ELCA Helps Sponsor Religious Communication Congress

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- More than 1,500 religion communicators from around the world will gather March 29-April 1, 2000, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown for the Religious Communication Congress (RCC) 2000. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), along with more than 80 cooperating organizations, will sponsor the congress.
Held once each decade since 1970, the multi-faith forum is a chance for religion communicators to exchange ideas and information, said the Rev. Eric C. Shafer, director of the ELCA Department for Communication and treasurer of the RCC 2000 steering committee.
"The value is the size of the group of professional communicators sharing our common values and goals and learning from one another," Shafer said. "It's a key continuing education event."
The theme, "Faith Stories in a Changing World," will focus on sharing faith through electronic, spoken, cyberspace, written and artistic stories.
More than 100 workshops will be offered by leaders from many denominations, said Shirley Whipple Struchen, chair of the RCC 2000 steering committee. Struchen said workshops will be identified as "Jump Start" for beginners and "Fast Track" for a greater challenge.
Three ELCA members will lead workshops during the congress. John Lynner Peterson, director for Public Media Ministry, ELCA Department for Communication, will present "Murdoch, Mickey and Madonna Meet Ministry," a workshop to help participants bridge the gap between media and society.
"The purpose of my workshop is to challenge the assumptions of the church and bridge the gap between how it communicates and how the culture communicates," Peterson said.
The Rev. Richard N. Stewart, assistant professor of communications and parish administration at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, will present "Building Online Community;" Susan Preece, ELCA associate in ministry, will co-lead a workshop entitled "Touched By a Modem" with the Rev. Sue Hamly, United Church of Christ.
Internet access will be available for congress participants at a cyberspace cafe coordinated by Paul D. Edison-Swift, director for resource information and networks, ELCA Department for Communication, and president of Ecunet, an international online access point and meeting place for the religious community.
The congress will also feature presentations, plenary sessions, worship opportunities, banquets and the Mercado -- an area of exhibits, displays and network opportunities. The Rev. Kurt A. Reichardt, associate director for internal church communication, ELCA Department for Communication, is coordinating the Mercado.
Featured presenters at RCC 2000 will include Ken Medema, internationally known composer and storyteller; the Rev. Patrick A. B. Anthony, editor of "Theology in the Caribbean Today" and Roman Catholic priest; and Cynthia Winton-Henry, co-director of Body Wisdom Inc. Martha Williamson, executive producer of CBS TV's "Touched by an Angel," and the Rev. Jesse Jackson have been invited to be presenters at the congress.
Struchen said the congress will address issues that religious communicators will face as they move into the new millennium, including changes in computer technology and the Internet. Communicators can expect to return with "new ideas for mission and ministry in our church," said Shafer.

Editors: More information about RCC 2000 can be found on the congress
Web site at www.rcc2000.org.

(**Lisa Smith is a senior at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa. This
summer, she is an intern with ELCA News and Information.)

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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