Snarky Sermon on the Blog: "God's Radio Station" Is For Sale

A wildly successful DC radio station can save a financially-barren Adventist college... if the college sells it.

And why, pray tell, is this particular religious radio station so successful?

WGTS, which aims at an audience of 20-to-45-year-old "soccer moms," collects about $2.5 million a year in donations from about 15,000 listeners and is, according to the Arbitron ratings service, the second-most-listened-to noncommercial religious station in the nation.

"We're heavy on music and camaraderie," Walker says, "as opposed to preaching and right-wing politics."

So what's the problem?

A new public station featuring local and global news appears to be the most likely outcome in a battle involving two big media players, a struggling college, a proud religious faith and a flock of listeners who believe they are hearing God's will. At stake is the future of WGTS (91.9 FM), a station owned by Columbia Union College, which in turn is controlled by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

And the bidding war commences!

Thus endeth today's sermon.

Go forth today and consider why this religious college has to sell its radio station. Hint: Here's just one of the reasons:

In early 2006, the Maryland Department of the Environment ruled that the college had illegally discharged pollutants into Sligo Creek over a 55-month period beginning in June 2002, despite repeated warnings from inspectors. Floor drains, sinks and overflows in and around the college’s physical plant are apparently connected to storm drains instead of the sewer system.

Hm. What else is going on at Columbia Union College?

And why does God need a radio station?

Think about it.

I mean it, damn it!



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.