Seattle pastor claims newspaper canceled church’s Easter service ads last minute after CEO objected [Video]

A Seattle pastor may be pursuing legal action after a leading newspaper abruptly canceled their contract agreement with the pastor to advertise his church’s Easter services.

Pastor Russell Johnson of The Pursuit NW church told Seattle-based conservative talk show host Jason Rantz that he reached out to The Seattle Times on February 9 in order to pursue a prominent ad placement advertising his church for Passion Week. 

In emails shared with Rantz, Pastor Johnson reportedly asked the newspaper if he could pay for the “largest and most prominent ad space” the paper offered. He made clear that the ad would feature religious graphics, such as a cross, crown of thorns and an empty tomb, as well as an invitation to attend the church’s Easter service.

Three days later, a marketing specialist for The Seattle Times replied and offered a placement costing $18,500, along with guidelines for religious messaging. The ad’s original messaging mentioning “Hell” and “revival” was altered after it was rejected …