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CBS and NBC said the spot violates their policies against running ads that take positions on matters of public controversy.
A spokesperson at ABC told CNN that "we do not generally accept paid advertising that espouses a particular religious doctrine."
The 30-second spot, sponsored by the 1.3-million member United Church of Christ, features two muscle-bound bouncers standing outside a church, determining who may enter to attend a service and who may not. Among those kept out are two males who appear to be a couple.
Written text then appears saying, in part, "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we."
The Rev. John Thomas, the UCC's president and general manager, said the rejection of the ad "really startled us."
"We thought we were doing an ad that was offering a graceful word of welcome and hospitality to all people, and that hardly seems controversial," Thomas told CNN's "Paula Zahn Now" Wednesday night.
"But they apparently looked at it through a very narrow lens and decided we're advocating for a particular social and cultural agenda."
"We were clearly not advocating any agenda in these ads other than the agenda of welcome and hospitality."
The Cleveland-based UCC, with 6,000 congregations, is one of America's oldest religious groups, with historic roots stretching back to the Puritan pilgrims of New England. It is also one of the few Christian denominations that allows openly gay and lesbian people to serve as clergy.
cnn
A spokesperson at ABC told CNN that "we do not generally accept paid advertising that espouses a particular religious doctrine."
The 30-second spot, sponsored by the 1.3-million member United Church of Christ, features two muscle-bound bouncers standing outside a church, determining who may enter to attend a service and who may not. Among those kept out are two males who appear to be a couple.
Written text then appears saying, in part, "Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we."
The Rev. John Thomas, the UCC's president and general manager, said the rejection of the ad "really startled us."
"We thought we were doing an ad that was offering a graceful word of welcome and hospitality to all people, and that hardly seems controversial," Thomas told CNN's "Paula Zahn Now" Wednesday night.
"But they apparently looked at it through a very narrow lens and decided we're advocating for a particular social and cultural agenda."
"We were clearly not advocating any agenda in these ads other than the agenda of welcome and hospitality."
The Cleveland-based UCC, with 6,000 congregations, is one of America's oldest religious groups, with historic roots stretching back to the Puritan pilgrims of New England. It is also one of the few Christian denominations that allows openly gay and lesbian people to serve as clergy.
cnn
