JACKSON TWP. Usually, it's churches who are complaining about the marketing of sex. This time, a complaint is being aimed at RiverTree Christian Church for 10 billboards around Stark and Summit counties advertising a four-part sermon series, "Pure Sex," which begins on Saturday.

The Rev. Greg Nettle, senior pastor at RiverTree's main campus at 7373 Portage Ave. NW, said the purpose of the series is to help people understand what the Bible says about sex, which he says is a gift from God.

"I think, in our culture, the two things that affect us the most, good or bad, are money and sex," he said. "The church has not chosen to talk about either, enough."

Similar campaigns are being launched by churches around the country. The goal, proponents say, is to bring the discussion of sex out of the back alley and into the pews.

But Sarah Owens of Lake Township said she believes the billboards, which depict two pairs of feet beneath a sheet, and offer a Web site address - patheticsexlife.com - are inappropriate. She's complained to the zoning boards in both Jackson and Lake townships.

"I can't seem to get anybody's attention about garbage like this," Owens said. "If he wants to attract that kind of people, you need to go down to Christie's. That's where you find them."

Nettle said he's not completely surprised that not everyone likes the campaign, though none of his members have objected. With additional campuses in Massillon and Hartville, RiverTree draws about 3,000 worshippers a week.

"The culture tells us there are no consequences," Nettle said. "But there are serious ramifications. There are huge consequences, including broken families."

"Television's garbage, don't get me wrong," she said. "Even they have some standards until 8 p.m. I don't understand why billboard companies do not."

Jackson Township Zoning Inspector Joni Poindexter said the township has no control over a billboard's content, as long as the message isn't obscene, racist or offensive in some other manner.

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