I guess they redid the math: World Vision reverses gay marriage decision

Last updated on: March 26, 2014 at 3:47 pm by Joel J. Miller

I guess they redid the math: World Vision reverses gay marriage decision 2014-03-26T15:47:07-06:00 Joel J. Miller

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Well, now. World Vision has reversed its decision on same-sex marriage and employee conduct, according to World magazine. Christianity Today reproduced a letter sent by WV, explaining in part,

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. . . . [W]e made a change to our conduct policy that was not consistent with our Statement of Faith and our commitment to the sanctity of marriage. . . . While World Vision U.S. stands firmly on the biblical view of marriage, we strongly affirm that all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, are created by God and are to be loved and treated with dignity and respect.

Read the rest here. And here’s the original post from this morning. (Whatever the fallout from the yoyo decision here, the basic issues will undoubtedly come up again.)

Do the math: After World Vision, who’s next?

Speaking about World Vision’s recent policy change on employees in same-sex marriages, Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, offers this:

No doubt World Vision, which receives tens of millions from the federal government totaling about 18 percent of its budget ($174 million in 2011), has accurately calculated that it’s so large that it can absorb any significant drop-off in donations from traditional Evangelicals.

It’s an interesting point, even if the cost-benefits approach strikes some as a little cynical. Ignore that and consider: Given the legal changes sweeping the nation, if you’re receiving government contracts, can you hold a more traditional line for long anyway? If the policy didn’t change would the government funds eventually dry up?

Certainly the legal expenses would begin mounting if you did business in a state with legal same-sex marriage, which World Vision does. Exclusions and protections will be challenged.

Maybe World Vision just did the math. Court tussles would be more annoying than anything else, but a nearly 20 percent drop in funding would be devastating. And how many traditional Christians, evangelical or otherwise, will really kill their WV donations?

After the storm blows over, few will factor the policy when deciding to donate. After all, how many of us consider — or are even aware of — any other human-resources policies at any other charity we contribute to? This is a momentary PR mess for World Vision; it’s not permanent. It’s impossible for the public to sustain outrage for very long.

My suspicion is that Tooley’s more or less right. Whatever the hit WV takes over this change, it likely won’t be very damaging, certainly not as damaging as government funds denied because of a traditionalist policy on marriage.

If that’s right, shouldn’t we expect more of this from Christian charities taking taxpayer dollars? The law is still on their side, but for how long? All the faith-based government initiatives suddenly get very sticky. And don’t forget who started those.

Society

Previous Post

March 25, 2014

What's so bad about incinerating 15,000 babies?

Next Post

March 27, 2014 How God uses work to fashion our souls

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Books Church Life Family Life Misc Prayer Quotes Society Spiritual Growth Theology Uncategorized Video

Select a Month April 2014 March 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 November 2008 October 2008 July 2008 June 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 August 2007 June 2007 October 2002 July 2002 November 1999 October 1999

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I am the final plague that caused Pharaoh to finally let the Israelites go. What am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The plague of darkness The plague of blood Death of the firstborn The plague of locusts