Yuppers.  We cancelled our Super Bowl party because of this.  It would have been our 6th annual. 

That’s OK, though, we lose money on the Super Bowl every year too.  Buying all that pizza and giving it away.  What were we thinking anyway?

Everyone is missing the point here. The NFL doesn’t want churches to not have parties for “the big game” the issue that they NFL has to address is the use of “Super Bowl” in advertising. If you have a trademark and 1) don’t defend it or 2) selectively defend it - you will lose it… keep an eye on the whole “iPhone” issue with Cisco and Apple. The NFL doesn’t want to have to go after churches but I can guarantee you that they don’t want some strip club advertising a Super Bowl party. “Super Bowl” is their property and if they don’t defend their exclusive use of it EVERY TIME then they will lose their ability to defend it at all.
So go have your “Big Game” Party for Jesus, just don’t call it a super bowl!

Utech - If you read the entire article you will see that the church offered to drop any use of the words, “Super Bowl” and still got a no.

The point is ratings, money and power...not brand protection.

In fact you state that they don’t want the to go after churches anymore than strip clubs...I disagree, the article states that bars are exempt...as long as that strip club is a bar I’m betting there will be lots of plasmas showing the game there Sunday night.

I understand the brand protection deal...but in my opinion Brand is much more than your logo being used, it is what the public thinks and experiences about you...hey the NFL’ logo and trademarks are safe...but their brand stinks right now…

I think my point was to not use “the name” to begin with.
Second, the s**** b*** is a great event to give your small group ministry a good boost. Have the small group leaders host “Big Game” parties at their homes.

I’m on the wrong side again!  : > )

The Superbowl is the NFL’s property. They own the broadcast and the trademark.

They have the right to tell viewers what they can do with it.  It’s well litigated and pretty settled as a matter of copyright and trademark law. Anyone who questions that simply needs to make a call to any qualified intellectual property attorney.

I’d be willing to bet that other than the folks at Sugar Creek, I’m probably the only church staff person commenting on this who has actually spoken with the NFL’s legal department on the issue.

A few clarifications…

Not all bars are exempt.  Only those who show sports as part of their day to day business operations.  I’m not certain if strip clubs have TV’s or not.  Anyone here with personal experience care to enlighten us?  I didn’t think so.  : > )

This is about money.  No question.  If the business across the street from your church decided on Sunday afternoon to host a carnival on your parking lot, you would probably object.  If someone decided to borrow your church van without permission, you would object.

The “they already have enough money and shouldn’t be picking on churches” defense likely won’t fly in court.  Banks have enough money too.  Robbing them is not generally OK, either.

At its heart, this is an integrity issue.  If a church didn’t know they were doing anything wrong, that’s one thing.

But for those who have read about it and do it anyway…

a whole different issue.

Hey, this is a bit stupid, no doubt.  But as Christians, lets admit we make a bit to much out of sports in general.  We need to concentrate on ways to reach out and really be ministering to the needy in our world, not just the sports fans, or other church members.  Maybe there is just a bit of a wake up call here for us all. 

The NFL is straining on a nat and swallowing a camel here for sure.

Shawn,

I agree… they should offer a license.  In 2005, I actually contacted the NFL and asked them to consider that.  They declined.  Now, it was in the week before the game, so it was probably not practical.

But… I think I will try again in March.  We’ll see what they come up with.  I think a lot of people would buy it if it were offered.

kdl

What game are we in?  Jesus didn’t stay away from the people.
He went TO the people!
If the people are in a bar, at a football game, at a homeless shelter, wherever,
our commission is to GO TO THE PEOPLE!

Now let me get this straight; Suberbowl Parties, which are now an American Institution inside and outside of the church are suddenly a problem for the church to host. One of Yahoo’s headlines today is even about how to host a suberbowl party. It’s entitled, “A Winning Superbowl Bash..” Clearly, we’re talking about an Amercian Institution here.

You guys can turn the other cheek if you want to. Forgive me if I turn over a few tables of these money hungry conglomerations. There is a time to recognize and stand, even defiantly against something that is inherently wrong.  This is absolutlely such an occassion!

Somebody pass me a chile dog! Me and my boys are getting together Sunday night to watch some football AND to praise the Lord!!!

(Yes, I am a pastor).

Let’s face it everyone.  The Bible is clear that we must submit to the governing authority that is over us.  We may live in any country we want, but with that we have chosen to submit.  If we feel this is wrong, then we do what some of you have suggested.  We take the appropriate steps or road and we keep going.  This is how we take a stand.  One of the things that have always bugged me about some of the churches I’ve attended is that they feel that just because they are a church and are serving God that they can show movies up on the big screen or copy choir music or even worship music without the right licensing.  WE ARE NOT EXEMPT!  Although this stinks about the NFL, we have no choice but to cancel the parties and move them into the homes.  God bless you all!

