The biggest game of the year will be on television screens across the country this weekend as the undefeated New England Patriots take on the New York Giants. But the much-anticipated football game won't likely be showing on screens inside the churches this year.
After the National Football League gave warning last year to an Indianapolis church not to hold a Super Bowl viewing party, churches across the country are canceling their annual Super Bowl fellowships in fear of getting flagged for copyright violations.
North River Community Church in Pembroke, Mass., had scheduled a big gathering this Sunday with the big game on a giant video screen in the congregation's worship center. But the church's pastor, the Rev. Paul Atwater, called it off after he looked over the NFL's policies and news reports of churches that were threatened with legal action for planning similar showings last year, according to The Daily News Tribune.
“Even though we think this is a stupid law, we are going to abide by it," Atwater said, as reported by the local Tribune.
NFL policy and copyright law ban mass out-of-home viewing except at sports bars and other businesses that televise sports as part of their everyday operations. It also prohibits charging admission to watch the game.
"We have absolutely no objection to churches and others hosting Super Bowl parties,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said. “We’ve never stopped a church from doing anything like this, as long as they aren’t trying to attract 400 or 500 people.”
Thousands of mass showings at churches would significantly reduce network TV ratings, and thus cut the ad revenue, McCarthy noted. Super Bowl XLII is expected to break the 1996 record when 94.1 million people watched the Dallas Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Churches are allowed to screen the Super Bowl as long as the space is not more than 2,000 square feet and the TV screen no bigger than 55 inches.
McCarthy insisted the NFL doesn't single out churches when it comes to protecting their Super Bowl trademark. The league has also warned hotels, theaters and other venues.
But after last year's episode with the Indianapolis church – Fall Creek Baptist – Christians complained that their effort to provide a family-friendly alternative to watching the big game in bars and places where alcohol is served was blocked.
John Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute, wants to take the NFL to court but said he can't find a church willing to take on the league, according to Baptist Press.
"They want to restrict it to a 55-inch screen, which in a big church you'd need binoculars to see," Whitehead said. "It's designed to prevent churches and groups like that from doing this. If churches en masse wanted to do this, they could get the law changed."
Fall Creek Baptist's John Newland said the church didn't go ahead with a lawsuit last year because a legal case would distract them from their ministry.
"To me, the NFL isn't worth it," Newland said, as reported by Baptist Press.
Like many other churches this year, Fall Creek Baptist will be encouraging smaller viewing parties in people's homes.
The New England Patriots and the New York Giants will battle it out on Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Comments
How unfortunate that we worry about watching football in a church or not. Lets start over turning some tables (with TV's on them) and use God's temple for what its supposed to be used for...worshipping and praising Him. Glory and hone to HIM alone...not football.
The NFL's like everyone else... tryin to make a buck. kevin devoto
Although I agree that the Law is rediculous on many levels the rather wise decision too defer is wise. 1. The church as a whole boycottong the watching of NFL broadcasts and events should have an eye onening impact .
2. Professional sports as a whole have sadly been demoralized and corrupted to the degree that they truly aren't worth the effort.
Even if the NFL is trying to stop church viewings because of the mighty dollar, let them. I personally don't think the church is where a footall superbowl or any sporting attraction belongs. I would rather see christians fellowshipping and using their gift of hospitality to invite newer church members and unsaved friends and family to a their home and experience a clean, safe, child friendly environment. Use this as an opportunity to grow the kingdom of God, not make a mockery of our place of worship.
Here's a great idea have a HUCKABOWL Party. Have friends and family attendy a get together and collect donations to support Huckabee for President. To learn more check out
http://huckabowl.com/
Don Keesee - So you'd rather take your son to an establishment that serves alcohol than to a church?
Well said Lex!
This whole issue went through the mill here in Las Vegas a couple years ago and one would have thought the Corporations that run this town would have had enough clout to tell NFL commission to take a hike on this one with the likes of Caesars Palace and many several other properties on Sports book NFL partys, the size of plasma TVs and whatnot,.....Guess what?? The parties are still here, obviously,...but not the same since their attorneys steamrolled through here,..was pretty big news for a couple months I remember,.........
No big deal to me. All the sports on TV is just a waste of time anyway. Try going out and getting some fresh air for a change.
With all the drinking and profantity at the games and drinking and driving after the games I choose to watch the Super Bowl on TV and not attend the games. However; I would like to have an environment without the presence of drinking or smoking so I dont attend bars to watch the games. I do like to gather with other people to view the game so I disagree with this ban on churches to gather with friends to watch the Super Bowl. I am proposing instead of a law suit against the NFL for all members of churches across the USA to boycott watching an overrated SuperBowl game in protest. This will be more of a statement to advertisers that we do spend money too!
I certainly do not tend to be a holier than thou person, but as for me and my house, I think it's best for my twelve-year-old son to see the Super Bowl with me at T.G.I. Fridays or at Grandpa's. At least in those venues I can divert his attention when the lude and tasteless commercials are aired or if the latest star seeking attention has some sort of malfuction or whatever. I don't like to "holyize" brick and stone (the people being the church!), but it makes me a little uncomfortable for such things to be promoted by churches. See you at Buffalo Wild Wings!
"Imagine how the Kingdom of God would grow in impact if the Church prayed together for our nation & the elections, instead of watching the Super Bowl together."
Absolutely correct! I agree completely! You need to pray, and keep on praying 'till the walls fall down or whatever, 'cause it you're busy doing that, you won't have time to do anything that will have any chance of actually changing anything.
Example from recent history: Blacks prayed for almost a hundred years after the civil war, as hard as they could, for equal treatment under the law, and it didn't get them anywhere, anywhere at all. Then one day, they stopped praying and starting sitting-in, and marching, and doing other non-violent things to express their displeasure with the status quo.
When they took responsibility for their own futures, things started happening, before that, nothing happened. So, keep praying.
I always thought Church was the place we praise GOD, I wonder if Jesus today would drive these people from HIS Father's House of Worship? Some of the entertainment that goes on in these so called Churches leaves me cold.
All for the almighty dollar. It sounds idolatrous to me.
After seeing some of the commercials which focus on all kinds of inappropriate behavior, I find it difficult to imagine sitting in the worship center of my church watching a Coors or Bud promotion. I think that perhaps the NFL did the church a favor!