The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) has named officers and Board of Governors for 2023. The slate of officers and incoming Board representatives were approved by the RCC membership at the organization’s April 20 business meeting, held during the annual convention in Chicago.
The executive committee consists of president Rev. Donna Frischknecht Jackson, communications specialist, United Church of Christ, Cleveland, OH, and founder of Old Stone Well Farm Media & Ministry, Vermont; vice-president Teresa Faust, senior manager of Research and Metrics for United Methodist Communications, Nashville, TN; treasurer Ryan John Koch, director of the New York Office of Public and International Affairs, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, New York, NY; and secretary Dr. Addie Hudson Lisby, with All Media Communications, Harrisburg, NC.
Rev. Brian Fesler, senior pastor and director of special affairs for the Church of Scientology and Celebrity Centre, Nashville, TN, will continue on the Board as past president.
“I am so very honored to be stepping into the role of president for RCC,” states Rev. Frischknecht Jackson, an eight-year member of the organization. “I consider our work of supporting religious and faith-based communicators more and more vital in the world. By sharing with and learning from one another, our members continue to strive for excellence in the communication of faith and values in the public arena, while encouraging understanding among religious and faith groups.”
She adds, “From our founding in 1929, RCC has delivered outstanding professional development, networking and encouragement for our members. I’m eager to see how we continue to help our members grow as professionals and people.”
Class of 2024 Board of Governors representatives are: Anuttama Dasa, director of Global Communications for ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Potomac, MD; Steven Havira, communications manager for Hartford International University, Hartford, CT; Nancy Jubb, communication director for Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, New York, NY; and Kathy Williams, director of communications and public relations for Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, KY.
Class of 2025 Board of Governors representatives are: Jonathan Ammons, associate director of Public and International Affairs, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, New York, NY; Adlai Amor, associate general secretary for communicators, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Washington, D.C.; Fr. James “Jim” Gardiner, director of special projects, Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land, Washington, D.C.; and Brad Pomerance, senior vice president of programming & host, Jewish Life Television, Los Angeles, CA.
Class of 2026 Board of Governors representatives are: Ibrahim Anli, executive director of The Rumi Forum, Washington, D.C.; Affiong Inyang, communications manager for The Augustinian Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, PA; Joyce Litoff, associate director of communications for the Baha’i National Center, Evanston, IL; and James “Jay” Rollins, director of communications, United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History, Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands.
According to Rev. Brian Fesler, past-president of RCC’s Board of Governors, “The Religion Communicators Council is appreciative of these members who generously devote their time and talents to lead our organization. We especially thank outgoing Board of Governors representatives Jacqueline Fuller and Jeff Long for their dedication to RCC and the furthering of religious communication.”