No Room at CBS and NBC
Who would have thought that two major TV networks would refuse an ad featuring a mainstream Christian message of welcome and inclusion during the Christmas season? Not me. But that's what has happened.
The United Church of Christ -- that's the mainline Protestant denomination whose white wooden churches are featured on New England calendars and are as American as apple pie and Thanksgiving -- want to pay to broadcast ads welcoming the alienated and the outcast to their churches during the Christmas season. But CBS and NBC think it is "too controversial" that gay people are welcome at the United Church of Christ.
Here is what the United Church of Christ (UCC) stated on November 30th in a press release: "The ad, part of the denomination's new, broad identity campaign set to begin airing nationwide on Dec. 1, states that -- like Jesus -- the United Church of Christ... seeks to welcome all people, regardless of ability, age, race, economic circumstance or sexual orientation."
The UCC statement continued: "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'" Since there are openly gay characters on network programming, and the issues of same sex marriage are discussed in the news all the time, this statement makes no sense. I have seen ads and public service announcements for many religious groups on local and network television over many years. But I have never heard of one that was refused.
But it turns out that what is really going on, is that CBS is afraid of the White House. "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."
The networks can try to blame the White House if they like, but their religious bigotry is their own responsibility.
Here is more of what the UCC has to say: "CBS and NBC's refusal to air the ad 'recalls the censorship of the 1950s and 1960s, when television station WLBT in Jackson, Miss., refused to show people of color on TV,' says Ron Buford, coordinator for the United Church of Christ identity campaign. Buford, of African-American heritage, says, 'In the 1960s, the issue was the mixing of the races. Today, the issue appears to be sexual orientation. In both cases, it's about exclusion'"
"Jesus didn't turn people away," states the ad, "Neither do we." "No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey," the ad continues, "you are welcome here."
People can see the censored ad for themselves online. But they might also catch it on ABC Family, AMC, BET, Discovery, Fox, Hallmark, History, Nick@Nite, TBS, TNT, Travel and TV Land, among others that have agreed to run the ad.
All this may seem to some like a weird footnote in the culture wars. However, I think that the networks have miscalculated. They have refused the ad of a Christian church at Christmas because that church welcomes everyone. There are 1.3 million members of the UCC and tens of millions more who are members of Christian denominations, and other religious religious traditions that will recognize that if CBS can turn down an ad because they are afraid the White House won't like it, the First Amendment protection of religious freedom is in jeopardy. The disgraceful affront to gay and lesbian people will also not go unnoticed.
I predict that this Christmas season will not be very merry for CBS, NBC and their advertisers.
But whatever the fate of these cowardly corporations, here in Massachusetts, over 200 UCC churches are preparing for "an extravagant welcome" to those who they believe will be reached by the ads' message that "God is still speaking." The ads will air through Christmas, and will be followed up with a different ad in the run up to Easter. I think many people will admire the UCC's Christmas season of welcome. And I have no doubt that many people will check out their local UCC church, and that they will be glad they did. For many millions of Americans, there is nothing so special as the warmth and generosity of the Christmas tradition.
But the Christmas story of how there was no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph, and so Jesus the son of God, was born in a stable -- will be retold many times in the next few weeks. I am sure I will not be the only one to note that there was no room at CBS and NBC for a Christian message of welcome and inclusion for all during the Christmas season. But I am also sure that none of this will dampen the Christmas spirit that is bursting forth at the United Church of Christ.
The United Church of Christ -- that's the mainline Protestant denomination whose white wooden churches are featured on New England calendars and are as American as apple pie and Thanksgiving -- want to pay to broadcast ads welcoming the alienated and the outcast to their churches during the Christmas season. But CBS and NBC think it is "too controversial" that gay people are welcome at the United Church of Christ.
Here is what the United Church of Christ (UCC) stated on November 30th in a press release: "The ad, part of the denomination's new, broad identity campaign set to begin airing nationwide on Dec. 1, states that -- like Jesus -- the United Church of Christ... seeks to welcome all people, regardless of ability, age, race, economic circumstance or sexual orientation."
The UCC statement continued: "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'" Since there are openly gay characters on network programming, and the issues of same sex marriage are discussed in the news all the time, this statement makes no sense. I have seen ads and public service announcements for many religious groups on local and network television over many years. But I have never heard of one that was refused.
But it turns out that what is really going on, is that CBS is afraid of the White House. "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."
The networks can try to blame the White House if they like, but their religious bigotry is their own responsibility.
Here is more of what the UCC has to say: "CBS and NBC's refusal to air the ad 'recalls the censorship of the 1950s and 1960s, when television station WLBT in Jackson, Miss., refused to show people of color on TV,' says Ron Buford, coordinator for the United Church of Christ identity campaign. Buford, of African-American heritage, says, 'In the 1960s, the issue was the mixing of the races. Today, the issue appears to be sexual orientation. In both cases, it's about exclusion'"
"Jesus didn't turn people away," states the ad, "Neither do we." "No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey," the ad continues, "you are welcome here."
People can see the censored ad for themselves online. But they might also catch it on ABC Family, AMC, BET, Discovery, Fox, Hallmark, History, Nick@Nite, TBS, TNT, Travel and TV Land, among others that have agreed to run the ad.
All this may seem to some like a weird footnote in the culture wars. However, I think that the networks have miscalculated. They have refused the ad of a Christian church at Christmas because that church welcomes everyone. There are 1.3 million members of the UCC and tens of millions more who are members of Christian denominations, and other religious religious traditions that will recognize that if CBS can turn down an ad because they are afraid the White House won't like it, the First Amendment protection of religious freedom is in jeopardy. The disgraceful affront to gay and lesbian people will also not go unnoticed.
I predict that this Christmas season will not be very merry for CBS, NBC and their advertisers.
But whatever the fate of these cowardly corporations, here in Massachusetts, over 200 UCC churches are preparing for "an extravagant welcome" to those who they believe will be reached by the ads' message that "God is still speaking." The ads will air through Christmas, and will be followed up with a different ad in the run up to Easter. I think many people will admire the UCC's Christmas season of welcome. And I have no doubt that many people will check out their local UCC church, and that they will be glad they did. For many millions of Americans, there is nothing so special as the warmth and generosity of the Christmas tradition.
But the Christmas story of how there was no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph, and so Jesus the son of God, was born in a stable -- will be retold many times in the next few weeks. I am sure I will not be the only one to note that there was no room at CBS and NBC for a Christian message of welcome and inclusion for all during the Christmas season. But I am also sure that none of this will dampen the Christmas spirit that is bursting forth at the United Church of Christ.
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