World Vision Australia distances itself from US branch
WORLD Vision Australia has issued a statement today that re-affirmed its pro-LGBTI workplace policies and differentiated the organisation from its US counterpart following the criticism the latter faced when it reversed an inclusiveness policy.
Midway through last week, the US branch of World Vision announced a workplace policy that would’ve allowed openly-LGBTI job seekers with the appropriate qualifications to apply for jobs. However, it was soon reversed.
According to World Vision US president Richard Stearns in a statement to Associated Press, the initial policy change had caused numerous major donors and other prominent supporters to threaten to withhold their support for the organisation’s child support, education and welfare programs if they didn’t revert back to their initial policy of requiring celibacy outside of marriage and maintaining “faithfulness within the Bible covenant of marriage between a man and a woman.”
While the policy rollback caused a public relations nightmare for World Vision in the US, other branches of the global Christian relief agency, such as World Vision Australia, have been operating successfully under fully inclusive workplace policies for years.
In a statement today to the Star Observer, World Vision Australia chief executive Tim Costello (pictured) reassured that his organisation was different to that of its American counterpart when it came to LGBTI recruitment, engagement and workplace rights.
“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.”
Costello also explained the characteristics of federated organisations like World Vision Australia and the influence that they can have across the world in regards to transforming lives.
“We are a faith-based organisation but we are not a church. We have a singular focus: the transformation of children’s lives. Our staff support our values,” he said.
“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.
“We serve all vulnerable children and value them as people irrespective of race, religion, sexuality, gender or ethnicity.”
World Vision Australia’s recruitment, human resource and LGBTI policies also verify Costello’s statement.
No they abide by the law of the land in the Australia and you see Costello refer to Federal law not generousity or common decency first. but “would if they could” discriminate BUT THEY STILL LOVE YOU AND WANT TO F*CK YOU OVER WITH Jesus.
What happens in Uganda, Nigeria and the rest of Africa is not unconnected with these godbotherers. they deliberately hide their anti gay agenda in the west but make sure it surfaces in Africa and the developing world just like the salvation army and other evangelicals there.they are a vile group that still does not allow for family planning thinking that having 9 children in the developing world and giving a family a cow and a “jack in the beanstalk” packet of magic seeds will
“lift them out of poverty”
they are worse than the salvation army
dream on all those gay bloggers who NEED to be liked by religion! I always remember Rodney Croomes comment about Tim Costellos behaviour at former PM Kevin Rudds 2020 talkfest. Costello deliberately witheld his groups wish to see Australian gay marriage become a reality as he was convenor of 1 of the many groups. His brother Peter Costello is even worse smirking n commenting when asked about gay rights…” youre no longer criminals…isnt that enough?”
The entire charity industry in Africa is a disgrace.
Not one cent should ever be sent to Africa, ever. 30 years ago there was the “USA FOR AFRICA” charity record.
Raising millions for the starving, and 30 years later they are in the same situation because they are perpetually addicted to hand outs.
In fact the death rate has increased since the charity industry has moved into Africa to “help” them as it causes massive population shifts and massively increases birth rates, which are now the highest on the planet.
If not one cent was donated to Africa, in only one generation they would improve their own situation, as our ancestors did, one sub culture would become dominant, common languages would form and a proper order of society would evolve.
World Vision (who’s executives are paid millions) takes a terrible toll and is increasing Christian extreme fundamentalism.
Never give money to Africa. Better to see a few thousand starving kids now, than to see billions starving forever in the future with no end.
There are alternatives to World Vision and other Christian-based charities. PLAN is a super organisation. http://www.plan.org.au/
This article seems to be inaccurate. The story about the initial policy change for World Vision USA, was intended to break in Christianity Today. Subsequent to that news being released, World Vision distributed a press release advising of their about-face on the policy change. The press release is publicly available and can be found with a Google search. In neither of those two sources does it indicate that World Vision USA will simply not hire GLBTI individuals. Rather, the sources portray the controversy as being about whether to hire those who are in gay marriages.