Louisville—For years, churches have used the nearly unparalleled televised success of the Super Bowl as an evangelistic avenue, inviting members and their guests to watch the football game and fellowship on church premises.

That was, at least, until the National Football League got word of one such party prior to last year’s matchup and began restricting such gatherings. The move forced churches to revise or cancel their plans, and continues to affect event plans now under way for the 2008 Super Bowl.

In late January of last year, NFL officials spotted a promotion for a “Super Bowl Bash” at Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis. Initially, the league said the event had to be cancelled because the church used the trademarked words “Super Bowl” in its promotions and was planning on charging a fee.

John Newland, pastor of Fall Creek, responded that the planned fee was for refreshments, not attendance, and that the church would stop using Super Bowl in the event promotion.

Newland’s response was not enough for NFL officials, who objected to the church’s plan to show the game on a projector. Eventually, the league relented and permitted the church to host the event as long as a screen no larger than 55 inches was used.

The NFL also banned Fall Creek’s plan to show recorded Christian testimonies of Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith, coaches of the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears, respectively.

“While this may be a noble message,” NFL assistant counsel Rachel Margolies wrote in a follow-up 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.”

It did not take long for news of the restricted event to spread across the country, causing churches everywhere to evaluate and adjust their own gatherings.

Kris Billiter, minister to students at Walnut Street Baptist Church in Louisville, chose to revise his Super Bowl youth party to accommodate the screen size restriction.

“We had originally planned on using two mounted televisions, while also projecting the game on a wall,” he recalled. “We went away from the televisions and projected the game on the wall on an image less than 55 inches.”

Billiter said the restrictions did not hinder his church’s event and actually provided an opportunity for him to model submission to authorities to his youth.

“It really wasn’t a big deal for us,” he noted. “Part of the event is about the game, but part of the event is about hanging out and fellowshipping and we were able to do that.

“For me, the decision came down to integrity,” Billiter continued. “How can I teach my kids the importance of respecting authority and following the rules of our authorities and not submit to the NFL’s regulations?”

Many people have criticized NFL officials, saying they are being unreasonable and only trying to boost their Nielsen TV ratings.

“We have contracts with our (television) networks to provide free over-the-air television for people at home,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello explained. “The network economics are based on television ratings and at-home viewing. Out-of-home viewing is not measured by Nielsen.”

After the negative backlash, the league issued another statement in early February in an attempt to show flexibility without violating national copyright regulations.

The NFL’s typical policy is to ban “mass out-of-home viewings,” Aiello said, except for in sports bars and other businesses that show televised sports as a part of their everyday operations.

However, in its restatement, the NFL highlighted the “home style exemption” which allows viewings “on a single receiving apparatus of a kind commonly used in private homes,” provided that hosts do not charge a fee or transmit the game as a public event.

While it is unclear exactly what the league means by an “apparatus of a kind commonly used in private homes” or what it defines as a public event, churches will again face restrictions in 2008, as the NFL has not yet indicated any softening of the regulations.

Churches who choose to host a public event should avoid use of the words “Super Bowl” in promotional materials, hold an admission-free event, and should not use a television or projector screen any larger than 55 inches.

While some Kentucky Baptist churches have revised their traditional plans, others are choosing to simply avoid the controversy by finding other ways to use the game as an outreach.

Simpsonville Baptist Church traditionally hosts an evangelistic Super Bowl event, but this year will most likely avoid such a party to keep in step with NFL regulations.

“We certainly want to abide by the law,” noted Pastor Steve Boyd. “However, rather than just exempt the whole event, we are trying to encourage home parties and events of that nature. We are encouraging our members to invite neighbors to enjoy the festivities with them and maybe make new relationships.

“We still want to be intentional about connecting with families who don’t know the gospel,” Boyd said. “Now, we will have to encourage folks to do it in a different way.”