Overture opposes mixing marketing and ministry By John H. Adams The Layman Online Thursday, May 8, 2003 Last year, the 214th General Assembly put Taco Bell at the top of its hit list. The proposed corporate target for the 215th General Assembly, which will meet in Denver on May 24-30, is General Motors. Indignant over farm workers' protests that they were not being paid enough to pick the tomatoes that Taco Bell buys from distributors, the 2002 commissioners called on Presbyterians to boycott the fast food chain. They also authorized spending money from One Great Hour of Sharing and the Presbyterian Hunger Fund to pay staff to run the boycott and promote it on the Web site of the Presbyterian Church (USA). This time, commissioners will be asked to tell General Motors' Chevrolet Division that it ought not to mix religion and business. That request comes to the General Assembly through an overture from the Presbytery of Detroit, GM's headquarters. The overture asks the commissioners to adopt the following resolution: "The 215th General Assembly (2003) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) expresses its deep concern to the Chevrolet division of General Motors Corporation over Chevrolet's new marketing strategy that provides advertising sponsorship for the Come Together and Worship tour featuring Max Lucado as the primary evangelist and requests that Chevrolet discontinue all marketing strategies that seek to use religion for corporate economic gain." While commissioners will be considering that issue, the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation will be in a nearby booth selling religious books for a profit. Chevrolet has announced that it will do about the same thing. It plans to put its cars near the concert halls so that people can look at them when they attend one of 17 evangelical concerts the automaker will sponsor in November. A news release on the GM site makes no apologies for mixing marketing and ministry. "This is a groundbreaking marketing effort for Chevrolet," says Steve Betz, regional division marketing manager for Chevrolet. "With contemporary Christian music growing exponentially compared to every other genre of music for the past two years, Chevrolet recognizes the marketing potential with this tour and the benefits of partnering with the most popular and successful musical artists in their industry." The lineup for the concert includes evangelist Max Lucado; Third Day, a Christian rock band; and Christian singer Michael W. Smith. Evangelist Max Lucado Lucado is an international evangelist and the unpaid pastor of Oak Hills Church of Christ in San Antonio. He has written numerous books that have sold more than 15 million copies. In an interview with Amazon.com, Lucado is described as a former "beer-guzzling, womanizing, Texas tough guy until God tapped him on the shoulder and called him to the ministry." An excerpt from that interview: Amazon.com: Most of your books revolve around Christ and the cross. Can you ever exhaust the subject? Lucado: I don't think so. There are times when I wonder what direction to go in next in writing about the life of Jesus, then another idea pops into my head. Just a few days ago I was scribbling down some notes about how Jesus is the perfect pastor. Amazon.com: If Jesus were "in the flesh" today, what do you think he'd be like? Lucado: I don't think he would stand out by his physical appearance. I think his kindness would stand out. People would enjoy being with him. He would have a stern side, in the sense that he would have firm convictions, but he would not be stern in the sense of pushing people away. I think we'd be surprised where he would hang out and the kind of people that would be around him. He was known as a friend of sinners and always seemed to have time for them. Singer Michael W. Smith During his 19-year career, Smith has won two GRAMMY Awards (along with numerous nominations) and an American Music Award given in the Pop category. He was named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People and has received 34 Dove Awards, including Artist of the Year in 1999 and 2002. Smith's career sales exceed nine million. His 2001 release, "Worship," recently sold more than one million units. Third Day band described as having 'Southern-fried rock roots' Third Day is a three-time GRAMMY nominee and reigning Gospel Music Association Group of the Year. Described by Christianity Today as having "Southern-fried rock roots," Third Day has become known for its support of Habitat for Humanity, raising more than $170,000 for the organization. Recently, the band traveled to Africa to aid former President Jimmy Carter in a house-building project with the Jimmy Carter Work Project 2002 in Durban, South Africa.

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