World Vision Reverses Decision: Won't Recognize Employee Same-Sex Marriage

On Monday, Christian relief organization World Vision announced that its employee conduct manual  would no longer define marriage as being between a man and a woman.  According to a report from the Religious News Service, the organization's U.S. branch would henceforth recognize same-sex marriage as being within the norms of "abstinence before marriage and fidelity in marriage" discussed in World Vision's conduct code for its 1,100 employees. 

In a letter to employees issued on Monday, World Vision President Rich Stearns stated that the organization was not endorsing same-sex marriage, but had "chosen to defer to the authority of local churches on this issue."

In an interview with Christianity Today, Stearns said that the organization's board was "overwhelmingly in favor" of the change.  However, he stressed that the decision was not driven by theology.  He added: "There is no lawsuit threatening us.  There is no employee group lobbying us.  This is simply a decision about whether or not you are eligible for employment at World Vision U.S., based on a single issue, and nothing more."

Today's NonProfitTimes is reporting that just two days after making its big announcement, World Vision reversed it.  In a letter to supporters yesterday, Stearns and Chairman of the World Vision U.S. Board, Jim Bere, announced that the organization was reversing its recent decision to change its "national employment policy."

According to the "Dear friends" letter sent to the organization's "trusted partners,"

The board acknowledged they made a mistake and chose to revert 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.

Speaking directly to the organization's "trustred partners," Stearns and Bere stated: "We have listened to you and want to say thank you and to humbly ask for your forgiveness."

The initial decision was greeted with both criticism and support.  The reversal has drawn the same types of responses.  One skeptic posted the following comment on World Vision's Facebook page: "I can see that your board has got its priorities right -- money talked, and you not only listened, you obeyed."

That may not be necessarily true.  It is highly probable that upon prayerful reconsideration of its "new policy" and heated discusions concerning the change, the World Vision board reversed itself.  Either decision would be popular with some, unpopular with others.  In the final analysis, World Vision must do what it believes best helps the organization achieve its mission.

VEJ