205th Annual Meeting
Keynote:
God Is Still Speaking
July/August, 2004
There was high praise for the attendees in the Minister
and President Nancy Taylor's introduction of the keynote
speaker.
"Sunday after Sunday all across the Conference, you
gather in sanctuaries to do a strange and wondrous thing:
to turn your attention to an invisible God ... a God
whose presence with us and whose will for us, is not always
as evident as we might like ...a God in whose 'StillSpeaking'
voice we believe, but whose voice we sometimes strain to
hear
above the world's noise."
With that 'StillSpeaking' comment, Taylor introduced
Ron Buford, Acting Coordinator of the StillSpeaking Initiative.
"StillSpeaking" is an initiative to renew the
entire life of the denomination, from local churches through
to the national setting: calling everyone to be more faithful,
bolder, more generous and courageous in Christian discipleship
and witness to the world.
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| Television ad campaign for the God is Still Speaking Initiative takes center stage. |
Buford explained that as part of the creative process,
the UCC's ad agency, Gotham Inc., sought out the opinions
of people off the street in focus groups.
The majority expressed disaffection from churches or had no church experience
at all. The agency found many people assailed the hypocrisy of non-acceptance,
rejected tithing as a route to salvation, and questioned the ability of the
church to provide emotional support.
The good news was that these same people were willing to
come back if they could find a place that was open, diverse
and friendly; offered acceptance and respect without judgment;
focused on religion, not fundraising; was less dogmatic and
more freethinking; and paid more attention to a person¹s
character than dress. The agency also found that parishoners
wanted more attentiveness and Bible teaching, as well as
youth and single adult outreach programs.
Buford explained that the United Church of Christ already
met most of these requirements; the problem was the UCC was
still a relatively unknown entity. Buford challenged the
congregations to find bold new ways to reach the lost and
alienated, to provide a place that "respected the mind,
journey, and pain of the individual," while helping
those individuals realize there was a "God who dispensed
grace, forgiveness, loving kindness, joy, peace, gentleness,
and a place where those things are offered in abundance."
While each congregation does its part, the national office
will continue to explore ways to get the UCC message out
to the general public. The first medium chosen for mass audience
consumption was television. Buford reported that one television
commercial had already aired in test markets, and a second
commercial was in production.
The first commercial featured a nightclub bouncer standing
in front of a church, picking and choosing those allowed
to enter its doors. Written text interrupted the scene, proclaiming:
"Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we.² Audio
then kicked in: ³No matter who you are, no matter where
you are on life's journey, you are welcome at a United Church
of Christ congregation."
Following the spontaneous applause, Buford instructed,
"We must not be afraid. We must not be ashamed to ask others
to come to church. A world in need is calling us and we need
to be there."
"The ads are a spark," he continued, "but
we are the fireplace to make people feel welcome and at home."
A sneak preview showed a second, more heart-warming spot
which will be released during Advent.
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