Christian Charity World Vision is facing a PR nightmare after it announced that it would begin employing staff who are in same-sex marriages, only to reverse the decision two days later.
Following a storm of protests from Christian groups the organisation’s Chairman Jim Bere and President Richard Stearns (pictured) issued a statement saying they’d be returning to their previous policy that required all workers in the charity to focus on celibacy if they were unmarried and “and faithfulness within the Bible covenant of marriage between a man and a woman.”
The organisation flipped it’s decision after they were inundated by people saying they would no longer support it’s work in third world counties if the the organisation openly supported and recognised gay couples.
The reversal has also triggered the resignation of board member Jacqueline Fuller, who is Head of Giving at Google. Ms Fuller issued a statement outlining that she still supported the work of the organisation but could not remain as a board member while the organisation excluded married gay couples.
The head of World Vission’s Australia operations, Tim Costello has highlighted that the way the Australian arm of the organisation operates is different to the US branch. Mr Costello told the Star Observer that they do discriminate in Australia.
“World Vision Australia’s policy on this issue is very different from that of our colleagues in the US. We hire only (on) merit and we do not discriminate on the basis of gender or sexual orientation,” he said. “This is in compliance with Australian law.”
“Internationally, World Vision is a federated organisation, each country has its own separate board and leadership and its own constitution. Each country naturally also works within its own political and cultural context. World Vision United States’ decisions have no impact on any of World Vision Australia’s hiring practices.’, explained Mr Costello.
