Evangelical Aid Group Opens Hiring To Married Gay Christians

Evangelical-led global relief charity World Vision said Monday that it will allow hiring of Christians who are in same-sex marriages in its U.S. offices, a dramatic shift in policy on an issue increasingly confronting faith-affiliated nonprofits, the Associated Press reports.

Announcing the change in a letter to staff, World Vision President Richard Stearns said the organization was not endorsing same-sex unions nor responding to outside pressure. “The board and I wanted to prevent this divisive issue from tearing World Vision apart and potentially crippling our ability to accomplish our vital kingdom mission of living and serving the poorest of the poor in the name of Christ,” he wrote.

The charity, based in Washington state, runs emergency aid and development programs and raised $826.9-million in private support last year, ranking it 16th on The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Philanthropy 400 list of the largest U.S. charities. It is the largest and most prominent Christian group to change hiring practices as more states legalize same-sex marriages. Catholic schools have faced protests and legal challenges for firing or refusing to hire people in same-sex unions.