As the UCC admits, it never requested the Station to air the advertisement at issue, called "Night Club." Instead, in February 2004, the UCC, through its advertising agency, approached the Network with the ad, which portrayed other churches and religions as discriminatory in their refusal to accept people who are African- American, Hispanic, disabled, or gay. The Network concluded that the "Night Club" ad inappropriately suggested that churches other than the UCC are not open to people of diverse races and backgrounds and therefore violated the Network's policy against addressing issues of public controversy through paid commercial advertisements.

Accordingly, the Network refused to air the ad.

In November 2004, the UCC approached the Network a second time with the "Night Club" ad and also offered another commercial announcement. The other commercial, which the Network accepted, contained a positive message asserting only that UCC churches are welcoming and inclusive. The Network again rejected the "Night Club" ad as unacceptable under Network policy, however, and offered suggestions to the UCC for modifying the "Night Club" ad to address the Network's objections. The UCC responded to these offers not by telling the Network to run the acceptable ad or modifying the objectionable ad, but rather by filing the Petition – more than 10 months after the objectionable ad was first presented – against a station to which the ad had not even been offered.

Both of Eckstrom's articles suggest that the ads were rejected because of gay and racial content while a network-owned station says the ads were rejected because of their accusations about other churches. Neither of Eckstrom's articles attribute a source to the claim and appear to simply mimic the UCC's publicity of the controversy.

The United Church of Christ: Advertising Hypocrisy

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said that eleven o'clock on Sunday was the most segregated hour in America. Unfortunately, it still is and the United Church of Christ is no different than any other protestant denomination. However, the new UCC television advertisement, titled "Ejector Seat" communicates a different message.

The new UCC ad implies that other churches reject people and that the UCC does not. In the ad, an African-American woman, a gay couple, an elderly handicapped man and an Arab-American are literally ejected out of their pews. There is no doubt that some people have felt rejected by God, Jesus, church and religion for a variety of reasons- but it would be arrogant to think that our denomination is different from any other in this respect. The television ad is wrong and hypocritical in it's implication that other churches reject people and we don't.

Chris Matthews of MSNBC's Hardball raised the issue last year after the UCC used "The Bouncer" television ad that showed bouncers in front of church blocking certain people from entering. What kind of a message are we sending by advertising that 'they are bad and we are good'? Has advertising religion devolved into the mud-slinging of a political campaign? We know how the public feels about it during an election season even when they expect it - what do you think the reaction will be when you apply the same tactic to religion?

Some people will like the ad and respond to it, some people will find it funny, some people will be angered by it and most people will probably just be confused or ignore it. When last year's ad ran, this web site experienced a spike of about 5 times the normal unique visitors and the UCC web site will undoubtedly see a spike in inquiries and interest. But how do we define a successful advertising campaign? By inquiries? By new members? By revenue? Since the last campaign, the UCC has fewer churches, fewer members and a projected budget shortfall in 2006 of over $1 million dollars in national support which is now planned to be $9.47 million.

We have a great denomination and anyone who has spent any time in the UCC will tell you that every church is different and that every church has it's own set of strengths and weaknesses. Unlike most denominations, the local church in the UCC has a unique level of autonomy and isn't bound to a rigid hierarchy. While these differences are our greatest asset as a denomination, it also makes the individual experience in each church unique as well. Some people may like a particular church in the UCC and some may not. Some may even feel rejected by a church in the UCC. The great thing is that if someone feels rejected, there is always another UCC church that they might feel welcome in. Let's hope that new people feel attracted to our church because of what we have to offer and not because of what another church does or doesn't offer.

The campaign behind the campaign

National/Conference Colleagues --

Attached and below, you will find 'talking points' to accompany the newest UCC television ad. I strongly suggest that you print copies of these talking points and -- literally -- tape them near your telephones. No matter the reporters' questions, keep emphasizing these key points. When the ad is released, encourage your local clergy to use the talking points as well.

The ad is scheduled to premiere during a press conference at 10 a.m. (ET) on Monday, March 27, in Cleveland. However, since the ad's content was leaked yesterday by <ucctruths.com>, you might find it necessary to speak with reporters before this date. At this point, feel free to speak openly about the ad to any reporters who may call before Monday.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact me at 866/822-8224, x. 2177.

