So, apparently there's a new show starting on National Geographic that's sort of the church version of Supernanny, I guess? Here's a description from Religion News Service:
The trio travel across the United States to assist failing churches, using “the wisdom of Scripture and a little Southern ingenuity” along with some red-faced shouting at obstinate pastors.
So far, six episodes are planned, although the Church Hoppers said they hope to film additional shows. Their targets include a Full Gospel church, a biker church, a cowboy church and even a synagogue.
In the first episode, “Country Salvation,” the Church Hoppers visit a four-hour-long service at a “Bapticostal” church in North Carolina that meets in a sweltering sanctuary with no air conditioning.
They have seven days to fix the decrepit building and to persuade Pastor Larry Roseboro to work with the church he has instead of dreaming of a new sanctuary.
That sounds .... awful. Just awful. And unnecessary. But apparently there's no segement of the U.S. population that is not now subject to the humiliating public narcissism of reality television.
Once upon a time, when there was thing called "Television Drama" that existed on channels other than AMC, I used to wish for a genuinely good TV series featuring a clergy person. A few anemic attempts were made over the years, and about the closest that anyone ever came was 7th Heavn, a show that I never watched because, in part, it was on the CW, and in part because it looked terrible.
Maybe one of these days there will be a TV show about churches and ministers that will be worth watching, but it sure as heck will not be a reality show about "church rescue consultants."
Have you seen "Rev." from the BBC? Hands down, best show about the clergy that I've ever seen. One of the writers has to have been in ministry--it's just too spot on. You can see it on Hulu.
Posted by: Revtrent | December 04, 2013 at 11:07 PM