Wednesday, September 12

Late Night Networking: RNA Social Hour

Thursday, September 13

New member coffee hour

Welcome & announcements

• Tiffany McCallen, RNA COO

• Manya Brachear Pashman, RNA president

Breakfast sponsored by the Freedom from Religion Foundation: Fighting the Battle of State and Church in the Era of Trump
In the struggle between religion and state that is as old as our godless Constitution, the Trump administration has inaugurated a new chapter. Learn how secular forces are conducting a multi-pronged campaign to protect constitutional ideals. Three experts will discuss and take questions on the turn the state-church confrontation has taken in our times.

• Elizabeth Cavell, Freedom Freedom From Religion Foundation

• Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freedom From Religion Foundation

• Andrew Seidel, Freedom From Religion Foundation

Faith Responses to Gun Violence
Faith leaders have spoken out for and against gun control. A hot debate has been armed security in sanctuaries and at houses of worship, especially in light of some shootings at churches. We talk with faith leaders and a victim of gun violence about how faith supports their point of view on guns.

• Moderator: Holly Meyer, The Tennessean

• Jeff Copley, Marengo Christian Church

• Dean Feldmeyer, retired minister and author

• Hollan Holm, school shooting survivor

Lunch: “Evangelical Firepower: The Fascination of the Faithful with Firearms” sponsored by Prayers & Action
Backed by today's most prominent Christian leaders, pastors, churches and organizations, Prayers & Action is committed to ending gun violence in America. Presented by Rev. Dr. Rob Schneck, The Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute.

Religion and Politics sponsored by the Pew Research Center
Pew Research Center will present its latest data on religious trends shaping the 2018 midterm elections. Presentation by Greg Smith.

Data release sponsored by Sojourners: First Look: National Study of Pastors’ Attitudes on Domestic/Sexual Violence
We Will Speak Out, IMA World Health, and Sojourners will share the embargoed results of their national report, to be public on Sept. 18: "Broken Silence 2.0: An Update on Pastors' Attitudes and Actions around Domestic and Sexual violence in the #metoo Era."
Jenna Barnett, Sojourners
Matt Hackworth, IMA World Health

Inspiring Generosity and Faith Through Art: Rembrandt’s Return of the Prodigal Son sponsored by Thrivent
Our own experiences through art can help us find new ways to ponder familiar stories and ideas. We believe the artist's contribution is worth celebrating — and preserving. "Inspiring Generosity: Stories of Faith and Grace in Art" is a new book that explores modern connections to timeless ideas and values. Presented by Joanna Lindell.

Welcome reception: The Making of “The Gate” film sponsored by Spring Green Films
The Gate: Dawn of the Bahá'í Faith is a new documentary film produced by Spring Green Films, about the origins of the Bahá'í Faith and the amazing journey of its founder, the Prophet Herald, the Báb. The filmmakers will host the conference’s opening night reception and present an overview of The Gate: Dawn of the Bahá'í Faith.

• Bob Hercules, Spring Green Films

• Steven Sarowitz, Spring Green Films

Close Encounters of the God Kind: Religion in Science Fiction
Religion is everywhere these days. Even Outer Space. Both sci-fi and religion deal with big ideas and imaginary worlds and portray the conflicts between good and evil on an epic scale. Mash-ups of science fiction and faith are found in hit TV shows like "The Expanse," the "Handmaid’s Tale," and the "Leftovers" — along with countless books and films. This panel explores what happens when sci-fi and religion meet. No nerd credentials required.

• Moderator: Kimberly Winston, freelancer

• James McGrath, Butler University

• Farah Rishi, author

• John Scalzi, author

• David Williams, Poolesville Presbyterian Church

Late Night Networking: Discover Columbus

Friday, September 14

Breakfast: Power Networking

Sponsored message from Re-Sight Islam
Qasim Rashid

#MeToo in Sacred Spaces
The #MeToo tsunami of 2017 and 2018 has reached into sacred spaces and religious organizations. In this panel, women share their first hand stories of assault, harassment, manipulation and abuse in religious settings, and how they and their faith communities respond.

• Moderator: Dina Zingaro, CBS 60 Minutes

• Vonda Dyer, Minerva Counseling

• Dr. Keren McGinity, the Interfaith Families Jewish Engagement Program at Hebrew College

• Bishop Cyntia Moore-Koikoi, United Methodist Church

• Sameera Querishi, HEART Women and Girls

Not the Nones You Know
When we hear about the Nones — those who answer None of the Above when asked about their religious affiliation — it's usually about atheists and other secular types who skew higher in income and education. But many Nones have lower incomes, less than a college education and, often, less stable family lives. Many still believe in God and heaven, but don't belong to a faith group. Who are the Nones we don't know, and how do they fit into a wider picture of social and economic dislocation?

