FORT WORTH, Texas -- A September conference will teach pastors how to handle crisis communications if their churches are thrust into the national spotlight.

"Crisis in ministry is like the Second Coming," said the Rev. Al Meredith, pastor of Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. "When it happens you'd better be ready because you won't have time to get ready."

A gunman entered Meredith's church in 1999 and killed seven people during a worship service. Meredith will share his media experiences at the Sept. 20-21 "Crisis Communication for Ministers Conference," according to the Baptist Press.

The conference will be held at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) in Fort Worth. The cost for those who register before Sept. 3 is $50. Those who register after that date will pay $60. A discount rate of $40 each is available to groups of two or more from the same church or organization. Seminary students will pay $25.

Conference participants will examine potential crisis points in the local church, crisis management do's and don'ts, managing bad news, media training, and how to use holidays and other events to increase the churches' visibility in local communities.

Speakers will include various public relations and media professionals, Baptist leaders and a representative from the United Methodist Church.

"All corporations hire public relations people and place a lot of importance on it, but it seems like churches never did, whether they be Protestant or Catholic," said Gary Morey, who is organizing the conference. Morey, a SWBTS student, is a former Air Force public relations officer.

"I want to educate pastors on simple things," Morey said, "how to appear on television and how to respond when a reporter shows up at your door."

To register, call SWBTS' Center for Leadership Development at (877) 474-4769.