05-11-2006, 10:40 PM
Actor Tom Hanks, Pastors Believe Church is Place for 'Da Vinci' Talk
http://www.earnedmedia.org/cti0509.htm
To: National Desk
Contact: Michael Herman, 630-260-6200 ext. 4309, mherman@christianitytoday.com; Elizabeth Diffin: 630-260-6200 ext. 4244, ediffin@christianitytoday.com, both with Christianity Today International
MEDIA ADVISORY, May 9 /Christian Wire Service/ -- The summer blockbuster is coming, but it might have effects beyond the local cinema. On May 19, "The Da Vinci Code" arrives on the big screen, and churches across the country are gearing up for the film's release. The catch is, they're not planning boycotts or protest marches. They're seeing it as a tool to spread the gospel.
A recent poll by Leadership, a popular magazine for pastors, revealed that 53 percent of the churches surveyed are planning sermons, classes, or seminars in response to the film. Many of these discussions will focus on the real truth of the gospel and consider the historical and biblical background of the novel and movie.
"The trend that started with the release of The Passion of the Christ in 2004, whereby churches used a movie for evangelistic opportunity, was refined with the release of The Chronicles of Narnia last year," Eric Reed, Leadership managing editor said. "Now, with The Da Vinci Code movie, the challenge for church leaders is to encourage meaningful theological discussion rather than waging war on a film that refutes basic truths of the gospel. Christians boycotted the last major film that alleged a sexual relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, The Last Temptation of Christ in 1988. With this film, it appears many pastors are preparing to turn a negative portrayal of the gospel into a faith-sharing event."
Even the star of The Da Vinci Code, Tom Hanks, sees potential for church outreach amidst the movie's controversy. "If they put up a sign saying: This Wednesday we're discussing the gospel, 12 people show up. But if a sign says: This Wednesday we're discussing The Da Vinci Code, 800 people show up," Hanks told Entertainment Weekly. "I think the movie may end up helping churches do their job."
As The Da Vinci Code is released and churches across the country respond to the controversy, Christianity Today International has experts available to discuss different aspects of the book and film.
-- Mark Moring, managing editor of Christianity Today Movies, provides information about The Da Vinci Code movie. He can also speak to the recent trend of marketing movies to pastors, churches, and Christians, in general. For more information, visit http://ChristianityToday.com/go/davinci
-- Lisa Ann Cockrel, associate editor of Today's Christian Woman magazine has written for a number of other publications, including this article for Outreach magazine: http://ChristianityToday.com/outreach/arti...deintrigue.html
-- Peter Chattaway is also available for comment. He studied history, religious studies, and film at the University of British Columbia and can speak about issues of Christianity and spirituality in film. His reviews are among the most insightful critiques included on Christianity Today Movies. Peter also runs his own "FilmChat" blog at: http://filmchatblog.blogspot.com/
-- Collin Hansen has spent three years researching and writing about Da Vinci from various angles. He is able to discuss the connections between The Da Vinci Code and biblical history. He is also a valuable resource on opening the dialogue concerning the truth of the book and movie. (NOTE: Collin will be available after May 16)
Collin's Latest Feature: 5 Big Questions from The Da Vinci Code http://ChristianityToday.com/biblestudies/...es/060426b.html
http://www.earnedmedia.org/cti0509.htm
To: National Desk
Contact: Michael Herman, 630-260-6200 ext. 4309, mherman@christianitytoday.com; Elizabeth Diffin: 630-260-6200 ext. 4244, ediffin@christianitytoday.com, both with Christianity Today International
MEDIA ADVISORY, May 9 /Christian Wire Service/ -- The summer blockbuster is coming, but it might have effects beyond the local cinema. On May 19, "The Da Vinci Code" arrives on the big screen, and churches across the country are gearing up for the film's release. The catch is, they're not planning boycotts or protest marches. They're seeing it as a tool to spread the gospel.
A recent poll by Leadership, a popular magazine for pastors, revealed that 53 percent of the churches surveyed are planning sermons, classes, or seminars in response to the film. Many of these discussions will focus on the real truth of the gospel and consider the historical and biblical background of the novel and movie.
"The trend that started with the release of The Passion of the Christ in 2004, whereby churches used a movie for evangelistic opportunity, was refined with the release of The Chronicles of Narnia last year," Eric Reed, Leadership managing editor said. "Now, with The Da Vinci Code movie, the challenge for church leaders is to encourage meaningful theological discussion rather than waging war on a film that refutes basic truths of the gospel. Christians boycotted the last major film that alleged a sexual relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, The Last Temptation of Christ in 1988. With this film, it appears many pastors are preparing to turn a negative portrayal of the gospel into a faith-sharing event."
Even the star of The Da Vinci Code, Tom Hanks, sees potential for church outreach amidst the movie's controversy. "If they put up a sign saying: This Wednesday we're discussing the gospel, 12 people show up. But if a sign says: This Wednesday we're discussing The Da Vinci Code, 800 people show up," Hanks told Entertainment Weekly. "I think the movie may end up helping churches do their job."
As The Da Vinci Code is released and churches across the country respond to the controversy, Christianity Today International has experts available to discuss different aspects of the book and film.
-- Mark Moring, managing editor of Christianity Today Movies, provides information about The Da Vinci Code movie. He can also speak to the recent trend of marketing movies to pastors, churches, and Christians, in general. For more information, visit http://ChristianityToday.com/go/davinci
-- Lisa Ann Cockrel, associate editor of Today's Christian Woman magazine has written for a number of other publications, including this article for Outreach magazine: http://ChristianityToday.com/outreach/arti...deintrigue.html
-- Peter Chattaway is also available for comment. He studied history, religious studies, and film at the University of British Columbia and can speak about issues of Christianity and spirituality in film. His reviews are among the most insightful critiques included on Christianity Today Movies. Peter also runs his own "FilmChat" blog at: http://filmchatblog.blogspot.com/
-- Collin Hansen has spent three years researching and writing about Da Vinci from various angles. He is able to discuss the connections between The Da Vinci Code and biblical history. He is also a valuable resource on opening the dialogue concerning the truth of the book and movie. (NOTE: Collin will be available after May 16)
Collin's Latest Feature: 5 Big Questions from The Da Vinci Code http://ChristianityToday.com/biblestudies/...es/060426b.html