A vigil was held Monday afternoon at the NBC-10 studio in Bala Cynwyd in response to what is being seen as a disturbing attack on religious freedom of speech after two television networks refused to air a television advertisement called "God Is Still Speaking."
The 30-second television spot created by the United Church of Christ depicts a variety of people and minority groups attempting to enter a church. Men in black T-shirts stop several ethnic people from entering.
The commercial then says: "No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here."
The television ad goes on to say: "Jesus didn’t turn people away. Neither do we."
Since gay and lesbian individuals are included in the unconditional welcome, which is a national campaign by the United Church of Christ, both NBC and CBS television networks have refused to air it.
In a pastoral letter to the 195 United Church of Christ congregations in Southeastern Pennsylvania, conference Minister Rev. Dr. Russell Mitman said the national media have not only failed to understand what the initiative is all about, they have turned it into something which it was never intended to be.
The vigil was organized by the Southeast Conference, and Mitman was among those who participated.
"This television spot is about radical hospitality -- not only to gays and lesbians, but to all persons in our society who may feel marginalized or not fully accepted in the church. People who read more into it than this, are doing so out oftheir own prejudice or fear," he said.
"What’s more disturbing to many -- both inside and outside the church -- are other reasons given for not airing the commercials," Mitman said.
Included in one network’s reasoning is the fact that "the Executive Branch has recently proposed a constitutional amendment to define marriage to be between a man and a woman."
The Rev. Peter Nichols, pastor of Zion’s United Church of Christ in Pottstown, said the ads are about being openly inclusive of people and inviting people to come to worship and be a part of the church.
Coincidentally, the television ads appeared the same day that a United Methodist Church pastor was found guilty of breaking church law and was stripped of her credentials after she told her congregation she was a lesbian in a committed relationship.
Nichols said the commercials were not a response to the Methodist church trial. "The plans have been laid for six months or more," Nichols said. "It’s a nationwide initiative."
The ads are geared as a promotional effort on the part of the church to bolster its image and to let people know not all churches are the same.
"A lot of people have had bad experiences with churches in their lifetimes and felt left out," Nichols said.
The campaign is set to run through Dec. 26 and was created to let people know that everyone is welcome in the United Church of Christ.
"The timing was to fit with the holidays as well," Nichols said.
The Rev. Dennis Christie, pastor of Good Shepherd United Church of Christ in Boyertown, said the ads are an effort of the church to become better known nationwide.
"The ads are about welcoming all people to experience the love and grace of Jesus Christ," Christie said. "It’s a message of hope and goodness."
Christie said local churches were told to be prepared to welcome visitors into their membership.
Local affiliates of the national networks ran the ads during the year, and there was no controversy.
"The irony here is that there are many people in the commercial, and it’s the networks that have targeted the gay issue," Christie said.
The majority of the ads will be run on broadcast cable networks.