United Methodists earn communications awards  April 12, 2005
By Kathy Noble* NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)—United Methodists received nine awards and provided leadership throughout the 76th annual convention of the Religion Communicators Council. United Methodist honorees included Frank DeGregorie and Hal Sadler of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries for a poster and DeGregorie and Melanie Reim for a publication cover illustration. Cynthia Astle of United Methodist Reporter Communications was honored in the national newspaper category. Earning Awards of Merit were Patti Simmons of the Texas Methodist Foundation; DeGregorie, Marcy Kass, Ruth Daugherty, Charles Cole and Barbara Williams of the Board of Global Ministries; and Kimberly Pace and Carolyn Dandridge of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship. Religion communicators from many different faith communities received 102 DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial awards during the festive celebration on the opening night of the April 7-9 meeting in Nashville. The Rev. Tex Sample, a writer and consultant, spoke about the cultural impact of music.
He urged the 120 religion communicators to consider “new musics” and ask, “How do we take in God’s story and have these musics serve it?” Sample noted that changes in rhythm and beat during the past 50 years have created “young people (who) are constructed so differently they are turned off by music that comes out of the 18th, 19th and early 20th century.” Jeanean Merkel, a principal in Illumicom in Washington, was installed for one term as council president. Cindy Feldman, communications manager in the Iowa Annual (regional) Conference of the United Methodist Church, was elected to the organization’s Board of Governors for the first time. United Methodists continuing as governors are Doug Cannon, Southwest Texas Conference; Larry Hygh Jr., California-Pacific Conference; Laura Flippen, United Methodist Endorsing Agency; and Deb Christian, UMR Communications. United Methodists on the executive committee are the Rev. Dan Gangler, Indiana Area, treasurer, and the Rev. Mike Hickcox, New England Conference, past president. Shirley Struchen, also a United Methodist, is the organization’s executive director. The Nashville chapter of Religion Communicators Council hosted the meeting. Kimberly Pace, executive officer for communications and marketing at the Board of Discipleship, is president. RCC is an international interfaith association of religion communicators working in print, electronic communication, marketing and public relations. The 600-member organization is based in New York. *Noble is editor of Interpreter magazine. News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
| 
Korean News
