BSA Decisions Ngā Whakatau a te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho

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Summary

The Key of David is a series of religious programmes broadcast on Sunday mornings

on TV3 in which the presenter interprets and applies biblical teachings to present day

events. In the programme broadcast on 29 September between 7.15–7.45am, titled

"The King of the South", the presenter suggested the coming of the King of the South

was ahead of us.

Mr Bath complained to TV3 Network Services Ltd, the broadcaster, that the presenter's

interpretation of the scripture did not accord with the teachings of the Philadelphia

Church of God's founder. He suggested that viewers should have been advised that

the interpretation was that of the presenter and complained that the Church's founder

was not treated fairly.

In its response, TV3 asserted that it was clear that the scriptures were interpreted

according to the presenter's beliefs, and denied that the Church's founder was

maligned. It declined to uphold the complaint. Dissatisfied with that response, Mr

Bath referred the complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority under s.8(1)(a) of

the Broadcasting Act 1989.

For the reasons below, the Authority declines to uphold the complaint.

Decision

The members of the Authority have viewed the item complained about and have read the

correspondence (summarised in the Appendix). As is its practice, the Authority

determines the complaint without a formal hearing.

An edition of The Key of David was broadcast by TV3 Network Services Ltd on 29

September 1996 between 7.15–7.45am. The programme is presented by The

Philadelphia Church of God and was led by presenter Mr Gerald Flurry. On this

occasion, it focussed on the biblical prophecies in the book of Daniel and related them

to present day political events and future events. According to Mr Flurry's reading of

the scriptures, the book of Daniel prophesied that Islam fundamentalists based in Iran

will take over most of the Middle East, including Egypt, the Sudan and Algeria. After a

period of terrible conflict, he predicted that peace would reign.

Mr Bath, himself a former member of The Philadelphia Church of God, complained

that the presenter's interpretation of the scriptures did not accord with the interpretation

of the late Mr Herbert Armstrong. He claimed that a major platform of The Key of

David series was that the teachings of Mr Armstrong were upheld in the programmes.

Mr Armstrong taught that the prophecies in the book of Daniel referred to events which

occurred 100 years ago, and not to present and future events. In Mr Bath's view, the

interpretation presented by Mr Flurry misled viewers and was unfair to Mr Armstrong

and to the viewers of New Zealand.

TV3 assessed the complaint under standard G4 of the Television Code of Broadcasting

Practice, nominated by Mr Bath. That standard requires broadcasters:

G4 To deal justly and fairly with any person taking part or referred to in

the programme.

In TV3's view, it was obvious that Mr Flurry was giving a personal interpretation of

the scriptures. It pointed out that at no time were Mr Flurry's views attributed to Mr

Armstrong, and in fact Mr Armstrong was only mentioned once during the programme,

in the context of his meeting with the Egyptian president in 1984. TV3 denied that Mr

Armstrong was treated unfairly in the programme. It also observed that the programme

did not describe his teachings as being "a major platform of The Key of David series."

It declined to uphold the complaint.

The Authority concurs with TV3's view that the programme did not claim to present the

teachings of Mr Armstrong. It also agrees that it was clear that Mr Flurry was giving a

personal interpretation of the biblical passages. It assumes since the programme was

sanctioned by the Church, questions on doctrine would be resolved within the Church

itself. It does not consider that the apparent anomaly between Mr Flurry's teaching and

that of the late Mr Armstrong constitutes a standards matter. Accordingly, it declines to

uphold the complaint.

For the reasons set forth above, the Authority declines to uphold the

complaint.

Signed for and on behalf of the Authority

Judith Potter
Chairperson
6 March 1997

Appendix

Doug Bath's Complaint to TV3 Network Services Ltd - 16 October 1996

After some preliminary correspondence, Mr Bath of Christchurch complained to TV3

Network Services Ltd about a programme in the series The Key of David, titled "The

King of the South" which was broadcast on 29 September between 7.15 - 7.45am.

