What's fascinating this year, for the first time, is the almost complete lack of interest from local media. Usually you could count on at least a couple of stories appearing in the religion pages of newspapers, especially those close to where the feast was being hosted. After all, lots of people arriving in town for a major convention - and one with a funny name at that - is bound to arouse a little curiosity. Or not. Last year was sparse, but the nice folk at the Deseret News at least noticed. This year... almost nothing.
If anyone can provide a link to a story that bucks that trend, please send it in. Could it be that the Churches of God have now finally slipped into terminal irrelevance as far as the rest of the planet is concerned? If so, what does this say about the effectiveness of the media promotions - print, television and web - that the larger splinters throw bucketfuls of tithe dollars at?
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| UCG Feast site, Last Great Day in Sevierville, TN: did anybody notice? |
Maybe the problem is that the ACoGs have moderated their alcohol consumption, but I wouldn't bet on it.
ReplyDeleteI recall the FOT observance being very secretive when I first started attending the WCG. Security at the Big Sandy campground was fairly rigorous - deacons and assistants all over the place. All the holyday services were supposed to be private and members only. Then in the Joe Tkach, Sr era there was an attempt to come out of the underbrush. WCG members did charitable things like donate to local food banks and this got a certain amount of media coverage. Charity had previously been banned. If you had any money to give, it was to be given to the WCG. Every dollar that "Save the Children" got was a dollar that HWA didn't get. It was pretty smooth, in a diabolical way, really for Pasadena to make itself the only theologically legitimate target for giving. Thus, they captured and controlled any charitable impulses felt by laymembers to the benefit of Pasadena. Anything ministers preached about love was directed inwardly towards the organiztion. Maybe the Armstrongite splinter groups have once again banned charity and this has resulted in no media coverage.
ReplyDelete-- Neotherm