NFL To Churches: Not In Thy Father's House

Football League Pulls Plug From Church Super Bowl Parties Charging Admission

(CBS/AP)  The Indianapolis Colts' first Super Bowl appearance made Calvary Temple want to party like it never had before — and now, thanks to the NFL, it won't.

The church had planned a Sunday shindig for about 100 young adults, complete with snacks and a big screen TV to watch the game.

But temple leaders scrapped the idea after learning the NFL stopped a similar get-together at another Indianapolis church, saying it would violate copyright laws.

Church leaders, regretting the turn of events, say the Super Bowl has turned into an annual way to connect with their community.

"It's just a good opportunity to get everybody together, have some fellowship and fun and watch the Super Bowl," business manager Bill Kaler said.

"I didn't realize the Super Bowl was a copyrighted thing," Kaler said.

Several congregations around the country have curtailed or abandoned party plans to avoid ending up on the wrong side of the law.

In suburban Chicago, Poplar Creek Church plans to host about 100 people to watch the game on a big-screen TV in the sanctuary. Pines Baptist Church north of Miami plans to host flag football games before guests gather to eat and watch Sunday's Colts-Bears game, Pastor Luis Acosta said.

"It's nothing different than a bunch of guys coming together at somebody's house ... it's just a church thing," Acosta said.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said these gatherings are fine, as long as the churches stay within certain guidelines. That's where Fall Creek Baptist Church went wrong.

The Indianapolis, Ind. church planned to charge admission to cover the food tab for its party and show the game on a big screen using a projector. It also promoted its "Super Bowl bash" on the church's Web site.

Those are some copyright no-no's. The league's long-standing policy is to ban "mass out-of-home viewing" of the Super Bowl except at sports bars and other businesses that televise sports as part of their everyday operations, Aiello said.

Dr. John Newland of Falls Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis, told CBS's Indianapolis affiliate WISH correspondent Mike Corbin that his church had planned many activities, including games for kids and teenagers, to go along with a big-screen projection of the game. But then the church got a letter from the NFL.

"I thought, well this doesn’t make sense because sports bars all across America are showing the game," Newland said.

The NFL also warned Newland that they could not air the game on a screen larger than 55 inches.

The pastor tried to debate the issue with the NFL, but the football league wouldn’t bend.

Places (including bars) are prohibited from charging admission to watch the Super Bowl, and the law prevents them from showing the game on a TV bigger than 55 inches.

The idea is to honor the NFL's contract with networks that provide free broadcasts of the game and to protect the Super Bowl trademark, Aiello said. [Major League Baseball and the NCAA have similar policies.]

Aiello said the NFL has had to inform theaters, schools, museums, casinos and hotels about these limits. Officials also have talked to hundreds of churches in the past.

"They say 'Thanks' and they have their Super Bowl viewing parties within the rules," he said.

Others have spiked their plans.

In suburban Houston, members of the Cypress United Methodist Church decided Thursday to cancel their Super Bowl party after being told the gathering would violate the league's copyright.

The church planned to charge a small admission fee to raise money for its youth mission activities.

"We felt like we were offering a wholesome environment for the youth," church administrator Quinn Edmondson said. "We were, frankly, pretty shocked."

In Indianapolis, Fall Creek Baptist Church Pastor John Newland said he's received about 200 e-mails since The Indianapolis Star first reported about the NFL's letter. Some told him to hold the party anyway and dare the league to sue him — tossing a "Hail Mary pass," if you will.

"We think the law is wrong, and it discriminates against people of faith while opening up an exception to certain businesses who stand to make millions," he said.

Even so, he has no intention of breaking the law. Instead, he wants to tell people about it to motivate change.

"We have to teach our kids that just because you don't like a law, that doesn't mean you have to break a law."

Calvary Temple's Kaler also preaches respect.

"If that's the way it is, that's the way it is," he said. "I think being a church and a Christian organization, you've got to do what's right."

[legendary240]

Jesus fashioned a scourge of cords and overturned the the moneychangers tables....Why would a church have the StuporBowl aired at their "church" anyway? God please forgive us! Do they think that such concessions will make them "cool"? Great, just what the world needs, the message of the NFL, the Beer commercials and that leprechaunish pervert Prince up on the big screen in the church. Thanks Reverend Cool-Breeze!

