A very interesting ad campaign

[miztab13]

The United Church of Canada has always had an open door policy. It's Canada's largest protestant church and the second largest in the country. It's traditional, radical and prides itself on being tolerant. Here is the latest ad campaign to promote Wondercafe.ca, a church run website dedicated to bringing young people back to the church.

I think they're brilliant.

Here are a few of them

My favorite one:

What do you guys think?

 

[gsdx]

They've always had good television commercials. I particularly liked the one where all the 'undesirable' people get sucked out of the church (homeless person, crying baby, gay person, etc.). At the end, the voice over says that those people are always welcome at the United Church. They don't turn anyone away.

 

[Soilwork]

I think that it still plays into the idea that there are GOOD people and BAD people, but the United Church will still take in the BAD people.

The "How much fun can sex be before it's a sin" thing grinds my gears.

Sex can be as much fun as you'll allow it to be, and making people feel guilty for having it is just one more service the church provides.

 

[irish1]

^^Jasun, you are right, there are good people and bad people.

My parents always told me that we are all imperfect people, and that we are accepted that way by God.

I think it's great that a church, any church, will welcome ALL people.

 

[Soilwork]

even if they're reminded that they're bad people who should be happy that they're let in the door at all?

 

[irish1]

even if they're reminded that they're bad people who should be happy that they're let in the door at all?

I truly hope that they are not given the label "bad"; there is too much fingerpointing in this world as it is (sadly).

Thanks for the food for thought. P.

 

[gsdx]

I think that it still plays into the idea that there are GOOD people and BAD people, but the United Church will still take in the BAD people.

It's not so much 'bad' people that the television commercials were promoting, but 'undesirable' people. More or less the types of people you wouldn't normally invite into your home.

 

[Zeremonie]

i think those ads are great. I mean it honestly made me think that I should come check out that church!

 

[buzzj]

I'm active in a church in the USA that prides itself on inclusion--- so that's something I respect in other churches when I see it. Thanks for passing along the ads!

 

[luminum]

I also think that it's not sending a message of 'bad' people.

The ad where undesireable people get chucked out clearly showed a smarmy WASP-y family and I doubt the ad is trying to tell you that they're 'good' since they act terribly towards 'undesireable' people.

These people are considered undesireable by society and these are all people who feel like they are discriminated against in church settings.

But this church accepts everyone and doesn't judge them. Saying 'no matter who you are' doesn't imply that you're bad, it's saying that no matter who you are and no matter who has discriminated against you because of it, you're welcome here and you won't be discriminated against.

And it also makes the point that so-called 'good' people who don't act that way aren't good at all.

 

[justsimon]

They've always had good television commercials. I particularly liked the one where all the 'undesirable' people get sucked out of the church (homeless person, crying baby, gay person, etc.). At the end, the voice over says that those people are always welcome at the United Church. They don't turn anyone away.

I saw that one... thought it was cool.