According to a statement from the United Church of Christ, The CBS and NBC television networks are refusing to run a 30-second ad from the church because its all-inclusive welcome has been deemed “too controversial.”
The ad, states that — like Jesus — the United Church of Christ (UCC) seeks to welcome all people, regardless of ability,age, race, economic circumstance or sexual orientation.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.”
“Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups by other individuals and organizations,” reads an explanation from CBS, “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.”
Similarly, a rejection by NBC declared the spot “too controversial.”
Stonewall Columbus’s Kate Anderson applauded the welcoming, affirming message offered in the ads and urged everyone to view the ads at www.stillspeaking.com and to “let CBS and NBC know that we will not support networks whose editorial policies are such that a simple message of inclusion is considered ‘too controversial”.
Anderson urged action to express support for the ads to the television networks. “Call your local CBS or NBC affiliate and let them know your opinion.”
Anderson also urged people to use UCC’s Action Alert system to send automated letters to the networks. The system can be found here.
Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC’s general minister and president, states.”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?”
Negotiations between network officials and the church’s representatives broke down today (Nov. 30), the day before the ad campaign begins airing nationwide on a combination of broadcast and cable networks. The ad has been accepted and will air on a number of networks, including ABC Family, AMC, BET, Discovery, Fox, Hallmark, History, Nick@Nite, TBS, TNT, Travel and TV Land, among others.
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 interrupt the scene, announcing, “Jesus didn’t turn people away. Neither do we.”
“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.
The United Church of Christ’s national offices — located in Cleveland –speak to, but not for, its nearly 6,000 congregations and 1.3 million members. In the spirit of the denomination’s rich tradition, UCC congregations remain autonomous, but also strongly in covenant with each other and with the denomination’s regional and national bodies.