Mr Bath contended that a major platform of the series was that the teachings of the late

Mr Herbert Armstrong were upheld on the programmes. He noted that the presenter,

when referring to the King of the South in the book of Daniel, Chapter 11, v 40,

interpreted the scripture differently from Mr Armstrong. Mr Bath noted that the

presenter taught that the King of the South was still ahead of us, while Mr Armstrong

taught that it occurred 100 years ago.

In Mr Bath's view, this constituted a major change in the teaching of the Church and he

felt that viewers should have been told that it was not what Mr Armstrong taught.

He believed that many viewers would think that Mr Flurry, the presenter, taught as Mr

Armstrong did on this question.

Mr Bath added that he was a member of the Philadelphia Church of God. He advised

that he had tried to prevail through church channels.

In a letter dated 30 October to TV3 Mr Bath wrote that he believed that standard G4 of

the Television Code of Broadcasting Practice was breached, the aggrieved parties being

the late Mr Armstrong and the viewers of New Zealand. He advised:

To up-date I find myself not now a member of the Philadelphia Church of God

but appeal to you still however as an ordinary viewer with an interest in this

subject.

TV3's Response to the Formal Complaint - 19 November 1996

TV3 described The Key of David as a religious programme hosted by Mr Gerald Flurry

which dealt with his interpretation of the scriptures and how the scriptures related to the

political situation around the world and how they may be used to forecast the world's

future.

According to TV3, Mr Flurry believed that "the world has entered its latter days unless

it turns to God". In its view, it was obvious from the programme that this was Mr

Flurry's view and that this belief was the basis of his interpretation of the scriptures. It

noted that this interpretation was never ascribed to anyone else besides Mr Flurry and

did not believe the audience would ever assume otherwise. It wrote:

Obviously scriptural interpretation is personal and differs hugely between the

various denominations of Christianity and perhaps even within the same

denomination. Within the programme Mr Flurry's interpretation is never

credited to Mr Armstrong. In fact Mr Armstrong is not mentioned at all when

Mr Flurry discusses Daniel 11 v.40. The only mention of Mr Armstrong comes

much later in the programme when Mr Flurry discusses how Mr Armstrong met

with the Egyptian president in 1984.

Thus, TV3 concluded, the interpretation of the scriptures was never linked to anyone

other than Mr Flurry. It denied that Mr Armstrong was maligned, pointing out that his

scriptural interpretations were never discussed and none were attributed to him. It

stated that his "teachings" were never attributed in the programme as being "a major

platform of The Key of David series."

TV3 declined to uphold the complaint.

Further Correspondence

On receipt of TV3's letter, Mr Bath wrote to TV3 on 23 November 1996 asking if it

would be in order to make an additional appeal regarding the complaint. This

concerned the "series expectation" aspect. He wrote:

TV3 staff will have evaluated "The Key of David" as a series and will have been

given certain understandings and assurances no doubt. I request please that you

make enquiries as to whether staff involved in the initial assessment of the series

would find for the assertion "A major platform etc". We agree this is a key

statement in the case.

In its response dated 28 November TV3 advised that one of its appraisers was involved

with the consideration and response to his formal complaint. It advised that it had no

further comments to add to the formal response sent on 19 November.

Mr Bath's Referral to the Broadcasting Standards Authority - 30

November 1996

Dissatisfied with TV3's decision not to uphold the complaint, Mr Bath referred it to the

Broadcasting Standards Authority under s.8(1)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 1989.

He considered that the work of TV3 had been very good throughout the complaints

process but continued to believe that something was wrong. He was of the view that

standard G4 was breached on the programme, with the aggrieved parties being the late

Mr Armstrong and the viewers of New Zealand

He requested a review of TV3's decision.

TV3's Response to the Authority - 16 December 1996

In a brief letter TV3 advised that it had no further comment to make regarding the

complaint.