U.S. Lutherans use commercial radio

Press, 7 March 1978, Page 10

U.S. Lutherans use commercial radio

There is a place tur the Christian radio station, but it must recognise its responsibility to the general public as well as to the Christian, according to an American Lutheran minister who preaches to more than 40 million people each week. Dr Oswald Hoffman has hosted the "Lutheran Hour." which is, broadcast on 3400 radio stations throughout the world, for the last 22 vears. He is in New Zealand to prepare a documentary on Christmas customs and celebrations. He is also world oresident of the United Bible Societies, and has addressed Bible Societv functions while in New Zealand. Manv denominations had their own radio stations in the United Mates, said Dr Hoffman. although the Lutheran Church itself did no’. Freedom was the key,-he said "You can pick' and choose, and turn them off." Freedom means a lot to Dr

Hoffman, whose first parish was St Matthew’s. New York. It was this parish that was granted freedom of worship by the British when they

e drove the Dutch trom New t Amsterdam in 1664. Soon i- after that the city was s renamed New York. i. "Freedom has meant a lot n to the church. It is the fight o against despotism, ever - since the apostolic age. I can see it happening now. s "The dav is going to come when those churches which 0 have struggled for survival e will have something to say I to the churches that have enjoyed freedom.” Dr Hoff1 man is impressed with the life of the Church he has seen in Communist countries. Dr Hoffman said that it 1 was the Lutheran Church’s * policy to use the commercial " stations, “to broadcast on the stations that people j listen to. I believe we reach J a wide audience." he said. r There were 3500 commer-j cial stations in the United! j States, “run by everyone under the sun,” and they all} , had to meet the require-; j ments of public convenience, ' interest, and necessity. That! r | also applied to the religious l

i stations. Dr Hoffmans Christmas , programme will be one of a i series established over the last 15 years which has in-1

troduced tne customs and traditions of Christmas celebrations in various parts of the world. The programme has to be prepared by July, and will be i broadcast next Christmas. One of the most experienced church communicators,: Dr Hoffman has been a parish minister, a college professor. a film production adi viser, and the Lutheran Church’s first public relations executive. “AH the denominations, have an awful lot of reaching out in the media. We don’t; have manv paid staff mem-i tiers’, it is mostly voluntary, and they have acquired their experience by themselves.” i Although he has no; military background. Dr Hoff-! man has been asked manyj ;times to speak to soldiers.! He believes it is because he! has learned to “put thei Gospel across” in terms) ordinary people can under-I stand. j