Blessings,

Ben Guess
UCC News Director

Anyone want to argue that the UCC campaign and the controversy they are trying to create aren't manufactured?

Of course, part of any advertising campaign requires that the members of the organization understand and communicate the message. But is the "inclusive message" and "extravagant welcome" so complicated that national and conference leaders who have been inundated with the message for almost two years now need talking points?

Perhaps more to the point, the message of church bashing in the television ad is tough for some national and conference staff to justify... in which case they probably need to be reminded what the twisted rationale is for the commercial.

It's also worth noting that Ben's clear lie about how the details of the ad were leaked (see below) is exactly why a site like this is necessary to set the record straight.

Thanks Ben!

I'd love to take credit for a good leak (it sounds so nefarious)... but I can't. Ben Guess wrote an article today for UC News that implies that this humble site was responsible for releasing details about the new UCC television ad. Unfortunately we didn't. You can see from yesterday's post below that we clearly reference the blog Philosophy Over Coffee which referenced a series of posts on the UCC's own message board that referenced an article in Sojourners Magazine that quoted the guy in charge of the advertising campaign, Ron Buford. You don't have to be Inspector Clouseau to figure out the it was the UCC that leaked the details, not UCCtruths. After I posted the article yesterday, I received a number of clips, screen shots and a copy of the commercial from various people that had a copy of the ad. The details of the television ad are hardly a secret. But what would a UCC ad be without a manufactured controversy?

On a side note... last night I received a very nice email from Ron Buford which respectfully asked me not to post the ad until it had been released. I responded to Ron that he "can be assured that I will not post the ad on the site or distribute it to anyone". While it's tempting to post the ad, I respect the work Ron and his team have put into it even if the ad sends a terrible message that other churches reject (or 'eject') older, handicapped, gay and Middle-Eastern people. As Chris Matthews asked the UCC's Bernice Powell Jackson last year: "Do you think that the networks are smart not to engage in competitive religious advertising - like, you know, like some TV products - they knock the other products so they can sell their products more successfully? Do you think religion should say "those churches are no good, ours is good"? Is that a good policy for a Christian religion to follow?"

Details emerge on new UCC television ad

One of our favorite, truly independent and free-thinking blogs, Philosophy over Coffee, has posted some of the details on the new United Church of Christ television advertisement titled "Ejector Seat" and it doesn't sound pretty. From Philosophy Over Coffee:

Description of New UCC Commercial Leaked

Thanks to sojo.net by way of the UCC forums...

****
Many mainline churches see multimillion-dollar advertising campaigns as the latest evangelistic tool, but none hit the news like the “God is Still Speaking” campaign from the United Church of Christ—in part because major TV networks classified the ads as “advocacy” spots and rejected them. The first series, aired on cable networks, showed gruff bouncers turning away select worshippers at the church door—including racial minorities and gay and lesbian couples—followed by the text “Jesus didn’t turn people away. Neither do we.” The newest ads, launched in November, show “unwelcome” minorities being shot out of church by ejector seats, accompanied by the text, “Jesus didn’t reject people.”

“These commercials are like modern parables,” campaign coordinator Ron Buford told Sojourners. “When people see these ads, they get it.” In fact, the ads won the Association of National Advertisers annual award for multicultural excellence. Buford is confident that future ads will build on this response, saying, “They will be funny, hard-hitting, and they will make the point.”
****

Ejector seats is Ron Buford's idea of 'whimsical.' I think it sounds silly. Not silly in a haha way either. Silly in an 'is this the best you could do?' kind of way.

I thought the bouncer ad worked because it spoke to people's experiences. This ad attempts to duplicate the communication of that experience, only, as Buford has said in other publications in a 'whimsical' way. A gay couple and a guy in a wheelchair being 'ejected' through the air is supposed to be the 'whimsical' part, but I doubt that anyone who has been ejected from a church in real life will see the ad and say, 'That's me!' Not while chuckling, anyway.

This ad is making light of the ejectee's experience, while the bouncer ad was seeking to take it seriously.

Why would the formerly churched laugh at this?

There is little doubt that the UCC will, again, spin the networks rejection of the television ad because it's open and welcoming message - but it's simply not true. Like the last television advertisement, this one appears to make a charge against other churches.