It is technically against the law to have these parties.  I think it’s stupid on the part of the NFL to not grant some form of exception (whether a license, or simply a “go for it - we won’t bother pursuing it because we value the place of the church in society - so we invite you to have these events..."), but until they do, then I believe we have an obligation to abide by the law.

I don’t think this is a case for “civil disobedience.” The government is not forcing us to break God’s laws for the sake of man’s.

Another thing to keep in mind: while I’m all in favor of these kind of outreach events, do we really show godliness to the unbelievers who attend when we intentionally spurn the law?  What does that show them?  It shows them that Christians are just like non-Christians - we only need to obey the law when its convenient.

Brian

(PS - Go Colts!  But only because my Vikings aren’t in it...)

Guess what!  As of late yesterday (Friday), the NFL changed it’s mind.  Below follows a story that I copied from http://www.pastors.com in a thread discussing it.  Sorry for the long post, Todd, but thought it would be better to put in the whole article than try to quote it.

So go to it, people, and may God grant you much fruit and enjoyable fellowship!

Brian

Church ‘Super Bowl’ festivities may go on
NFL says just don’t charge admission fees to parties
Posted: February 2, 2007
5:00 p.m. Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Churches across the U.S. planning Super Bowl parties Sunday, as the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears meet in the 41st edition of the classic first won by the Green Bay Packers, have been given sweeping permission by the NFL to go ahead – just as long as no admission fees are charged.

A dispute arose several days ago in the Midwest when the NFL sent a letter to one church based on its website advertisement for a “Super Bowl Party.” That letter to Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis said the church couldn’t use the words “Super Bowl,” it couldn’t charge admission, it couldn’t use its projection screen for the game, and a number of other things.

Those limits, coupled with the fact no church felt willing to take on a financial behemoth like the National Football League in court, sparked a series of cancellations of those parties.

(Story continues below)

“We regret to inform you that we have had to cancel our bash to view the Colts game this Sunday in a family friendly environment due to the fact that the NFL believes we would be in violation of the Copyright Act, because we had planned to show the game on a screen bigger than a 55 inch diagonal,” said a website statement from Pastor John D. Newland of Fall Creek Baptist.

However, a written statement given to WND by the NFL late today made no mention of many of those restrictions. It was attributed only to “an NFL spokesman.”

“The National Football League has absolutely no objection to churches and others hosting Super Bowl viewing parties as long as they do not charge admission and show the game on a television of the type commonly used at home.

“We are simply following copyright law and have done so with regard to any type of commercial establishment including hotels, theatres, museums, schools, arenas and others.

“This is nothing new. It is a matter of longstanding policy and the law.

“We have no rules that relate to viewing at home on any type of television.”

NFL officials, after the statement was released, could not be reached by WND for any elaboration.

Earlier, they forwarded to WND their “Policy On The Public Performance Of Game Broadcasts,” which expressed the league’s “exclusive” ownership of the games and broadcasts.

The policy also describes the “homestyle exemption,” which allows that in certain circumstances “conduct that otherwise violates the public performance right is deemed noninfringing. Specifically, 17 U.S.C. Paragraph 110(5)(A) provides that performance of a televised game will be excused if such performance is ‘on a single receiving apparatus of a kind commonly used in private homes, unless (1) a direct charge is made to see or hear the transmission; or (2) the transmission thus received is further transmitted to the public.’”

The NFL policy notes that the league doesn’t object to having games played on a single television receiver, “set up in a room or bar, provided payment is not a condition of entry.”

Elaborate performances, such as those using a movie theater with multiple, oversized television monitors and entry fees would, however, cause objections.

Pastor Mark Miller, of Indian Creek Christian Church in Indianapolis, said his church’s party was cancelled, but when he heard from WND the NFL was committed to being flexible, said it would depend on whether the youth ministry team could re-group – again – that fast.

He said one of the issues raised by the NFL earlier, but not even addressed in the policy or the later statement, was a coordination of any other message with the game.

“We were told that any kind of message couldn’t be used in conjunction with the game,” he told WND. Given the fact that both of the coaches in this weekend’s extravaganza have made statements of personal Christian faith, he said, that was a concern.

