The tools are changing. The culture is changing. The communications landscape is changing.
But the calling to communicate truth clearly, creatively and faithfully has not.
Join college students, educators and communications professionals from across Baptist life for two days of practical training, meaningful conversations, professional connections and encouragement for communicators navigating a rapidly changing world.
Costs:
$25 for Professionals (sessions, meals, and awards banquet);
$10 for Students (sessions, meals, and awards banquet);
Free (sessions only)
What to Expect
Fall Forum is designed to bring emerging and experienced communicators into the same room.
Whether you're preparing for your first communications job, teaching the next generation, or already serving in ministry, media or organizational communications, you'll have opportunities to sharpen your craft, wrestle with important questions and build relationships with people doing this work every day.
Expect:
Main-stage conversations on issues shaping communications today
Practical, discipline-specific breakout sessions
Direct access to experienced communications professionals
Networking, mentoring and career connections
Opportunities to connect with organizations offering jobs and internships
Student portfolio and professional-development opportunities
The BCA Student Awards Banquet
Featured Speakers
Don Barger, Director, Innovation + Artificial Intelligence, International Mission Board
Elizabeth Bristow, Press Secretary, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Laura Erlanson, Managing Editor, Baptist Press
Eric Murrell, Founder, Uncommon Intelligence
Tom Wigginton, Chief Information Officer, North American Mission Board
Brandon Elrod, Public Relations, North American Mission Board
Additional speakers will be added as programming is finalized.
Relevant Topics
Fall Forum programming will explore questions including:
How should Christian communicators use AI responsibly?
What should we embrace? What should we resist? And what happens to creativity, authenticity and human connection as AI becomes part of everyday professional life?
How do we communicate truth when the environment is tribal?
How do journalists, PR professionals and ministry communicators navigate difficult information, competing constituencies and declining trust?
What makes an excellent communicator today?
Students will hear directly from working professionals about craft, judgment, character, professional development and the skills organizations need.
How do we keep the gospel and our calling at the center?
Technology and platforms will keep changing. Fall Forum will also create space to consider the deeper purpose behind the work.
Plus practical breakout sessions in communications disciplines including PR, writing, digital communications, visual storytelling, design and more.
Premier Sponsors
Who Is Fall Forum For?
For Students
If you are studying communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, design, photography, video, digital media or a related field, Fall Forum is built with you in mind.
This is an opportunity to move beyond the classroom and spend nearly two days interacting directly with people doing communications work across Baptist ministries, churches, institutions and organizations.
Fall Forum gives communications educators an opportunity to connect students directly with experienced practitioners while building relationships with other faculty and communications professionals.
A limited number of educator lodging and meal scholarships are being made available to help faculty attend.
Fall Forum needs experienced communicators in the room.
Come sharpen your own thinking, reconnect with colleagues and invest in the students who may soon be serving alongside you.
Professionals will have opportunities to participate in conversations, network with other communicators and help students understand what excellence, integrity and faithfulness look like in the real world.
BCA Student Awards Banquet: Thursday Evening, October 22
We'll celebrate outstanding student communications work with the BCA Student Awards Banquet — an evening designed to recognize excellent work and encourage the next generation of communicators.
The banquet is part of the broader Fall Forum experience and brings students, educators and professionals together for one of the signature moments of the event.
Schedule at a Glance
A detailed schedule will be announced as programming is finalized.
Thursday, October 22
Registration and networking
Opening main-stage session
Practical breakout sessions
Networking, mentoring and career connections
BCA Student Awards Banquet
Friday, October 23
Breakfast and networking
Main-stage conversations
Practical breakout sessions
Portfolio, career and professional connections
Closing session
Lodging
We have secured up to 30 private bedrooms on Union's campus in the Hope Quads for $25 per night per person. You will need to bring your own bedding and towels, and you'll share a suite with 3 other students. These will be made available on a first come, first served basis. After making your reservations for the Fall Forum, the student advisor or student can email Cam Tracy at ctracy@uu.edu to claim available rooms. There is the potential that a sponsorship will cover the cost of these rooms.
Jackson also has a variety of hotels conveniently located near Union's campus. This is not a complete listing of hotels/motels in the Jackson area. This list represents desirable accommodations close to the Union University campus. NOTE: Union University Rates are usually only accessible by calling the local number and may be based upon the hotel’s availability.
Homewood Suites by Hilton 33 Capital Ave., Jackson, TN 38305 (731) 300-0800 Union University Rate: $139 per night plus tax
TRU by Hilton 1136 Rushmeade Road, Jackson, TN 38305 (731) 300-7928 Union University Rate: 12% off lowest rate
Fairfield Inn by Marriott 1335 Vann Drive, Jackson, TN 38305 (731) 736-4550 Union University Rate: $139 per night plus tax
Hilton Garden Inn 1324 Vann Drive, Jackson, TN 38305 (731) 868-3500 Union University Rate: $141 per night plus tax
Be Part of the Conversation
The future of Christian communication will require more than mastering the newest platform or technology.
It will require communicators who know how to tell the truth, exercise wisdom, create excellent work, build trust and remain deeply human in an increasingly impersonal age.
Join us at Union University this October.
Interested in Sponsoring or Exhibiting?
Fall Forum sponsors help make the event affordable and accessible for students and educators while connecting organizations directly with emerging and experienced communications professionals. Sponsorship opportunities include Premier, Student Awards Banquet, Student and Educator sponsorships, plus exhibitor tables.
