The United Church of Christ is working to raise $1.5 million for another round of television ads to be aired during Lent. Over the Advent / Christmas season the UCC's God Is Still Speaking advertising campaign drew international attention after CBS and NBC banned the church's message of inclusive Christian love. The campaign did a lot more than increase the visibility of the UCC - it lifted up a message that all people are welcome at God's table. Support the campaign and help make sure that important message continues to spread. J. Bennett Guess with United Church News offers information on how you can donate:
CLEVELAND -- United Church of Christ leaders today (Jan. 28) announced a three-week fundraising blitz to raise $1.5 million from its members and supporters to fund a Lenten television advertising buy in March.
The decision was made by the UCC's Stillspeaking Initiative Task Group - the nationally-representative, decision-making body that is leading the denomination's five-year identity campaign - at its Jan. 27 meeting in Cleveland.
"What we've heard from Conference Ministers and others is that UCC members are eager for the ads to continue," says Don Hill, a task group member and leader of the UCC's financial development ministry, "and they're ready for us to say to them specifically what they can do to make that happen."
In order to purchase the ad time on network and cable television in March, Hill says, the UCC must raise at least $1.5 million by Monday, Feb. 21, the date an ad buy must be completed in time for a Lenten/pre-Easter viewing. The strategy, Hill explains, is to find 3,000 entities - individuals, churches, youth groups, organizations - who will pledge to buy $500 "shares" in support of the ad campaign.
However, Hill insists, the initiative needs contributors at any and all levels.
The campaign, primarily, is being coordinated online at <ucc.org>, where contributions can be made or pledged. A tally of donors and contributions also will be updated daily.
"The important thing for us to keep in mind is that if we, as a church, will come together and pool our resources, we can make this happen," Hill says, noting that already twelve "shares" totaling $6,000 have been pledged by task group members in attendance.
The fundraising effort is "ambitious," concedes the Rev. Robert Chase of the UCC's proclamation, identity and communication ministry, "but it's also a faithful response to what happened in December."
"During the campaign's national launch [in December], the UCC's televised message about Jesus' extravagant welcome struck a chord that continues to resonate with significant numbers of people," Chase says. "Never before has the UCC been so poised to welcome newcomers, to receive those who once thought that the church would not graciously welcome them. We must take advantage of this opportunity."
Hill says the fundraising blitz "is not just about paying for the ads, but also a way for people to express support for the Stillspeaking Initiative," which was formed to enhance the UCC's denominational identity and national profile as it approaches its 50th anniversary in 2007.
The UCC was formed by the union of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church in 1957, with many of its congregations being among the nation's oldest. The 1.3-million-member denomination has its national offices in Cleveland.
Learn more - or contribute - at www.ucc.org/pledge.
