Jesus too open-minded for TV networks

[pegkerr]

Thanks to cakmpls for this one.

The UCC (the United Church of Christ) tried to air a spot announcing that, like Jesus, they welcome everyone. Some networks consider that too controversial.

http://www.ucc.org/news/u113004a.htm

Edited to add: king_tirian pondered aloud a bit whether the problem the UCC identified with other churches was actually a real problem. Are people really turned away from churches? Based on this news story, and this followup, among others, I'd say that it is.

Comments

[slashkilter.livejournal.com]

I love that the Reverend mentioned how the networks have no problems using gay people for their own purposes - Will & Grace, anyone?

[longtimegone]

That just fucking pisses me off.

"We find it disturbing that the networks in question seem to have no problem exploiting gay persons through mindless comedies or titillating dramas, but when it comes to a church's loving welcome of committed gay couples, that's where they draw the line," says the Rev. Robert Chase, director of the UCC's communication ministry.

WORD. Someone give this man a cookie. Love and tolerance is really only acceptable in the form of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy apparently. Cause that's actually, you know, FUNNY. < /sarcasm>

[copperwise.livejournal.com]

Appalling. Just...gaaa. GAAAA.

[king-tirian.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm, I was outraged at first. But listen to the ad:

The debut 30-second commercial features two muscle-bound "bouncers" standing guard outside a symbolic, picturesque church and selecting which persons are permitted to attend Sunday services. Written text interrupts the scene, announcing, "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we."

I'm a progressive Christian and I suppose still on the rolls of a UCC church, and I still think that's a cheap shot. You'd be hard-pressed to find any (US) church where people are turned away. But Jesus also demanded that people renounce their sins and choose a new path after following him.

Different churches have different attitudes on what those sins are: is it just emotions like pride and anger, or does it include behaviors like recreational drug use and fornication? And the cherry on that sundae, of course, is whether homosexuality is a behavior or an integral part of the character like your fingerprint or your blood type. But I don't think that there is anyone in the American Christian tradition who will say "Get out, you're too sinful for us to congregate with."

That being said, I think that the UCC definitely should have the right to brand itself in television ads, since probably few people know that they're the home for free-thinking Christians and those who got thrown out of the Unitarian Church for saying "Jesus" too much. And a bunch of Baptist television station owners shouldn't be refusing that message just because it doesn't paint conservative Christendom in a good light.