Could the same inclusive message be made without trying too throw stones at other churches? Of course - and the Methodists did a pretty good job of it with their ad campaign last fall. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be Buford's or Thomas' way if they didn't try to manufacture a controversy. Since the last ad, the UCC has fewer churches, lower attendance and a budget shortfall of $500,000 - but don't let the facts get in the way of a few chuckles.

Simon Wiesenthal Center responds to John Thomas

The Simon Wiesenthal Center has responded to United Church of Christ President John Thomas' recent comments. From the Simon Wiesenthal Center:

"UCC President John Thomas' recent comments concern us on a number of levels. Some time ago, we reached out to John Thomas and the leadership of the UCC to engage in dialog. We have always believed that it is important for Christians and Jews of good will to keep the lines of communication open even if we may not agree on specific issues. In regards to the crisis in the Middle-East, we simply wanted to encourage the leadership of the UCC to proceed with caution and balance as it addressed this very complicated issue. Each time we reached out to the leadership of the UCC, it went without acknowledgment. In light of the UCC's General Synod and considering John Thomas' lack of response to our reasonable request to discuss these issues, we are extremely concerned. The hostility to the State of Israel and to Jewish people appears to be firmly entrenched in the leadership of the UCC. We know this hostility is not shared by the membership of the UCC and we still seek ways of reaching out to the UCC community. This is a dangerous time in the world for Jews and we believe it is critically important that, at a minimum, channels of communication are open so we can share our concerns. We are dismayed that the UCC continues it's one-sided and imbalanced treatment of Israel while it is threatened with obliteration by Iran and a terrorist state in Gaza.

John Thomas made some conspiratorial charges about the Wiesenthal Center at a recent speech at Gettysburg College. These charges are completely inaccurate and are not based on fact and the irresponsible nature of these comments should make reasonable people wonder if the leadership of the UCC is being equally irresponsible with the facts about the Middle-East."

Thomas trashes Anti-Defamation League and Wiesenthal Center on Divestment

"Since our Synod, the Wiesenthal Center, a group called the David Project, and the Anti-Defamation League, have been eager allies for the IRD and related organizations in an ongoing strategy of disinformation and disruption."

Dexter Van Zile of the David Project called John Thomas directly this afternoon and respectfully asked for examples of his "disinformation". Thomas replied "I'm not going to have that conversation now. Sorry" ...and then hung up.

This past summer the IRD launched an advocacy effort aimed at undermining the mainline churches’ longstanding support for Palestinians in the Middle East conflict. As church assemblies addressed the issues of the occupation or the separation, or security barrier; or in some cases discussed the use of economic resources either to invest or disinvest from companies that benefit from activities of the occupation. The IRD and related organizations joined with some Jewish organizations to vigorously challenge the resolutions.

In Portland, Oregon, for example, the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was meeting, and was taking up the question of the security barrier. There the IRD arrived, along with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, in a press conference denouncing the proposed resolutions. This was the same Simon Wiesenthal Center that, in concert with our Biblical Witness Fellowship—part of the Association for Church Renewal—had earlier orchestrated a massive e-mail campaign directed at me and other United Church of Christ leaders during our General Synod in Atlanta, Georgia. A campaign that also included a full-page ad in the Atlanta Constitution accusing the United Church of Christ of anti-Semitism.

Since our Synod, the Wiesenthal Center, a group called the David Project, and the Anti-Defamation League, have been eager allies for the IRD and related organizations in an ongoing strategy of disinformation and disruption.

The IRD agenda essentially matches that of AIPAC, the powerful pro-Israel lobby that largely controls the Washington agenda on the Middle East. But what’s really striking in this whole story was that the debates were not among members of the United Church of Christ, or members of the Disciples of Christ, but that the debates were often between the church and those outside the church with some of their allies within the church.

ONA Program Coordinator encourages constructive engagement with Faithful and Welcoming Churches

In sharp contrast to the hostile communication coming from UCC Conference Ministers, the ONA Program Coordinator of the UCC Coalition for GLBT Concerns, Ann B. Day, has sent out an email encouraging people to attend the Faithful and Welcoming Churches meetings. In the email, Day expresses hope that "this will enrich the ongoing discernment and communication throughout the UCC about what it means to be the living embodiment of Jesus' prayer that 'all may be one'." Day deserves a great deal of credit for stepping up beyond the rhetoric and focusing on denomination unity. Hopefully, UCC leaders are listening... and learning. From Day's email:

March 8, 2006

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Peace to you all this day in the name of Jesus, the Christ.

