Mitch Albom will speak at RCCongress 2010
October 22, 2009; revised March 4, 2010
CHICAGO—Best-selling Tuesdays with Morrie author Mitch Albom will speak at the opening banquet of Religion Communication Congress 2010 April 7-10 at the Chicago Marriott.
Albom's new book, Have A Little Faith, debuted in the No. 1 spot on the Oct. 16 New York Times nonfiction best-sellers list.
On March 1, the Religion Communicators Council announced Albom won a 2010 Wilbur Award for the book.
The book describes his own journey of faith, influenced by a Jewish rabbi and a Christian pastor.
The inspirational novelist and dedicated sports writer will address an audience of communication professionals from a variety of faith backgrounds at the once-a-decade event. Participants include local congregational leaders, national and international religion correspondents, webmasters, bloggers, professors and students.
"Faith should be a subject that unites us, not divides us," said Albom.
"We are delighted to have Mitch join our line-up of interfaith communicators," said Shirley Struchen, executive director of the event. "His wonderfully dynamic religious background personifies this year's theme of 'Embracing Change.'"
The four-day conference is a unique time of fellowship, networking and instruction for many of today's faith-based communicators. Now in its forth decade, the Congress will hold to its tradition of discerning information about conventional media, while looking ahead at what's in-store for current and rising media professionals.
Among other RCCongress speakers are: Diana Eck, founder of Harvard University's pluralism project; columnist and distinguished authority on American religion, Martin Marty; Ingrid Mattson, first female president of the Islamic Society of North America; Otis Moss III, pastor of Chicago Trinity Church; musician, composer and storyteller Ken Medema, and Barbara Bradley Hagerty, National Public Radio's religion correspondent.
Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), the movement that teaches young leaders to look beyond diversity and build relationships of mutual respect and shared values will be at the closing banquet.
A pre-congress seminar, 'Global Media, Global Religion: Research in Popular Media and the Remaking of Religions' will be led by Stewart Hoover and Nabil Echchaibi, from the Center for Media, Religion and Culture, University of Colorado at Boulder.
"Today's religious communicators boast new opportunities and challenges," said Struchen. "The speakers at RCCongress are experts in the use of modern technology, like social media and blogging."
RCCongress 2010 will be held from April 7-10 in Chicago. To register or get more information, visit www.RCCongress2010.org
Once again, Mitch Albom has given us a heart-warming true story, about the power of love to triumph over death, and the power of faith to guide us through the worst 