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11th Commandment
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| What if you had to come up with a new commandment? That’s just what young people in Great Britain were asked in a new campaign, meant to help the church get in touch with a demographic they sometimes misunderstand or maybe ignore. Kim Riemland has the story. | |||
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SCRIPT:
Churches throughout time have been known for telling people “Thou shalt
not!” But the British Methodist Church is taking a different approach,
giving people the chance to come up with suggestions for a
new 11th Commandment.
Haley
Moss: “Don’t work on Sundays.”
Gavin Edwards: “Don’t sleep through your lectures.”
The 11th Commandment campaign is a national listening exercise helping the church find out what’s on the minds of Generation Xers, who are in their 20s and 30s.
Haley Moss: “I’ve never been to church really. I used to go when I was young, but not anymore.”
Daniel Cuper: “I used to go when I was younger.”
Three quarters of a million postcards and coasters have been distributed in movie theaters, pubs and bars like this student hangout in Manchester. They encourage people to text message the church with suggestions for a new commandment that will make the world a better place. The top five win a camera cell phone. The church will use the feedback to better serve young people in the future.
Cris Acher / British Methodist Minister: “People want to come. They want to be able to discuss issues. They don’t want to have to just listen to somebody. They want to be able to share with others. They’re people looking for a bit of community and that doesn’t always happen in an hour on Sunday morning.”
27-year-old British Methodist minister Cris Acher helped develop the 11th
Commandment campaign. While it’s meant to be a bit of fun, it also
serves as a window on a group that Methodists know they aren’t serving
well enough.
Cris Acher:
“We’re not going to meet people by waiting in a building. We’ve got to
take risks; we’ve got to take big, bold steps.”
Wagas Javed: “The first time I saw it I though it was a joke. That’s what was came to my mind. But it seems like a good idea.”
Haley Moss: It’s a cool idea.”
TAG:
The top five winners out of 2,000 entries received were:
Thou
shalt not worship false pop idols.
Thou shalt not kill in the name of any god.
Thou shalt not confuse text with love.
Thou shalt not consume thine own body weight in fudge.
Thou shalt not be negative.
Also in the running were
“Thou shalt not:
... dump your lover by text ... dance like your dad ... marry unless
truly in love ... change allegiance if your football team is relegated
... hold loud conversations on thy mobile in a public place ... condemn
thy neighbor for having different beliefs ... use faith to hide from
reality ... use plastic to multiply your possessions ... shrink-wrap
cucumbers ... pretend to have no change when asked to donate to
charity.”
“Thou shalt: …commit random acts of kindness ... respect the earth ... indicate at roundabouts ... smile at the person opposite.