Wow, I don't know if there is any type of legal action that can be taken, because I guess the networks have the right to stay clear of this kind of thing, but it is amazing. The article points out the networks would run all sorts of campaign ads that would seem to be more controversial than acceptence. I think the networks are being huge cowards. Because this church is extending welcome they are denied advertising space. That is a horrible precedent to set. Hopefully the church will continue to try and spread it's message of love.
My best friend is a UCC minister and he's absolutely livid about this. He screened the ads and said they're simply not "pro-gay." In fact, he said the commercials are a little boring. Oh, and NBC and CBS don't own the airwaves; we do. The networks can do what they want on the airwaves because we allow them to, not the other way around.
According to a written explanation from CBS, the United Church of Christ is being denied network access because its ad implies acceptance of gay and lesbian couples -- among other minority constituencies -- and is, therefore, too "controversial." This is not your father's Church of Christ.
Has anybody else tried to access that site? All I get is the flash intro replaying again and again, the main site won't load.
To be fair, No Worries...I've never been in any church that wouldn't accept in anyone from any lifestyle as a member, officially. You may not be ordained as a pastor...but you're certainly not denied a place in the church. Just my own experience...I'm sure that's not everyone's experience. I can't imagine being part of a church that says they won't allow homosexuals in the door to worship God.
Did you grow up attending a Church of Christ church? Just curious. From what I can remember (back in high school) from my CoC friends was that the CoC was more conservative than the Southern Baptist (the church I grew up attending). BTW, there were no opening gay people who attended my church. I do not suspect that they would have been all that welcomed, unofficially of course. I could easily see that their lifestyle would be vigorously attacked, attempting to "get it right with God". I also vaguely remember a 60 minute-ish story in the seventies about the CoC. There were some CoC churches (maybe in Oklahoma?) that essentially would blackball church members who did not fit in, trying to convince them that other churches would be more welcoming. FWIW.
I was not a member of Church of Christ...had a friend whose family was Church of Christ. I know it's more conservative than most. But I never got the sense they wouldn't welcome in different people when I visited. I hear ya on the unofficial welcome though...that's really unfortunate and totally misses the point of what Christ taught. But either way...I find this message that was rejected to be ultimately very Christ-centered. The words in that message are the call of every church.
This is the United Church of Christ. Aren't there different kinds of CoC's? Perhaps this has no relation the the type you about which you are thinking. What I have known as CoC, though, is definitely in line with your impression.
CBS must feel like they can't do anything right. "and the fact the Executive Branch has recently proposed a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, this spot is unacceptable for broadcast on the [CBS and UPN] networks." Unforeseen negative backlashes of the proposed amendment anyone? You reap what you sow...
i haven't seen the commercial...but does it touch on gay marriage?? i don't see how they're necessarily related. just because you say homosexuals are welcome to our church services doesn't mean you're saying you think homosexuality is super-swell. having said that, i'm against this amendment.
There are different kinds of Curch of Christ. There are two groups. One is very conservative. The other is fairly liberal. The only requirement is acceptance of Christ as the son of God. They have a saying that goes something along the lines of 'In big things-unity, small things - indiduality or choice and in all things-love. That shows they aren't some dogmatic group with consersvative rules over everything. They have in the past few years admitted that Christianity was largely responsible for the death and slaughter of Native Americans, accepted responsiblity, and aplogized. They also set up several schools and institutes to teach native tongues of some of the tribes.
I understand your view. There is a larger picture however and your view may be wrong. I think it's a lot like the "support the troops but hate the war" argumnet. Even if it's right, it's hard for people to see the difference. When gay marriage is OUTLAWED due to "religious" beliefs (Judeo/Christian), it sends a strong message. Now it looks like boneheaded corporations etc. will try to "give the people what they want" with added prejudice, mostly due out of fear.
Just wanted to chime in that the UCC is a specific denomination that not all churches that bear the "of Christ" tag belong to. UCC is basically just left of United Methodists on the progressive scale. I find this action by the network incredibly bizarre. Is it the network's belief that inviting gays to come to church is actually offensive to someone? Even if you disagree with the practice of homosexuality, would you turn a convicted murderer away from church? Are gays, then, worse than murderers?
It kinda reminds me of those Bahai commercials on NPR. Where faith is a journey, where men and women are equals, where thinking is required, etc, with the obvious implication that other churches aren't like that. The networks might be leery of the implication that other churches wouldn't welcome gays, even if or especially because it isn't well-founded. Or, maybe they don't want anyone to know churches would welcome gays. In any case, still a boneheaded decision.
