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.

How do you tell your story in a way that truly compels people to listen, care, and respond? In this practical session, a seasoned communications strategist who has spent the past decade shaping narratives for nonprofits, educational institutions, elected leaders, and corporations will help you answer exactly that.

You’ll explore how to clarify your core message, reach the right audiences, and share stories that reflect your mission and move people to action—without losing your authentic voice as a faith-based organization. Come ready to rethink how you communicate, and leave with tools you can put to work right away in your ministry or organization

About our speaker:
Carolyn Clendenin is CEO of CMC Creative, a communications consulting firm that harnesses the power of storytelling to drive change. Carolyn specializes in strategic communications planning, message development, earned media, and writing & editing. She has worked with many faith-based groups, including Union Theological Seminary and Repairers of the Breach.

Register here.

What does congregational life really look like five years after COVID—and where are we headed next? In this data-rich, accessible session, Dr. Allison L. Norton of Hartford International University will share fresh findings from the national EPIC study and offer practical insights for leaders discerning their next faithful steps.

Drawing on her research in congregational life, migration, and multicultural ministry, Dr. Norton will help participants understand emerging attendance patterns, online–in‑person hybrid realities, and how shifting demographics and identities are reshaping ministry in 2026 and beyond.

About Our Speaker:
Dr. Allison Norton is Associate Professor of Migration Studies and Congregational Life at Hartford International University, where she directs the Pastoral Innovation Network of New England and co-directs the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. She teaches courses in sociology of religion, immigration, and multicultural and intergenerational ministry. Her research and publications explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. congregations, the rise of megachurches in West Africa, the transnational dimension of African Pentecostalism, the role of migration on the worldwide expansion of the Christian faith, and the religious identities of the “new” second generation.