As many of you know, there is much conversation occurring throughout the UCC about the nature and witness of our denomination, especially in light of the General Synod's recent decision on equal marriage. One grouping of meetings is occurring regionally and is organized by the Faithful and Welcoming Churches (FWC).

According to the FWC site (http://www.faithfulandwelcoming.org/, they disagree with this recent General Synod decision and other actions of our national settings. Intending FWC to be an alternative to the Open and Affirming witness, they wish to "revive the original vision and beliefs of the UCC." The group's president, The Rev. Bob Thompson, notes particular concern about churches that are leaving the UCC because of the Synod action (and others) and says, "We aim to give churches a reason to stay."

We in The Coalition have long been invested in the nature, witness, and future of the UCC and so have reason to be present in these current FWC meetings - to listen and understand the concerns and ideas of FWC folks and, as appropriate, to raise questions and respectfully share our own experiences and views as faithful members of the Body. I attended the FWC meeting in the MA Conference. The Rev. Thompson, who gave the presentation, welcomed all in attendance, whatever our points of view, and there was opportunity for those viewpoints to be shared.

Not all of us can or wish to be part of such conversations. However, it is in keeping with our polity that there be opportunity for the sharing of experiences and ideas as we try to live covenantally in the Spirit with each other. So use your judgment and, if you feel called to this ministry of presence, go to:

http://www.faithfulandwelcoming.org/faw/content/show.asp?mne=categories.gui.browse&cat=41

to see the listing of meetings happening now and in the next few days.

By joining in these meetings, we will know (rather than know about), fellow members of the UCC who are organizing around issues that directly affect our lives. And they will know us. Hopefully, this will enrich the ongoing discernment and communication throughout the UCC about what it means to be the living embodiment of Jesus' prayer that "all may be one."

Let us pray for all who are part of the UCC that we may be open to and continually transformed by God's overflowing grace, Christ's transforming love, and the Spirit's guiding presence.

As we go together on the Lenten path,

Ann

Rev. Ann B. Day

ONA Program Coordinator

The Coalition

"Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."

(Romans 15:7)

UPDATE: Kent at meeting but asks no questions to substantiate her wild claims

Mass. Conference vs. FWC

Central Area Minister, Laura Lee Kent, sends out disturbing email ahead of 'Faithful and Welcoming Churches' meeting

The stated purpose of the meeting is to give disaffected churches reasons to 'stay within the UCC.' We have heard from other Conferences that this group is encouraging churches to stay AND withhold all Fellowship Dues and OCWM Contributions and that they are seeking churches to sign on to the Lexington Confession and stay until there is a critical mass of congregations to withdraw en masse and form a separate denomination. I hope these things are not true and that their purpose is to encourage the full participation of churches that do not support the Mariage (sic) Equality Resolution.

My experience is that people behave differently, when there is a diversity of thought and opinion in the room, so I believe that it is crucial for many of us who truly love the UCC and who also disagree at times and hold very different theological and social positions attend this gathering. Please take the time and effort to stand together as an Association of UCC Churches and to be proactive with this group, supporting their agenda where we can and differing, if necessary.

Kent's email doesn't reference any source to substantiate her claims other than "we have heard from other Conferences...". Kent's email about FWC demonstrates the very worst instincts of conference ministers and national leaders in our denomination. Her claim that FWC's purpose is to organize churches for withdraw is an extremely serious allegation and one that is not supported with information or reference in her email. With this email, she is creating a climate of fear about any form of concern within our denomination - which is not based on facts, it is based on rumors. The FWC meeting is not being held in secrecy and has been publicly posted on their web site and is open to the public. Her desire to have "diversity of thought and opinion in the room" is clearly intended to intimidate and mute out any voice of concern within our great denomination. This is unacceptable and contrary to our Congregational tradition and an affront to her covenant with the local church. Kent's email only serves to further divide our "United Church of Christ".

Kent's role as Central Area Minister does not entitle her to behave like an enforcer weeding out dissent. She should be serving and ministering to the local churches that have concerns - with the joy and love of Christ in her heart - not spreading rumors and fears throughout the conference.

