Washington, D.C. Chapter
Upcoming Chapter Meetings
Info on upcoming meetings and educational opportunities will be shared as soon as possible.
Highlights of Previous Chapter Meetings
DC Chapter discusses working across lines of difference to create change
On May 30, 2024, the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Religion Communicators Council discussed bringing together people who might not otherwise be in partnership in order to achieve common goals.
Lance Walker of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Tyler Deaton of the American Unity Fund engaged in a wide-ranging conversation during the meeting, which was held at the D.C. office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Walker and Deaton talked in detail about their individual and joint experiences working for passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, despite their differences on same-sex marriage.
Passed in 2022, the Respect for Marriage Act requires states to recognize marriages lawfully performed in other states, including same-sex and interracial marriages. The bipartisan bill also acknowledged religious differences about marriage.
“We weren’t asking each other to surrender our deepest differences, but we worked to find ways to love and respect each other in those differences,” Walker said.
Walker and Deaton noted that their work did not mean anyone had to change their theological beliefs, but they knew it was important to find common ground that could benefit everyone. They also discussed the importance of building relationships with people, listening to and learning from the lived experience of others to deepen relationships and break through stereotypes.
Media training – tips and practice at September chapter meeting
In September, the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Religion Communicators Council hosted a media training, led by Anuttama Dasa. Chapter members and guests discussed basic media relations, shared stories from their own experiences, and then broke into small groups to practice their interview skills. They even talked about preparing for difficult questions and how to turn an answer into an opportunity to make your point.
July 2023 meeting – DC chapter explores the reach and possibilities of TikTok
TikTok is not just for teenage dances anymore, and the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Religion Communicators Council dedicated their July 2023 meeting to learning more about the platform.
Georgia McKee, the manager of the Christians Against Christian Nationalism TikTok account (@endchristiannationalism) shared what she’s learned through creating the account earlier this year. In just six months, it garnered more than 28,000 followers and two million impressions.
“A short clip platform like TikTok can gain attention unlike any other platform that’s out there,” McKee said. But, she noted there is a crucial question to consider: Can it cultivate authentic conversations and healthy dialogue that fosters the type of community that religious people hope to create?
McKee pointed out that TikTok’s algorithm seems to push authenticity and relatability, often promoting videos without a lot of production value more than slickly-produced videos. The “For You” page that suggests videos to users often rewards accounts with repetition, simplicity, personality and consistency – an entirely different strategy and algorithm than any other social media platforms out there.
“It’s a total creation machine,” McKee said, noting that the TikTok app provides integrated editing tools so you can do everything you need to make a video within the app itself.
It’s also important to recognize the unique features of TikTok compared to other social media platforms, including the duet feature and the way its “live” feature focuses on having a live conversation with others instead of broadcasting a well-produced event.
“The audience wants to see authenticity and that you’re willing to make content around your niche subject matter,” McKee said. She added that a TikTok account that isn’t updated will hurt an organization more than help it.
Religion is booming on TikTok, with various accounts from religious leaders and others talking about positive and negative experiences with faith.
“I think this platform needs a lot more voices – like the ones in this room – to produce digestible content that will help contribute to religious healing, formation, and community building that is already happening in this space,” McKee concluded.
Officers
President
Cherilyn Crowe, Content Strategy Director, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Washington, D.C.
Vice President for Membership
Jackie Fuller, host of Interfaith Connections
Treasurer
Bill Aiken, Director of Public Affairs, Soka Gakkai International – USA, Washington, DC
Contact
Cherilyn Crowe, Content Strategy Director
BJC (Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
