I admit, I wish the Presbyterians had the cajones (and the theological commitment behind it) to do what the United Church of Christ is doing in their God is Still Speaking campaign.
A new ad is out April 3. Check it out early, and learn why CBS, ABC and other stations consider a message of tolerance “too controversial” at http://www.accessibleairwaves.org/viewnew/. More at Media Matters for America.
The religious center and left need to stand up and stop ceding ‘religious discourse’ to the right. It saddens me that ABC will allow a Focus on the Family ad on its airways but not the UCC blurb, but its not new. I don’t see how one is more or less controversial than the other.
Maybe someone will find a way to get it on youtube and I’ll post it here.
I simply can’t believe that ABC refused to play the ad, let alone that it’s still going on. But this is, after all, the network who airs The 700 Club, much as I hate to think of it.
I saw the tail end of a really cool add by the UMC today while I was sitting in the dentist’s chair.
It seems to me that even Presbyterians don’t know what it means to be Presbyterian. I think we ought to consider jumping on this bandwagon.
Thanks for the comment, Sarahlynn.
Part of the presbyterian identity crisis is concern that we’re not going to be able to hold ourselves together. This summer’s GA will be interesting…
Maybe if we could move forward from all that we’d be able to present a common message. I don’t know.
I think we (as a denomination) have forgotten that one of the biggest things we’ve set out to do from the very beginning is to *have the conversation.* We’re less about telling you all the answers and more about asking the questions and encouraging you to think.
We’re more about facilitating discussion than about retreating to our oppositional corners with our same-minded friends.
And as strongly as I hold my convictions, in today’s climate of polarization and the breakdown of dialogue, I think that what Presbyterians do – building that bridge and holding it firm on all banks – is especially valuable right now.