CBS, NBC refuse gay-friendly church ad

[IowaStatePhiPsi]

http://www.thenation.com/thebeat/ind...bid=1&pid=2039

Love One Another? Not on NBC, CBS
12/01/2004 @ 4:53pm
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The Rev. John Thomas, who serves as general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, is having a hard time figuring out why the same broadcasters that profited so handsomely from airing the vicious and divisive attack advertisements during the recent presidential election are now refusing to air an advertisement from his denomination that celebrates respect for one another and inclusiveness.

"It's ironic that after a political season awash in commercials based on fear and deception by both parties seen on all the major networks , an ad with a message of welcome and inclusion would be deemed too controversial," said Thomas. "What's going on here?"

The ad in question is part of an ambitious new national campaign by the UCC to appeal to Americans who feel alienated from religion and churches, and to equip the denomination's 6,000 congregations across the U.S. to welcome newcomers. In an effort to break through the commercial clutter that clogs the arteries of broadcast and cable television, the UCC ad features an arresting image: a pair of muscle-bound bouncers standing in front of a church and telling some people they can attend while turning others away.

After people of color, a disabled man and a pair of men who might be gay are turned away, the image dissolves to a text statement that: "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we."

Then, as images of diverse couples and families appear on screen, an announcer explains that, "No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here." It is a graceful commercial, which delivers an important message gently yet effectively -- something that cannot be said of most television advertising these days. But viewers of the CBS and NBC television networks won't see it because, in this age of heightened focus on so-called "moral values," quoting Jesus on the issue of inclusion is deemed to be "too controversial."

What was controversial? Apparently, the networks don't like the ad's implication that the Nazarene's welcome to all people might actually include ALL people.

Noting that the image of one woman putting her arm around another was included in the ad, CBS announced, "Because the commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups by other individuals and organizations, 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."

NBC was similarly concerned that the spot was "controversial." UCC leaders, pastors and congregation members are upset, and rightly so.

"It' seems incredible to me that CBS admits it is refusing to air the commercial because of something the Executive Branch, the Bush administration, is doing," says Dave Moyer, conference minister for the Wisconsin Conference of the UCC. "Since when is it unacceptable to offer a different perspective?"

Moyer says that people of all religious faiths and all ideological perspectives should be concerned that the major networks -- which dominate so much of the discourse in America -- are seeking to narrow the dialogue.

The Rev. Curt Anderson, the pastor of the First United Church of Christ in Madison, Wisconsin, says that people of good will should also be concerned about the message being sent to gays and lesbians in the aftermath of an election season that saw them targeted by the political right.

"I'm thinking of the LGBT folks in my church who felt so under attack after the election. They are getting hit again," explained the pastor. "This is another way where the culture, the media, makes them invisible. It is incredible that it is controversial for one woman to put her arm around another."

It is also bizarrely hypocritical. After all, the same NBC network that found the UCC ad "too controversial" airs programs such as "Will & Grace" that feature gay and lesbian characters. "We find it disturbing that the networks in question seem to have no problem exploiting gay persons through mindless comedies and titillating dramas, but when it comes to a church's loving welcome to committed gay couples, that's where they draw the line," explained the Rev. Bob Chase, director of the national UCC's communication ministry.

Chase has a point. CBS and NBC, networks that reap enormous profits from the public airwaves, are not serving the public interest. Rather, they are assaulting it by narrowing the dialogue and rejecting a message of inclusion that is sorely needed at this point in the American experiment.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds17389.html

CBS, NBC refuse to air gay-friendly church ad
Wednesday, December 1 2004, 23:19 GMT -- by James Welsh
CBS and NBC have refused to air a gay-friendly ad from the United Church of Christ.

"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," said The Reverend Robert Chase, director of the UCC's communication ministry.

The church posted CBS's written response on its website. It reads:

"Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups by other individuals and organizations, 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."

Constitutional historians will probably be surprised to learn that the executive branch has a role in "proposing" amendments; the American constitution has two methods for amendment, neither of which involve the executive branch of government at all. All that the "executive branch," in this case President George W. Bush, has done, is express an opinion on the matter. Regardless, it is difficult to see what relevance an anti-gay marriage amendment has on a thirty second advertisement.

"It's ironic that after a political season awash in commercials based on fear and deception by both parties seen on all the major networks, an ad with a message of welcome and inclusion would be deemed too controversial," said the Reverend John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president. "What's going on here?"

The advertisement has been accepted by many other channels. The church indicates that ABC Family, AMC, BET, Discovery, Fox, Hallmark, History, Nick@Nite, TBS, TNT, Travel and TV Land are among those who have accepted the advertisement for broadcast.

The actual ad, which can be viewed online, depicts two muscle-bound "bouncers" standing outside a church selecting people to be allowed to attend Sunday service. Text is then overlayed on the screen reading "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we."

Another perspective was provided by Gloria Tristani, a former Federal Communications Commissioner who is now the managing director of the UCC's Office of Communications.

"The consolidation of TV network ownership into the hands of a few executives today puts freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression in jeopardy," said Tristani. "By refusing to air the United Church of Christ's paid commercial, CBS and NBC are stifling religious expression. They are denying the communities they serve a suitable access to differing ideas and expressions."

The UCC claims a membership of 1.3m people, and is based in Cleveland.

[DeltAlum]

Broadcasters are between the proverbial rock and hard place when it come to this kind of add.

Regarding the campaign, broadcasters can't really turn down political adds. They are required to take them at their lowest available rate. No choice. Not that many mind since elections are generally an advertising windfall.

The problem with the CofC ad is that if the network runs the add, it and all of the stations might be required to run adds at the same rate, in the same time periods from every nut-case (or legitimate organization) with an opposing view. In other words, sell out their entire inventory at the very lowest rate available.

From a purely business standpoint, that's a problem.

Just another example of your Federal Communications Commission protecting the public airways.

[Phasad1913]

I just saw a promo for an ice skating tournament to be aired on CBS that's called "USA v. The World. LOL, How interesting is that. Come on, CBS, can you all be anymore obvious?

[Senusret I]

I'd like to see the ad.

I've seen ads for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for years now! (And I have no problem with them -- I'd like to see more.)

[Rudey]

I'd like not to see any ads. I think this solves the problem. No ads. Everybody go buy ipods now though!

-Rudey

[DeltAlum]

I think I saw the spot on Hallmark or USA last night, but it was over before I realized what it was.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally posted by Senusret I
I'd like to see the ad.

I've seen ads for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for years now! (And I have no problem with them -- I'd like to see more.)

flash intro http://www.ucc.org/intro.htm

main page with ad http://www.ucc.org/index3.html

[Senusret I]

Originally posted by NinjaPoodle
flash intro http://www.ucc.org/intro.htm

main page with ad http://www.ucc.org/index3.html

Thank you!

It was pretty tame!