Just yesterday, we posted about how World Vision, an international Christian charity that ranks as one of the largest charities in the world, was reversing its hiring policy. World Vision U.S. president Richard Stearns said that Christians who are in legal same-sex marriages could still be employed with the organization:

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.

So much for unity.

The board members of World Vision U.S. just announced their change of heart:

Today, the World Vision U.S. board publicly reversed its recent decision to change our employment conduct policy. 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. … … we also failed to seek enough counsel from our own Christian partners. As a result, we made a change to our conduct policy that was not consistent with our Statement of Faith and our commitment to the sanctity of marriage.

So, yesterday, World Vision U.S. said it would be perfectly fine to hire gay Christians in a committed relationship because “controversial” issues like same-sex marriage should be dealt with by individual churches. They were staying true to their mission.

“We’re not caving to some kind of pressure. We’re not on some slippery slope. There is no lawsuit threatening us. There is no employee group lobbying us,” said Stearns. “This is not us compromising. It is us deferring to the authority of churches and denominations on theological issues. We’re an operational arm of the global church, we’re not a theological arm of the church.

But suddenly, after Christians (up to 2,000 of them according to rumors online) withdrew their support from the organization — because if gay people are treated like human beings, then who gives a damn about hungry children? — the board members decided it would be a lot easier to just refuse to hire gay Christians in committed relationships. Because donations are more important than standing up for your principles.

You know, you’re only supposed to change your mind after you’ve made a bad decision.

Way to take a stand, World Vision. Way to cave in to the people who would rather let children starve than allow gay people to help feed them. Can’t have donors running around thinking you’re tolerant, can you…?

It turns out World Vision is incredibly myopic.

Christians from both sides of the fence are already weighing in:

I have never in my life been more angry at the Church or more embarrassed to be a Christian. It feels like a betrayal from every side. — Rachel Held Evans (@rachelheldevans) March 26, 2014

World Vision must replace Richard Stearns. He led them into this ditch. An apology is not enough to restore credibility. — Bryan Fischer (@BryanJFischer) March 26, 2014

Did World Vision hire the McCain '08 PR team or something? Way to go alienating absolutely everyone. — Sr. WH Official (@SrWHOfficial) March 26, 2014

(This post is still being modified as information comes in)



