A few days ago, Christian organization World Vision surprised everyone when it announced that it would be revising its handbook in order to allow for the hiring of Christians who are in same-sex marriages. Before, gays and lesbians could only find employment within the organization if they were practicing abstinence.

 

Two days later, World Vision reversed its decision.

 

"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," World Vision President Richard Stearns and Jim Beré, Chairman of the World Vision U.S. Board, said in a statement.

 

The international relief organization had initially been lauded by the LGBT community for being so progressive. However, conservative Christians were outraged and called for a boycott.

 

"This whole situation has left me feeling frustrated, heartbroken, and lost. I don't think I've ever been more angry at the Church, particularly the evangelical culture in which I was raised and with which I for so long identified," wrote blogger Rachel Held Evans. "I confess I had not realized the true extent of the disdain evangelicals have for our LGBT people, nor had I expected World Vision to yield to that disdain by reversing its decision under pressure. Honestly, it feels like a betrayal from every side."

 

It is sad that fighting gays is more important to some people than feeding starving children.

 

Prominent evangelical charity World Vision to hire Christians in same-sex marriages [Montreal Gazette]

 

World Vision Reverses Decision On Gay Christian Hiring Policy [The Huffington Post]