Professional Development

Upcoming educational programs

You may also want to view the chapter pages for additional in-person and educational sessions.

 

 

Servant Leadership
Pamela Gilchrist, MA, APR, CPT

Thursday, May 28 at 2 p.m. ET webinar 

For religion communicators, servant leadership is closely tied to how we tell stories and shape messages. When we lead as servants, our communication becomes less about promoting ourselves or our organizations and more about amplifying the voices of others, listening deeply, and building understanding across differences. We choose words, images, and strategies that honor the dignity of our audiences and help them see their own role in the wider work of healing and hope in the world.

This upcoming RCC webinar on servant leadership will help members explore practical ways to integrate these principles into their everyday communication—whether you manage media relations, create digital content, craft public messages, or lead internal teams—so that your leadership and your messages alike reflect a people-first, service-centered approach.

About our speaker:
Pam is a Fortune 100 leadership and marketing communications expert. As chief strategist at the Gilchrist Group®, a business consulting and marketing communications firm founded in 1999, she works with clients during times of growth and change to Optimize Outcomes™.

From product and service launches to crisis communications, Pam has counseled executives for 30+ years on improving impact through breakthrough business strategies, next level leadership and brand marketing/communications. Based on emotional intelligence, the science of behavioral communications underpins her work to improve impact and make change stick.

Pam has served as chief communications counsel for companies ranging from Fortune 100, multi-billion dollar, companies to small and mid-sized businesses. Her unique combination of vision, executive management and entrepreneurial skills helps organizations achieve maximum results. She is a servant leader, who quickly becomes a trusted advisor. Pam holds Universal Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), is a member of the PRSA Counselors Academy, is past president of National Speakers Association Ohio, is a certified Enneagram Personality Style trainer and holds Human Relations and Presentation certifications from Dale Carnegie. She holds a master’s degree from The Ohio State University and undergrad from Western Michigan University.

A well-known presenter across the country, corporations, associations, and not-for-profits frequently request Pam to speak to their organizations. She has even been featured in the New York Times best-seller Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Register here.

 

Past Recorded Webinars and Convention Presentations

 

Shared below are our most recent educational development webinars;  click here to go to our YouTube channel, with videos of past webinars, convention presentations and Wilbur awards

 

 

Narratives of Belonging in a Divided Age
Allison Ralph, PhD, Founder & Principal, Cohesion Strategy


March 23 

In a time when headlines spotlight division and distrust, faith-based communicators stand at the front lines of telling a different kind of story—one that makes room for all. This webinar explored how the narratives we share about “who belongs” can either deepen polarization or open the door to genuine pluralism and social cohesion.

Drawing on her work in identity, social cohesion, and democratic norms, Dr. Ralph encouraged us to rethink the values, metaphors, and language we use in our messages, social posts, and organizational communications. 

More about her work and Cohesion Strategy here.

View the recording here.

Thanks to Dr. Ralph for sharing these resources that may be helpful:
  1. Link to PACE’s How to Talk Bridgey guide
  2. An article I wrote on how multifaith organizations can lead the way on depolarization because they have to practice the kinds of skills we discussed
  3. For those interested in more on the Social Body metaphor, see this paper I wrote for the Center on Faith Identity and Globalization
  4. and finally, a guide I wrote when I was still at Aspen aimed at secular funders to work more effectively with faith-inspired grantees. This is aimed at a different audience, but it may help illuminate some of the reasons that secular funders feel squeamish about working with faith-inspired partners, and how everyone can be more direct. 
  5. And of course, folks are welcome to reach out to me directly at this address, or look us up on Cohesionstrategy.com or find us on Substack

 

Beyond the Pitch: Building Productive Relationships Between Journalists and PR Professionals
A Collaboration of RCC and RNA (Religion News Association)

Feb 24

Religion journalists and religion communication professionals share a common goal: helping the public better understand religion as it is lived, practiced, and experienced in communities around the world. This webinar brought together experienced journalists and PR professionals to explore how thoughtful, intentional relationships can lead to stronger reporting, clearer communication, and more informed audiences. Panelists unpacked common misconceptions about each other’s roles, discussed what makes outreach and engagement genuinely useful, and shared practical insights on building trust, setting boundaries, and creating value on both sides. 

 Panelists:
– Rhina Guidos, Latin America Regional Correspondent for Global Sisters Report
– Jonathan Merritt, Vice President and Executive Editor at Simon & Schuster
– Kevin Ritter-Jung, Director of Media and Communication for the Metropolitan New York Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
– Kathy Rice, MPS, Director of Communications and Public Relations, Ursuline Sisters of Louisville

Click here for the video.