The evangelical disaster relief organization World Vision created a stir with its announcement that it would hire homosexuals as long as they are married. This would preserve the Christian principle of “no sex outside of marriage.” But World Vision then reversed that decision, going back to its former policy requiring abstinence except for men and women married to each other.
Initial decision, from World Vision: Why We’re Hiring Gay Christians in Same-Sex Marriages | Christianity Today:
World Vision’s American branch will no longer require its more than 1,100 employees to restrict their sexual activity to marriage between one man and one woman.
Abstinence outside of marriage remains a rule. But a policy change announced Monday [March 24] will now permit gay Christians in legal same-sex marriages to be employed at one of America’s largest Christian charities.
In an exclusive interview, World Vision U.S. president Richard Stearns explained to Christianity Today the rationale behind changing this “condition of employment,” whether financial or legal pressures were involved, and whether other Christian organizations with faith-based hiring rules should follow World Vision’s lead.
Stearns asserts that the “very narrow policy change” should be viewed by others as “symbolic not of compromise but of [Christian] unity.” He even hopes it will inspire unity elsewhere among Christians.
[Keep reading. . . .]
New decision, from Christian Headlines:
World Vision announced two days ago that homosexual Christians in legal marriages would be permitted to work at the organization. Today, the Christian relief organization reversed its decision.
World Vision president Richard Stearns composed a letter to friends and supporters of the organization stating, “The board acknowledged they made a mistake and chose to revert to our longstanding conduct policy requiring sexual abstinence for all single employees and faithfulness within the Biblical covenant of marriage between a man and a woman.”
Stearns expressed a belief in “the biblical view of marriage” and apologized for the confusion the initial decision caused.
Stearns also cited the importance of treating everyone with respect, regardless of sexual orientation, as all people “are created by God.”
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In