Aloha means goodbye

As a teen in 1809, Henry traveled from Hawaii to New England aboard a fur-trading ship, eventually developing connections with Congregationalists at Yale University, and beginning studies that involved him in the developing missions effort of the Congregational Church in Connecticut. Before Henry was able to return to Hawaii, however, he died of Typhus at the age of 26. After the young man’s death, his friend, Edwin Dwight, son of Yale president Timothy Dwight, published Henry’s memoirs in the form of a brief biography. This small book aroused so much interest among New Englanders in Hawaii as a mission field that the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) chartered a ship and engaged an initial company of missionaries, who left Boston harbor for Hawaii in October of 1819. It is said that it was Henry ‘Opukaha’ia’s faith that launched that ship. Over the next 28 years, more than 150 missionaries lived and worked in Hawaii, most coming under the auspices of the Congregationalist’s ABCFM.

Henry ‘Opukaha’ia was buried in Cornwall, Connecticut, but in 1993 at the request of his descendants and the United Church of Christ in Connecticut, his remains were disinterred and moved to a permanent site at Kahikolu Congregational Church, which is the third church established in Hawaii and whose current church building, erected in 1852, stands a half-mile from Hikiau Heiau at Kealakekua Bay where young ‘Opukaha'ia had trained to be a kahuna after being orphaned in Kamehameha the Great's wars of unification. More on Henry ‘Opukaha’i's life from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin:

During his nine years in New England, Opukaha'ia became a Christian and began preparing to return to Hawaii as a missionary. But typhus ended his life at the age of 26 in 1818, and he was buried in Cornwall, Conn. After his death, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions sent New Englanders as missionaries to Hawaii.

When family members from Hawaii came to bring him home in 1993, Connecticut people were reluctant to let him go, said seventh generation cousin Deborah Lee.

The young man from Hawaii had long been praised to Connecticut schoolchildren as a person eager for knowledge.

But Lee had awoken one night with a powerful spiritual experience. Her mind on Opukaha'ia, she felt the words, "He wants to come home."

On his deathbed, Opukaha'ia had said: "Oh, how I want to see Hawaii. But I think I never shall. God will do right. He knows what is best."

On Aug. 15, 1993, Opukaha'ia's remains were laid in a vault facing the sea at Kahikolu Church near Napoopoo. It was the third church established in Hawaii by missionaries inspired by Opukaha'ia.

The loss of the 181-year old Kahikolu Congregational Church cannot be overstated as a significant link to our own denominational history and as a link to the history of Hawaii.

Ooops... Sometimes it's not God that's speaking

St. James UCC of Limerick PA recently had a bible quote on its web site in a banner above the "God is Still Speaking" logo which said... "If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine" (Luke 4:7).

Unfortunately, the quote is attributed to Satan in his temptation of Christ. The quote has been removed and there's a note about it on the site:

Is a 'John Thomas Blog' in the making?

Hey, maybe someone in the national office actually reads this site... from the UCCtruths.com February, 2005 article, 'When's a blog, a blog?':

Apparently, Thomas will be hosting a blog at the new 'virtual community' of the UCC at i.UCC.org.

This is great opportunity for the UCC and John Thomas... if it's a genuine blog where Thomas speaks his mind and shares his thoughts. If the blog is turned into another outlet for UCC puff pieces, it will quickly loose credibility. He also has to have thick enough skin to tolerate ~and respond to~ some hard questions and comments.

In the past, Thomas hasn't communicated well in public forums, internet or otherwise. A few years ago, Thomas was a featured poster on the UCC forums and the experiment was a disaster. Questions and comments came from all directions in the poorly moderated forums and Thomas only posted a handful times over the course of a month. At a recent gathering in the Southern Conference with Thomas, which was intended to help address some of the concerns of UCC members in the conference, he refused to take and answer questions.

The idea of a 'virtual community' within the UCC web site is a great one and long overdue. The internet is flooded with 'virtual communities' that generate a loyal base of followers and contributors. Part of the reason that these internet communities thrive is that they are not over-moderated. They have their ground rules for content - but that's it. If the i.UCC.org community is overly moderated, it will gather a base of UCC members as users, but it won't grow and reach out to those the UCC wishes to attract.

Religion News Service 'spun' again by the UCC?

Recycled 'controversy' over UCC ad rejection raises new questions