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
21st 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.
