World Vision Backtracks on Hiring Married Gays

Two days after saying it would allow its U.S. offices to employ Christians in same-sex marriages, global aid organization World Vision reversed the decision Wednesday evening amid a backlash from evangelical leaders and supporters, Christianity Today and Al Jazeera America report.

Richard Stearns, president of the Washington state-based evangelical charity, said the shift announced Monday had been “a mistake” that caused distress “for many friends who saw this policy change as a strong reversal of World Vision’s commitment to biblical authority.” The charity’s supporters “helped us to see that with more clarity,” he said.

The response to Monday’s announcement in the evangelical community was swift and largely negative. Assemblies of God leaders urged members to consider ending financial support for World Vision, and a charity employee told Al Jazeera it lost some 60 church partners and 2,000 sponsors over the two days.