[musyk4me]

I must agree that at first, I was surprised that the NFL went after churches for having fellowship with each other as they tried to show that Christians, too, can have fun. Until I read that they were charging admission to cover their expenses!! I believe that a church should never charge for anything. The church is there to be a support and a haven for the community, regardless of religion. Not a big-business. A church's income comes from tithes and offerings (offerings which include donations). When churches begin acting like corporations, they loose their reason for being what they were created to do. As someone stated before, so many people are turned away from the church because of the misrepresentation of Christ that we as human beings so frequently display. So before you ban the Super Bowl cmp271 (which I thought was a great game!) because you don't like the NFL's actions, ask the church why they had to charge people to even step foot in what is supposed to be a sanctuary. Maybe that church needs to go back and read about how Jesus kicked the moneychangers and the %u201Cbig-businesses%u2019 out of the temple because they were charging people who came to make a sacrifice and worship.

[phil-in-fin]

"(good being only what makes your own life better without making the lives of others worse)."

Posted by tucson23

What incedible logic you have.

So, whatever you reason to be both good for you and for others is perfectly okay.

You sound like a serial killer on trial.

[tucson23]

Jesus was a man, no more. If you believe that rightousness is something that you get by following the advice of others, or believing blindly what others tell you, then you are the worst kind of stupid. Real "rightousness" comes from mastering your own thoughts and behaviours, not because some fictional invisible being will get mad at you if you don't. Religion is for people too stupid to be good or bad because they can forsee the social consequences of their actions, and for those too weak to be good for it's own sake (good being only what makes your own life better without making the lives of others worse).

[phil-in-fin]

I originally said,

"Why would a church need a business manager? Would the person in charge of the church's financial affairs be called a pastor/priest/etc"

Posted by phil-in-Fin at 04:29 AM : Feb 04, 2007

And then derfdude said

"If you would do some research before you made an ignorant comment like this you would know."

To derfdude,

You must be a Christian to insult me like you did.

To spell out my comment for you, I asked "Why would a church need a business manager?" meaning is this business manager a believer? Is this business manager not part of the church leadership?

Was my question too obvious, derfdude?

[radicalc-2009]

Righteousness comes only by faith. Jesus completed the work. Most Christians today still live by the law and therefore they have to be selective as to which laws they can live up to. Then they impose their rules on everybody else. The work of Jesus was to make up the difference where we fall short, that puts us all on equal turf with God. Whatever my or your problem or shortcoming is, Jesus will make up the difference and provide righteousness for us. He didn't make that great sacrifice for us so He could turn around and reject us all. Most people don't go to church because Jesus is so misrepresented in church!

[thgdriver]

cmp271

Can't say I agree with you, copyright laws are for "everyone", that includes the church.

If you think it's a bad law, work to get it changed.

[thomas_hoag]

The NFL did these churches a favor. Perhaps the church pastors will be reminded that arranging a watching of football as a way to encourage fellowship is tantamount to 1st Century pastors inviting congregants to the Roman gladiator games.

[cmp271]

BOYCOTT THE SUPERBOWL

Any day the big NFL has to go after a church is the day watching this overpriced, commercialized, and arrogant business has to end. I really don't care to see it this year, mainly because of the church issue. I am not a Christian or any other fanatic. Enough is enough. It is so over hyped about this show. The tickets are way over priced, the players are way overpaid, and some of the players have bad characters and are wife beaters. Why should they earn so much money and then deny a church to show this game. They should donate their earnings for the day to churches and temples.

[thgdriver]

I'll run a true story by you all. About 35 years ago I owned a home next door to a church, their parking lot bordered my property. Form time to time I parked in a space right behind my home. One Sunday three well dressed men knocked a my front door and told me they were directors of the church and if I parked there again they would have my car towed.

I asked what the sermon was that Sunday, Love thy neighbor just don't let him park on your 500 space lot?

I added, that's fine, the next time I see kids tossing rocks through your stained glass windows I did not have to be a "good neighbor" and scare them off.

Two days later a women showed up at my home and said the church had no problem with my car and gave me a sign for the cars window.