RCCongress involves Church of the Brethren in sponsorship, leadership.

RCCongress 2010, a Religion Communication Congress held once every 10 years and scheduled for April 7-10 next year in Chicago, Ill., is involving the Church of the Brethren in sponsorship and leadership.

"Embracing change, communicating faith in today’s world" is the theme for the Congress, which will include plenary speakers, workshops, roundtable discussions, interest groups, and a "Resource Plaza" or exhibit hall.

The Church of the Brethren is one of the cooperating organizations for this interfaith event, which is expected to bring together more than 1,200 religious communication professionals.

Brethren staff member Becky Ullom is serving on the planning committee for the Congress, with responsibility for organizing the Resource Plaza. She recently has been named as the church’s director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

Former Church of the Brethren denominational staff Stewart M. Hoover also is one of the presenters. He is professor of Media Studies in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Colorado at Boulder, a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the journal "Media and Religion," and founding co-chair of the Religion, Culture, and Communication Program Unit at the American Academy of Religion. He will co-lead a seminar on "Global Media, Global Religion: Research on Popular Media and the Remaking of Religions" and will give a workshop on "Religion, Media, and Masculinity."

Brethren who are interested in attending are requested to contact Becky Ullom at bullom@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 297 in order to help make possible a Church of the Brethren group registration. Early bird registration is open through Jan. 15 for $25 off the individual registration fee of $400 ($225 for fulltime students and retirees). Participants make their own arrangements for accommodations. Go to www.rccongress2010.org for more information.

Source: 10/9/2009 Newsline Extra