• Moderator: Bob Smietana, Religion News Service

• Brian Alexander, author

• Dan Cox, Public Religion Research Institute

• Linda Mercadante, Methodist Theological School in Ohio

Lunch sponsored by “Indivisible” the movie

Breakout Panel: Funding Religious Change
How do philanthropic foundations shape and support religion and/or social change? What are they funding and why? Who benefits? Panelists will explore trends shaping religious giving in America.

• Moderator: Jean Hopfensperger, Minneapolis Star Tribune

• Thomas Burnett, John Templeton Foundation

• Jackie Jacobs, Columbus Jewish Foundation

• Dr. David P. King, Lake Institute on Faith and Giving

How I Got the Story
Tax forms, spreadsheets, FOIA, oh my! This panel will explore the investigative tools that benefit faith-beat reporters. Speakers will explore the behind-the-scenes work that made their highest profile religion stories possible.

• Moderator: Dawn Araujo-Hawkins, Global Sisters Report

• R. G. Dunlop, Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting

• Sam Kestenbaum, independent journalist

• Manya Brachear Pashman, Chicago Tribune

Breakout Panel: 21st Century Amish: Fiction and Reality
The Amish community has doubled in size over the past 20 years and spread to 30 states and provinces — far beyond traditional bases such as Ohio. As the community grows, so do culture clashes and adaptations with their new neighbors. This Christian movement has long captured the public imagination for their real and imagined ways, including for its off-the-grid farming and simple lifestyle that have sparked ever-growing tourism and even a genre of Amish romance novels.

• Moderator: Peter Smith, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

• Shelley Shepard Gray, writer

• David Kline, author, farmer and environmentalist

• Marcus Yoder, Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center

Breakout Panel: Telling Stories with Sights & Sound: Broadcasting & Podcasting on the Faith Beat
Religion news doesn’t just live in print or in black-and-white. It lives and breathes on screen and on-the-air. Producers and correspondents of TV and radio broadcasts and podcasts will share the advantages and challenges when reporting on religion with visuals and audio. How does their writing style and language change for telling a story? Are there stories they just can’t manage to tell without words on a page?

• Moderator: Liz Kineke, CBS Religion & Culture

• Michael Karzis: CBS 60 Minutes

• Amber Khan, Interfaith Voices

• Kim Lawton, Kim Lawton Media LLC

• Brittany Wilmes, National Catholic Reporter

RNA member special meeting

Dinner sponsored by Faith Counts

Late Night Networking: Experience Columbus

Saturday, September 15

Breakfast sponsored by “Breakthrough” the movie

Fitting Faith into Communities
We talk to those who both represent minority communities and minority faiths and practice them. How do minority faith traditions navigate daily challenges? How do they work with other community organizations and services? And what should we know when reporting on them?

• Moderator: Kalpana Jain

• Zerq Abid, MY Project USA

• Imran Malik, Noor Islamic Cultural Center

• Veena Prasad, Texas A&M University

Trump and the Judiciary
President Donald Trump inherited an open seat on the Supreme Court and more than 100 federal judicial vacancies. How will his appointments to the bench shape the future of the judicial branch in an increasingly diverse and pluralistic America? Some of the country's most hot-button issues wind up before a court, and religious groups on all sides of those debates have a stake in the outcomes of those future court battles. We will explore the lasting impact Trump's appointments will have on the law of the land in America.

• Moderator: Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News

• Robert Alt, The Buckeye Institute

• Susan Becker, ACLU of Ohio

• Howard Friedman, Religion Clause

Lunch sponsored by “OVERCOMER” the movie

Breakout Panel: Opioids & Religion
As the opioid epidemic continues to rage, with a mounting toll of addictions, overdoses and shattered families, how are people of faith responding to this modern health crisis?

• Will Cooke, Foundations Family Medicine

• Rich Nathan, Vineyard Columbus

Breakout Panel: Seeking Sanctuary: Immigration & Faith Communities
Trump’s inflammatory immigration policies have reached into the pews, with churches and faith groups hosting rallies, press conferences, and even housing immigrants within their walls. What about immigration motivates the faithful? How has their action made a difference? From protest to sanctuary, let’s explore faith communities’ roles in immigration.

• Moderator: Danae King, The Columbus Dispatch

• Noel Andersen, Church World Service

• Edith Espinal, activist and immigrant mother in sanctuary

• Ruben Castilla Herrera, Ohio Sanctuary Collective

• Joel Miller, Columbus Mennonite Church

RNA member meeting

Reception and silent auction

Awards banquet