World Vision, one of the largest Christian charity organizations has announced that it will allow the hiring of LGBT Christians in same-sex marriages. The change is in response to the increasing number of Christian denominations who welcome and support LGBT people. The organization is still Christian-specific in their hiring, and continues to state that it will require employees to be faithful in marriage and chaste outside of marriage.
Richard Stearns, president of the international humanitarian-relief group, announced the hiring change for the United States in a letter to staff. Stearns said the World Vision board had prayed for years about how to handle the issue as Christian denominations took different stands on recognizing same-sex relationships.
“I want to reassure you that we are not sliding down some slippery slope of compromise, nor are we diminishing the authority of Scripture in our work,” Stearns wrote. “We are the same World Vision you have always believed in.”
Read the full story at the Associated Press.
While this shift may be considered insignificant by some, it demonstrates a recognition that more Christian denominations recognize LGBT people and marriage equality. It also asserts that LGBT discrimination is not a core component of World Vision's Christian identity. The organization chose to focus on its mission to bring relief to people worldwide, as opposed to spending its energy keeping out those who wish to help support that mission.