Posted on 12/14/2004 7:23:07 PM PST by lightman
The United Church of Christ (UCC), one of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s full communion partners, recently began airing a controversial television ad as a part of its identity campaign that a UCC news release describes thus:
The debut 30-second spot features two muscle-bound “bouncers” standing guard outside a fabled, 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.” A narrator then proclaims the United Church of Christ’s commitment to Jesus’ extravagant welcome: “No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” (The ad can be viewed online at www.stillspeaking.com)
Because the ad has bouncers preventing an apparently homosexual couple, a minority person and a handicapped person from entering the “picturesque church,” two networks refused to air the ad. CBS said “this spot is unacceptable for broadcast on the [CBS and UPN] networks,” and NBC said the ad was “too controversial.”
Two opposing statements have been issued in response to decisions by CBS and NBC, and in response to the UCC ad itself. One statement from the National Council of Churches criticizes the networks for refusing to air the ad. The statement was suggested and written by Pastor Eric Shafer, director of the ELCA Department of Communication, and may be viewed at: www.ncccusa.org/news/04uccad.html
The Association for Church Renewal (ACR), leaders of renewing and confessing movements in the mainline churches, including the WordAlone Network, issued a statement that defends the rights of churches to make public statements, even if they are controversial, but also calls upon the UCC to pull the ad:
Diane Knippers, President of the Institute on Religion and Democracy and Vice-Chair of the ACR, explained: “We defend the right of the UCC to communicate its message in mainstream media. But we believe that this ad is dishonest and insulting to other Christian churches. It violates the UCC’s stated commitment to respectful ecumenical dialogue. The UCC should voluntarily pull this ad.”
The ACR statement may be viewed at: www.ird-renew.org/Issues/Issues.cfm?ID=1011&c=9
Others also have raised questions about the content of the UCC ad, including Pastor Dan Baker, First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, Minn. In a letter to Shafer and other ELCA leaders, he questioned the ELCA’s defense of the ad, as a matter of ethics:
It is troubling to think that the UCC would chose to insult other Christians for holding different Biblical views as their major method of TV outreach in light of our current cultural climate of debate and discernment. Certainly they could have found a better way to present themselves rather than mocking others in this way.
He disagreed with the ad’s theological content and added his own comment:
‘Jesus didn't turn people away,’ he sought to turn them around from sin and death and toward holiness and righteousness through the power of faith in the living God.
It is troubling to think that the UCC would chose to insult other Christians for holding different Biblical views as their major method of TV outreach in light of our current cultural climate of debate and discernment. Certainly they could have found a better way to present themselves rather than mocking others in this way.
He disagreed with the ad’s theological content and added his own comment:
‘Jesus didn't turn people away,’ he sought to turn them around from sin and death and toward holiness and righteousness through the power of faith in the living God.
All comments right on the money. I'm glad other churches arefighting back against UCC's ecumeical incivility as well as theological error.
Don't you just love it when only half of what Christ said to sinners is put forth! < /sarcasm>
I predict that they will force through the homosexual agenda and it will result in many Lutheran Churches breaking away to form the American Lutheran Church.
Pastor Baker's last statement about what Jesus was really about collides head-on with the liberals charge for moral relativism. I would like to see us out of the UCC for good!
I don't think the ELCA will issue a pro-gay statement this year as scheduled....especially in view of the election. I predict you'll see a watered down statement that gives no meat to either side. They're running scared in the pocketbook.
I guess we will see on 1/13/05. I have been told that the panel that was convened to study the issue is quite pro-Sodomite, but that the ELCA got a lot of heat from members about it. I for one sent a message that I was violently offended that the questions were even raised and clearly stated that my family and I will leave if a pro-Sodomite agenda is accepted by the ELCA.
I think you meant the NCC or WCC - National Council of Churches and/or World Council of Churches. The UCC is the United Church of Christ, a denomination with whom we have full communion but we are not actually *in* it. On the other hand, I, too, would like to see us out of both of those organizations as well as not in full communion with the UCC. Of course with the current "anything goes" ecumenism in the ELCA, fat chance of that happening.
Yet have you noticed, Tony, how so many of the hymns and so much of the liturgy that we are trying out for the new Renewing Worship materials ask for God to bring justice? I wonder if people realize what they are asking for...we, thankfully, as redeemed, forgiven and adopted children of God, don't have to worry about justice. We have his mercy - why do we keep asking for justice? It makes me shudder.
I fear for our Church, Tony. The Sodomites are destroying denomination after denomination and I am still waiting for someone to stand up and say "NO!"
God bless you and yours this Christmas season.
Oh dear. This is not at all surprising to me. I've seen the UCC commercial and thought it was awful.
I was OK with my pastor being welcoming towards a lesbian couple who attends services regularly and brings the son of one of the women (a teenager). They are extremely discreet and for a long time I thought the women were actually sisters - silly me! They did not choose to go to the local UCC congregation down the road, which is widely known as "accepting" of all sorts of deviance. I genuinely don't know how to feel about these women. They clearly felt a need to attend a church and the teenage son is in Sunday School weekly. On the other hand, what they are doing is sinful - although none of us are without sin, so it's not my place to judge. My pastor is so wishy-washy on many moral issues that it's unsurprising he's never spoken about homosexuality in a sermon or in confirmation class! This is the same guy who spoke out AGAINST "The Passion of the Christ" so we don't expect much out of him.
If the ELCA starts sanctioning same-sex marriage/relationships and the ordaining of non-celibate homosexuals, I am quite sure my parents will leave the church for the LCMS (which is not without its own issues).
There's a difference between tolerance and acceptance. One can be welcoming of sinners without condoning the sin. I see the ELCA headed towards the latter path, and I find that sad.
Merry Christmas!
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