2017 RNA Annual Conference

Hosted by Jeff Diamant

Experts from LifeWay Research will present embargoed findings from their latest research on the well-being and stressors of Protestant pastor spouses. Sponsored by LifeWay Research

In Sub-Saharan Africa, as in much of the world, reporting on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression can be tricky. Cultural taboos, entrenched stereotypes, social hostilities, legal prohibitions and editorial censorship often distort coverage of these sensitive topics. Add religion to the mix and producing responsible journalism on sexual and gender minorities can seem impossible. On this panel, reporters from across Sub-Saharan Africa will share their perspectives on media freedom challenges and opportunities in the region. This panel is made possible through the generosity of the Arcus Foundation. Brian Pellot • Ambrose Barigye • Martha Mukaiwa • Wana Udobang

Freelancers and editors rely on each other, but navigating that relationship can be frustrating for all parties involved. This panel aims to demystify some of those challenges. Veteran freelancers—and editors who work with them—will talk about the best way to find each other, build relationships, send pitches, follow up on unreturned emails, and negotiate decent pay. We'll also include a panelist who has navigated the road from working full-time at a media outlet to freelancing. Jeff MacDonald • Steve Cavendish • Dennis Coday • Deborah Jian Lee • Tiffany Stanley

During the 2016 presidential campaign, pentecostals and charismatics such as Paula White, John Hagee and many others came to the fore, but few people understood their traditions or who these people were. Also during 2016, there were revival meetings in churches in Kentucky, Seattle, San Diego and other places on the west coast that are connected to a network of apostolic revivalists that few reporters have heard about. We aim to give reporters a primer about all these trends. Julia Duin • James Goll • Holly Pivec • Paula White

Faith Counts is a multi-faith organization with a singular mission: to promote the value of faith. Faith Counts is proud to sponsor Friday night's dinner, where the $20,000 Grand Prize winner of the "Film Your Faith" video contest will be announced. Sponsored by Faith Counts

Battles over religious liberty have been fought in recent years — from Twitter feuds to the Supreme Court — focused mainly about religion and the workplace (Hobby Lobby and the Little Sisters about health insurance, same sex couples versus bakers/florists, workers wanting to wear religious garb.) But religious liberty battles often take place over issues like zoning or religious practice — especially for faiths that are out of the mainstream or controversial. Duane Gang • Kathleen Flake • Jenna Gray-Hildenbrand • Ralph Hood • Dwayne Leslie

What are the current trends and reports regarding hate crimes toward Jews, Muslims and other minorities? Is there a relationship between anti-Israel sentiment and anti-Semitism? How does the landscape of U.S. hate crimes compare with hate crimes in Europe and elsewhere? How much influence does the current climate of divisiveness in the U.S. contribute to hate crime trends? How much of a role does religion play? This panel will examine those questions from perspectives of researchers who have studied hate crimes as well as victims of hate crimes. Linda K. Wertheimer • Daoud Abudiab • Alex Amend • Leonard Saxe • Simran Jeet Singh

Welcome to Nashville! This Southern city is often called the buckle of Bible Belt, a stronghold of white evangelical religion and culture. But the region is changing as religious diversity grows, demographics shift and secular groups rise. The cultural dominance of Christianity is fading, but white Christian America isn’t dead yet, especially in the Bible Belt. Blake Farmer • Grant Hasty • Gayle Jordan • Frank Stevenson • Steve Stone

Questions of faith are never far from debates over the use of fossil fuels, whether they involve global warming, jobs and economic growth, fracking, mountaintop-removal coal mining and ground-level pollution. Even with the growth in renewable energies, fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil generate two-thirds of Americans' electricity, heat most of our homes and power almost all our vehicles. At least five million people work in energy-related sectors, and many of them sit in the pews of religious congregations, which in turn often hold energy companies' stock and even lease extraction rights to them. At the same time, religious voices have been among the strongest advocating for fossil-fuel divestment and against pipeline expansion. In this panel, we learn how people have drawn on diverse faith traditions to support or oppose fossil-fuel extraction — or to find some middle way of accommodating such activities within limits. Peter Smith • Mike Erp • Gabriel Fried • Joseph D. Witt • Niki Wong

RNA 2017 Annual Conference Welcome from Manya Brachear Pashman.

In Nashville, folks gather in churches, arenas, living rooms and honkey-tonks to raise their voices in songs about every part of life—including faith. This panel explores the role that group singing plays in faith traditions, and includes an interactive, interfaith sing-along, led by Nashville's "Beer and Hymns" ensemble. Dave Perkins • Frank Byers • Robert King • Sarah Levine • Geoff Little

Pew Research Center will present findings from two new research reports, one focused on the U.S. and one focused on Western Europe, coinciding with this year’s 500th anniversary commemorations of the Reformation. The reports will examine Catholics’ and Protestants’ views of each other, questions related to faith and the Bible, and historical knowledge questions. The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with the Center’s leading religion researchers and two Reformation experts, Prof. Tal Howard (Valparaiso University) and Prof. Kathleen Crowther (University of Oklahoma). Sponsored by Pew Research Center. Kathleen Crowther • Tal Howard

The fields of robotics and artificial intelligence have fascinated scientists and non-scientists alike for decades. Once primarily explored through science fiction, robots and AI are increasingly a part of our daily life. From robotic vacuum cleaners and self-driving vehicles to robotic interventions for autism and virtual health coaching, these technologies are reshaping our lives and have broad implications for the future. Join the American Association for the Advancement of Science's program of Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (AAAS|DoSER) for an exciting two-part discussion of forefront research and its societal implications. This panel is sponsored by AAAS|DoSER. Christine Scheller • Deborah Johnson • Mark Riedl

Two Constitutional attorneys examine topical controversies. Sponsored by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Rebecca Markert • Andrew Seidel

The fields of robotics and artificial intelligence have fascinated scientists and non-scientists alike for decades. Once primarily explored through science fiction, robots and AI are increasingly a part of our daily life. From robotic vacuum cleaners and self-driving vehicles to robotic interventions for autism and virtual health coaching, these technologies are reshaping our lives and have broad implications for the future. Join the American Association for the Advancement of Science's program of Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (AAAS|DoSER) for an exciting two-part discussion of forefront research and its societal implications. This panel is sponsored by AAAS|DoSER. Lauren Markoe • Maithilee Kunda • Nilanjan Sarkar • Paul Scherz

Sponsored by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. FFRF Co-President Dan Barker talks on freethought, explaining the notion and its history.

“American Values, Mental Health and Using Technology in the Age of Trump” — the latest analysis from the Baylor Religion Survey — examines four themes: • The religious, political and ideological values of Trump voters, • Mental health and religion in America today, • The geography of religion, • The intersection of technology and religion. Participants were 1,501 adults chosen randomly from across the country to respond to the survey, designed by Baylor University scholars and administered by the Gallup Organization. Paul Froese • Jerry Park • Lindsay Wilkinson