2018 RNA Annual Conference

The banquet is generously sponsored by Beyond I do. Local couple Jimmie and Mindy Beall, whose story of employment discrimination is featured is the Beyond I Do ad campaign, will discuss the impact discrimination has had on their family, as well as the prevalence of discrimination against LGBT people across the country.

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.

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?

The #MeToo tsunami of 2017 and 2018 has reached into sacred spaces and religious organizations. Powerful evangelical pastors are facing new or renewed allegations of covering up sexual abuse ranging from harassment to rape. Mormons have been prompted to denounce "nonconsensual immorality" and to allow a second adult to be present in interviews by male leaders of teen girls on sexuality. Muslim women who have experienced sexual harassment during the Haj, the holiest of pilgrimages, started #MosqueMeToo. Similarly, female clergy and lay women, have reported abuse and harassment through #ChurchToo. 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.

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.

Welcome to the 69th RNA Annual Conference! Please use our welcome reception to greet friends and colleagues, and to network with our exhibitors and sponsors. Enjoy a wide spread of appetizers and small plates, and grab a drink from our cash bar. Sponsored by Spring Green Films

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.

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."

Pew Research Center will present its latest data on religious trends shaping the 2018 midterm elections.

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.