Fundraisers for the Manchester Passion Play, an outdoor live performance telling the story of Easter, had planned to offer the experience for £750 to donors willing to help fund the £50,000 event.
Members of the public would be hoisted onto a cross outside the city's cathedral under one of the ideas posted on a crowd-funding website used by the organising committee to raise the remaining £8,000 needed.
But the idea was branded "blasphemous" and quickly dropped when clergy found out.
Rev Falak Sher, a canon at Manchester Cathedral and chairman of the organising committee, said he vetoed the idea when it came to light.
He Sher said: "When I saw it I did not like it, I thought it was disgraceful.
"The whole message of the cross is hope and love.
"When I saw this I was not very happy and asked the committee to take this one down.
"We didn't like promoting the event in this way for £750.
"I thought it was not a very positive message when dealing with a message of love and hope."
The Manchester Passion will tell the story of Jesus' teachings, his betrayal, trial and resurrection, involving local schools, music and drama, with several thousand expected to watch the event on stage and broadcast on big screens.
It takes place in the city's Cathedral Gardens from noon onwards this Saturday April 8, and will be televised by the BBC's Songs Of Praise.
