Accessible Airwaves

Once again, the United Church of Christ's inclusion-themed, 30-second TV commercial has been rejected by the broadcast networks and now cable network, Viacom.

The United Church of Christ's all-inclusive message has been deemed "too controversial."

It’s time for equal access.

1. Let Your Voice Be Heard - Send a Message to Viacom Viacom accepts ads laced with sexual innuendo, greed, violence, and the politics of personal destruction, while our message of openness and welcome is not allowed. Tell Viacom to make the airwaves accessible. 2. Tell Your Friends Broadcasters who use the public airwaves have a responsibility to operate in the public interest. Spread the word about our campaign!

Op-ed in this morning's San Jose Mercury News

In this morning’s San Jose Mercury News, our very own Rev. Ron Buford, director of our Stillspeaking Initiative, shares the difficulty he is having getting the “Ejector Seat” ad on network television:

“This month, a new television ad for our 'God Is Still Speaking' campaign is airing across the country. The ad, called 'Ejector Seats,' shows a variety of people being literally ejected from a church because they're 'different': homeless, gay, Middle Eastern or just ordinary people with noisy kids. Our campaign's message is simple. No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome in the UCC.

“Like modern Bible parables, these commercials are short, catchy, simple and memorable. And like the Bible parables, they challenge the status quo. Perhaps that's why they've been branded as 'too controversial' by the major television networks. Our message about rejection was itself rejected, and ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX all refused to air the ad.

“When I've talked to network executives, it's clear that they believe they're being fair because they air programs with gay characters. From 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' to 'Will & Grace,' the networks portray gay people in one dimension, like minstrels who exist simply to entertain viewers. But showing lesbians and gay men seeking relationships with God is deemed 'too controversial' for the public airwaves.”

We're simply asking to pay for airtime, like any other advertiser reaching people in the marketplace.”

Read the full piece, “Network censorship can't silence church's campaign.”

Posted by The Rev. Bob Chase
4/06/2006 09:35:00 AM
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About OC Inc.

The Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ, Inc. is the media advocacy arm of the United Church of Christ, a mainline Protestant denomination of over 1.3 million members. The United Church of Christ was the first voice to demand that broadcasters who use the public airwaves have a responsibility to operate in the public interest. In the 1960s, the United Church of Christ earned its place in U.S. broadcasting history by successfully challenging the license of WLBT-TV in Jackson, Miss, for refusing to broadcast news and information about African Americans.