{"id":1683,"date":"2004-12-02T12:42:33","date_gmt":"2004-12-02T17:42:33","guid":{"rendered":"\/?p=1683"},"modified":"2004-12-02T12:46:40","modified_gmt":"2004-12-02T17:46:40","slug":"visitors-welcome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2004\/12\/visitors-welcome\/","title":{"rendered":"“Visitors Welcome”"},"content":{"rendered":"

CBS and NBC have refused to air<\/a> an ad from the United Church of Christ<\/a> on grounds that it is “too controversial.” The message of the advertisement is one that I hope we would embrace, but I am not so sanguine about that.<\/p>\n

Here is a description of the advertisement<\/a>:<\/p>\n

The debut 30-second commercial features two muscle-bound “bouncers” standing guard outside a fabled, picturesque church and selecting which persons are permitted to attend Sunday services. Written text interrupts the scene, announcing, “Jesus didn’t turn people away. Neither do we.” A narrator then proclaims the United Church of Christ’s commitment to Jesus’ extravagant welcome: “No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To see the ad, go here<\/a>. Among the people turned away are a gay couple, members of various minority groups, and a man in a wheelchair. In my view, it is a powerful indictment of religious bigotry. According to the United Church of Christ, however, executives at CBS were not moved<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups by other individuals and organizations,” reads 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.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In my experience, Mormons send a message of exclusion to many people. To some extent, this is inevitable, as our temples are accessible only to recommend holders. They are necessarily exclusive. Our chapels, on the other hand, should be more welcoming. Yes, we have a sign that reads, “Visitors Welcome,” but do we mean it?<\/p>\n