According to reports in the Indianapolis area, a number of churches including Indian Creek, Fall Creek Baptist, Cornerstone Ministry Center in Seymour, Noblesville’s Green Valley Church of Christ and many others had abruptly dropped plans for their Sunday afternoon and evening get-togethers because of the threats from the NFL. Soon word was coming in from other states, too, officials said.

“Thursday’s Indianapolis Star [report] that the NFL told Fall Creek Baptist Church that its plans for a big-screen showing of the game were improper [launched the wave of cancellations],” the reports said.

But with the latest statements from the NFL, and the fact that big-screen televisions, and even projection units, routinely are found in homes today, the door seemed to re-open. For example, the NFL earlier listed a screen size of 55 inches wide as the limit, but the newest statement had no reference to a specific size, only restricting the “receivers’ to what can be found in homes.

The wave of cancellations was followed quickly with indignant reactions from NFL fans. Of the hundreds who commented to the Star, and NFL spokesman Greg Aiello’s earlier hard line on the dispute, more than 90 percent were taking the NFL to task as the No Fun League or worse.

“Someone needs to put the NFL in its place! How can we stop the crime wave when we can’t give people an alternative life style?” wrote GA-s Mom from Shelbyville. “I am outraged that the NFL feels that [they] have the power to tell a church what to do. I am boycotting not only the game but the sponsers. This is wrong,” added Lulu, from Indianapolis.

“Everyone who feels this way should send the message, via e-mail – today – to the NFL, the network, and the sponsors of the Super Bowl,” suggested “freefalling.” “For Real” considered the situation: “Let’s see … the NFL and its big powerful bullies say it is ok to go to a bar, get ridiculously drunk and stupid, probably drive home … but you cannot go to a ‘church’ with some snackies and non-alcoholic beverages to watch their game … mmm no wonder I do not support the Colts … or any other team.”

Another fan, who called himself “Jesus Slapped in the Face,” said, “I am appalled at the NFL’s sense of right and wrong. They should be ashamed of banning CHURCHES, who are giving pro-active ‘Super Bowl’ parties.”

The earlier limits had included no admission fees, even for snacks, only one television 55 inches or smaller, no use of the “Super Bowl” words, nothing that would “promote a message” in connection with the game.

Indianapolis Star reports initially said the NFL had noticed Fall Creek’s “Super Bowl Bash” promotion on the church website, and sent Newland an overnight letter demanding its cancellation.

Among its objections was an extra video that was scheduled that highlights the Christian testimonies of Colts coach Tony Dungy and Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith.

“While this may be a noble message,” NFL assistant counsel Rachel L. Margolies wrote in an e-mail, “we are consistent in refusing the use of our game broadcasts in connection with events that promote a message, no matter the content.”

However, the latest statement from the NFL made no mention of any such objections.

Parties connected to Super Bowls probably have been going on as long as the Super Bowl itself. Churches probably weren’t far behind in holding such events, and Baptist Press has carried stories on their impact.

The testimony of Barrett Upchurch is an example. The starting centerfielder for Grapevine, Texas, High School’s junior varsity baseball team reports coming to a knowledge of Christ at a Super Bowl party.

“I started crying and just felt I was a new person and got lifted on the inside,” he said of the earlier gathering at First Baptist in Colleyville, Texas.

Student pastor Keith Harmon said the focus of the event is a “party.”

“But our whole purpose is at halftime, to see them come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you can get lost students there and they hear the Gospel, they will accept Christ,” he said.

Parents appreciate it, because it’s a safe environment for kids to see the game.

The Assemblies of God, a large Pentecostal denomination, even published a special Super Bowl edition of “Today’s Pentecostal Evangelical,” its monthly publication with a circulation of 200,000. It features biographies and testimonies from Christian players, and Managing Editor Kirk Noonan said 20,000 extra copies were in print for church members to give to neighbors and friends.

Newland had explained to his church community why the cancellation was announced.

“While we have argued that we only intend to provide a family oriented environment that will make no profit from the showing, the NFL claims that our event cannot proceed by law. Therefore, we have no choice but to challenge this in court or cancel the event. We choose to cancel the event. We deeply regret that we have been prohibited by the NFL from providing a family friendly environment for celebrating the Colts great season,” he wrote on the church website.

HOLD THE PHONE....

Nothing is changed here.

““The National Football League has absolutely no objection to churches and others hosting Super Bowl viewing parties as long as they do not charge admission and show the game on a television of the type commonly used at home.”

This has been their policy all along!  You can have your party as long as you only have ONE set and it’s not larger than 55 inches.

You still CANNNOT use a large plasma or three, or project it.

No change in the NFL’s position.

kdl