The United Church of Christ is at it again.

The UCC made national news — and national censorship by two TV networks — last year when it launched a national advertising campaign called “God Is Still Speaking.” The campaign featured a made-for-TV ad, which aired on cable outlets and local network affiliates in the run up to Christmas. The 30-second ad, “Bouncer,” depicted night club style bouncers picking and choosing who would be allowed to enter a church. The ad stated, “Jesus didn’t turn people away. Neither do we.” But the CBS and NBC television networks declared the message of welcome to be “too controversial” — leading to a wave of opprobrium and charges of “censorship” from religious leaders, editorial writers, and of course, bloggers.

The CBS rejection was particularly cowardly. “Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups by other individuals and organizations,” read 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.”

Undeterred by the prior censorship, the UCC reports it has raised over a half million dollars so far towards a major broadcast and cable TV ad buy for “Bouncer” in the run up to Easter.

“The UCC will again attempt to place its controversial ‘Bouncer’ ad on national broadcast and cable networks,” according to the United Church News, “because church leaders maintain the 30-second commercial has a proven track record of reaching and engaging unchurched viewers, those who are the primary targets of the church’s evangelism efforts.”

On the strength of the fundraising so far, the church has decided to go forward with an ad buy of over $1 million. The ad campaign is part of a multi-year effort to reach the “unchurched,” and to increase “enthusiasm and committment” among the membership of the historic 1.3 million member Protestant denomination.

Fortunately, you do not have to watch hours of mind and spirit numbing commercial television in hopes of catching the famous “Bouncer” ad. You can view it online, along with the other TV and radio spots in the God is Still Speaking campaign.

No word if the UCC will face further censorship. But its early yet