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"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. What's going on here?" Rev. John H. Thomas United Church OfChrist General Minister and President |
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is an abuse of the broadcasters' duty to inform their viewers on issues
of importance to the community. After all, these stations don't mind
carrying shocking, attention-getting programming, because they do
that every night." Andrew Schwartzman President and CEO Media Access Project in Washington, D.C. |
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| "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." CBS Spokesperson |
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United
Church Of
Christ
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Cathedral Church of Saint
Matthew
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Pastor Dr. Briton Minshall
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When Dr. Minshall is not writing
books he is performing his duties as the Senior Pastor of The Cathedral
Church of Saint Matthew. He is also a member of the executive council
of the Chesapeake association of the United Church Of Christ and a
delegate to the general synod. He is also a member of the executive
council of the Chesapeake association of the United Church Of Christ
and a delegate to the general senate. Although Britt holds prestigious
positions in the church, his primary responsibility and his greatest
passion is leading people to the lord and pasturing the people in
his church.
Recently Pastor Minshall found it necessary to speak up for his denomination when network TV executives refused to air the church’s commercial. Responding to the denial of NBC and CBS executives to air United Church Of Christ’s commercial, Reverent Dr. Minshall is calling on the head of the networks to reconsider. The air waves belong to the American public and not the networks. CBS lamented an explanation that is painfully stupid and contradictory, while NBC simply stated the ad is "too controversial." Whatever the rational, there is a growing group who disapprove of the decision of the network executives and believe they are infringing on our constitutional right to free speech. Even the Reverend Jerry Falwell said on CNN he didn't understand why CBS & NBC refused to air the ad. What is ironic is the advertisement, deemed as “too controversial” was never meant to advocate bisexual relationships as implied by network executives. It is solely intended to communicate the United Church Of Christ’s open door policy to people from all walks of life. What could be more American than saying “we don’t discriminate” on America’s public airwaves? As it says at the base of the Statue of Liberty in the harbor of New York City “give me your tired, your poor.” “It is absolute hypocrisy that NBC, a network that on every Thursday evening, before 10 pm, airs a sitcom (Will & Grace) centered on explicit gay relationships and gay life styles, would censor a mainstream church’s commercial” says Dr. Minshall. “It seems to me that every time NBC airs Will & Grace and the show’s promotional advertisements, they are advocating gay and lesbian life styles, which for some is far more controversial and endorsing than our message: Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we. We welcome into the full life of the church people from every part of society" The advertisement has been accepted by many other channels. 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. “I pray the NBC and CBS executives will reconsider” Says Pastor Minshall. |
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View
the TV Commercial and decide for yourself!
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"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. 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." |
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| "The reasons given by the networks
for rejecting this message should bring a chill to everyone who supports
freedom of religious expression because they are saying that a fundamental
tenet of Christian belief is politically unacceptable for the public
dialogue. The belief that God loves every person without condition
is so basic to Christian teaching that if a denomination cannot make
this assertion what can it say? Such decisions shut out the Christian
community from the national conversation." Larry Hollon leader of the national advertising effort for The United Methodist Church |
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© 2004 Renaissance Institute
Press. All Rights Reserved- Ring Of Angels ISBN 0-9642773-2-8
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