In our board’s effort to unite around the church’s shared mission to serve the poor in the name of Christ, we failed to be consistent with World Vision U.S.’s commitment to the traditional understanding of Biblical marriage and our own Statement of Faith, which says, “We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.” And 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.
We are brokenhearted over the pain and confusion we have caused many of our friends, who saw this decision as a reversal of our strong commitment to Biblical authority. We ask that you understand that this was never the board’s intent. We are asking for your continued support. We commit to you that we will continue to listen to the wise counsel of Christian brothers and sisters, and we will reach out to key partners in the weeks ahead.
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.
Richard Stearns on Monday:
Richard Stearns on Wednesday:
What is the point of Richard Stearns?
Then there is this, also from Monday:
Ah yes, let’s just get along and do mission together, ignoring the differences. You can hear that any day of the week being spouted from the fleshpots of 815 and Lambeth Palace. Perhaps Stearns can borrow Canon Phil Groves and ‘Canon’ David Porter to roll out a program of facilitated conversations for World Vision. That should help – after all according to Welby Continuing Claptrap is the Anglican way.
More on the many faces of Richard Stearns:
On Wednesday:
[blockquote]Stearns expects the board to continue to deal with questions about employment and same-sex relationships. “I think every Christian organization will continue to deal with this sensitive issue,” he said. “The board will continue to talk about this issue for many board meetings to come. … We need to have a process to do further and wider consultation with key Christian leaders around the country, and we will be discussing how that can happen.”[/blockquote]
Yup – give that creep Justin Welby a ring – he can show you how – maybe his friend Katie will find some money for you too if you ask him nicely.
PM, you have exactly the same reaction to “will continue to talk about this issue” as I do. This is merely the opening gambit of the TEc PLAYBOOK and inadabadoodoo and wreckonciliation.
“Wreckonciliation”,,,,,oh my, now that is a keeper!!!!!!
Hopefully Richard Stearns in the near future: “Can we talk about my severance package?”
Does any one feel a need “to live into the tension” yet? No, I thought not. I don’t know which is worse the initial heretical position or the abrupt change. Didn’t they think through what they originally said? And now a “never mind, maybe….” I think that the less contact with World Vision the better.
Agree with all of you. Who is really being fooled by this “repentance” of World Vision?? Yeah, repentance…. not!
PM, Good catch with that sentence describing a need for more conversation/consultation! I thought the same thing as you and dwstroudmd …. Yep, this is the first step down the KJS/Welby Way. Good luck to World Vision as they may just have ticked off most of their supporters now that liberals are mad as well as evangelicals. Well done, World Vision!