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For full reports and exact statements of the CRCNA position on a particular issue, see references provided below.

Position

Film is a legitimate cultural medium to be used by Christians in the fulfillment of the cultural mandate. They must exercise responsible, Spirit-guided, and enlightened discrimination in the use of film arts, rejecting the message of products that sanction sin. The church must educate its members in the discriminate use of film arts, engage in constructive critique of the film arts, and may certainly work to produce Christian films, videos, and television.

See also Worldly Amusements.

History

The CRCNA made its first official declaration on the topic of film arts in a warning against movie-theater attendance in 1928. In 1949 synod decided to study the issue again, and in 1951 it clarified previous declarations. In response to an overture in 1964, synod appointed a committee to study the matter of the church and film. Two years later synod adopted declarations on "The Church and the Film Arts," which became the position of the CRCNA. The film arts were then considered a legitimate cultural medium to be used with discernment by Christians.

References to Agendas and Acts of Synod

Acts of Synod 1926, pp. 56-58, 181-82
Acts of Synod 1928, pp. 86-89
Acts of Synod 1932, pp. 36-37
Acts of Synod 1940, pp. 95-98, 186-97
Acts of Synod 1944, pp. 30-32, 368-69
Acts of Synod 1949, pp. 47, 51-55
Acts of Synod 1950, pp. 19, 148
Acts of Synod 1951, pp. 62, 65-66, 126-69
Acts of Synod 1964, pp. 83, 133, 452-67, 481-82
Acts of Synod 1965, pp. 19, 116
Acts of Synod 1966, pp. 32-36, 316-61