americans

Our January meeting took place at Provence on Church Street. It was a cozy, warm lunch discussion with Mohamed Shukri-Hassan. He is Program Director for the American Muslim Advisory Council and recently was appointed by the Mayor of Nashville to serve on the Mayor's New Americans Advisory Council.  

Mohamed was a co-founder of the American Center for Outreach, works as the Welcoming Tennessee coordinator for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and formerly worked as an Outreach Coordinator for the Metro Public Health Department. He is passionate about helping new Americans settle in and be welcomed to Nashville. 

He was able to share with RCC members some of the programs run out of the New Americans Office including My City Academy which helps new Americans and neighborhood leaders understand how the Nashville government works. 

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.