Listening to Life: Telling Stories that Matter” is the theme of this year’s Religion Communicators Convention, to be held April 19-21, 2023 in Chicago.
The convention, which will be in-person for the first time since 2019, will be held at Fourth Presbyterian Church in that city. It is being sponsored by the Associated Church Press (ACP); Religion Communicators Council (RCC); and Anabaptist Communicators (AC).
Keynote presentations and workshops will include topics such as post-COVID religious demographics, interfaith dialogue, website and social media analytics, dealing with stress and change on the job, how to keep up with new technologies, crisis management, photography, fundraising, and polarization and conflict, and more.
Confirmed workshop presenters include Bob Smeitana, Heidi Thompson, Greg Dunn, Donna Frischknecht Jackson, Charissa Johnson, Michael Duerksen, Kalinda Fisher, and the Hartford Institute. At least two speaker panels, awards banquets, business meetings, networking time, and a Tuesday night pizza parlor reception sponsored by Shanley & Associates are also on the schedule.
“We want to provide people with practical topics to help them in their daily work as communicators,” said Gregg Brekke, Executive Director of Associated Church Press (ACP), one of the sponsors of the convention. “But we also wanted a time when we could once again be together in person after so many years of being apart. The time outside of presentations, panels and workshops will be as valuable as everything else at the event.”
Added the Rev. Brian Fesler, President of RCC: “We have such a great lineup of presenters, but what I look forward to the most is coming together in person. Our members love to spend time with old friends, meet new ones, learn and break bread together, and be refreshed for the year to come.”
The convention will also include the annual meetings of the ACP and RCC.
Cost of the convention is $495 U.S. for non-members, $395 U.S. for members of any of the three sponsoring organizations. Early-bird rates are $425 and $325 respectively through March 18. To register, and for hotel information, click here.
The convention hotel is the Millennium Knickerbocker, a five-minute walk from Fourth Presbyterian Church. A convention rate of $139 per night (plus taxes) has been secured if rooms are reserved before March 18 using this link. Founded in 1871, Fourth Presbyterian Church is a historic congregation in downtown Chicago. The current building was built in 1914. More details at RCConvention.org including registration for members, non-members and groups.