Salvation army on gay rights
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And recently, Maj. Andrew Craibe, the media relations officer for Australia's southern territory, reminded us of that fact by agreeing on-air with two gay radio hosts that the Salvation Army believes gay people "should die." The group quickly scrambled to clarify Craibe's remark — after all, the Salvation Army's mission is to "preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination" — but this is hardly the Salvation Army's first run-in with the gay community.
How do you respond to that, as part of your doctrine?"
Craibe: "Well, that's a part of our belief system."
Ryan: "So we should die."
Craibe: "Well, we have an alignment to the Scriptures, but that's our belief."
(Many transcripts of this interview slightly altered its wording to make it read as though Major Craibe and his interviewers were specifically talking about gay parents rather than gays in general.)
We note here that this controversy is based on a good deal of interpretation rather than literal explanation.
The Salvation Army opposes any such abuse.
In keeping with these convictions, the services of The Salvation Army are available to all who qualify, without regard to sexual orientation. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life.
What reportedly caused the dip in donations were the shortened seasons due to the late Thanksgiving date.
Central Ohio Salvation Army community public relations director Kelli Trinoskey said what was written was totally "off-brand, off-belief and off-mission".
The message, which gave emphasis on the nondiscriminatory policies of the Salvation Army, pleased Grant Stancliff, a member of Equality Ohio, a gay-rights advocacy group.
Here, a look at the influential charity's challenging history with homosexuality and gay rights:
1865
Former Methodist minister William Booth founds the Salvation Army in London, giving his religious mission a military structure and trappings, including its own flag, military-style uniforms, hymns, and ranks
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Escape your echo chamber.
The Salvation Army’s stance on LGBTQ+ people claims to be surprisingly open, despite discrimination allegations.
The festive season is in full swing, and while many are celebrating, others are looking for ways to support themselves, leading to increased search around charities such as The Salvation Army.
In the last decade, The Salvation Army’s spotty relationship with LGBTQ+ rights has been well publicised, with the company being sluggish to amend.
That same year, Chick-fil-A ended their donations with the charity, leading it to insist that it’s working to atone its anti-LGTBQ+ past.
National commander of the Salvation Army, David Hudson, in an op-ed for USA Today, previously called out allegations of discrimination as false.
“Why take the time to read, research and rebut when we can simply scan and swipe?
The Salvationist Handbook of Doctrine does not state that practising homosexuals should be put to death and, in fact, urges all Salvationists to act with acceptance, love and respect to all people. The Salvation Army believes in the sanctity of all human life and believes it would be inconsistent with Christian teaching to call for anyone to be put to death.
The author is arguing that no human being is without sin, all sin leads to spiritual death (separation from God), and all people therefore need a Saviour.
Question: Isn't this inherently anti-Christian, to believe people should be put to death?
The Salvation Army acknowledges that the response in the interview has led to a serious misunderstanding of our teaching and that clarification should have been given during the interview.
The Salvation Army teaches that every person is of infinite value, and each life a gift from God to be cherished, nurtured and preserved.
Question: Why include in your handbook the Romans text from The Bible, which indicates that God insists that homosexuals deserve to die?
This is a misunderstanding of the text referred to.
His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
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1880
The Salvation Army sets up shop in the U.S., Australia, and Ireland
1986
The Salvation Army collects signatures for a petition to stop the New Zealand legislature from decriminalizing homosexuality.
But interpretations of the referenced portion of Romans vary widely, with various theologians and writers arguing that it condemns anything from homosexuality to child sexual abuse to all non-procreative sex.
Nonetheless, the backlash from the Salt and Pepper interview with Major Craibe prompted the Salvation Army to issue a "response to questions raised about [the] interview" which offered an apology for the "miscommunication" and included the following answers about the Salvation Army's stance on the subject of homosexuality:
Question: Do Salvation Army full members believe, as per the Salvationist Handbook of Doctrine, that practising homosexuals should be put to death?
Included in the nationwide messages were testimonials from LGBT employees and clients.
The recent years have been tumultuous, image-wise, as social media posts became viral.
However, kettle donations did not seem affected by the buzz. He felt that they have to do something about the false accusations.
In a separate video post, the Central Ohio Salvation Army website featured a video in defence of the charitable group and cited how they treat members of the LGBT community.
Why, or why not?
Salvation Army members do not believe, and would never endorse, a view that homosexual activity should result in any form of physical punishment. This came about as calls for boycotting the organisation swelled.
Busroe reiterated that the Christian charity, which focuses mainly on delivering salvation to those in want of physical and spiritual requirements, is actually open to all and not for a selected few.
Assumptions are regularly presented as foregone conclusions, and facts often are drowned out by fiction,” he wrote.
He then listed ways in which the charity serves all people in need – 23 million a year – adding that it operates “a dorm in Las Vegas exclusively for transgender individuals”, and is aware that 20 per cent of people sleeping at the Salvation Army’s Harbor Light shelter in Minneapolis are LGBTQ+.
In Baltimore, he wrote that the charity works with city officials “to combat trafficking among transgender individuals, a growing need there”.
‘We aim to be an inclusive church…’
A look at the charity’s “Inclusion” webpage shows that it is attempting to rewrite its questionable history when it comes to LGBTQ+ people.
The page notes that the charity serve “many pope who are LGBT+” and that it welcomes and says yes people “regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, race, religion and ethnicity”.
It adds: “The Salvation Army rejects racism and sexism and stands against homophobia and transphobia, which victimises people and can reinforce feelings of alienation, loneliness and despair.
“We aim to be an inclusive church where everyone finds welcome and can develop their relationship with God.
Like many other Christian churches, we have much to learn about issues such as structural discrimination, racism and human sexuality.”
The charity’s past speaks for itself, but its desire to be more inclusive seems to have abated some concerns that it’s anti-LGBTQ+.
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.