Salvation army and gays

A few years back, we were asked about the current relationship between our communities and the Salvation Army. As you understand, the Army organised the infamous petition against homosexual law reform in the s, an act which damaged relations for many years, so that many gay people still touch unable to contribute to the SA’s fundraising efforts. So the Board wrote to them. After considerable discussion, the following joint statement was written in

RAINBOW WELLINGTON AND THE SALVATION ARMY REACH A RAPPROCHEMENT:
A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD

“A very significant step forward and an crucial building block for the future”, is how Tony Simpson, Chair of the Wellington based gay, lesbian and related groups human rights organisation Rainbow Wellington, and Campbell Roberts, head of The Salvation Army’s Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit, described jointly issued statements of the two groups made public today. 

For the past year, both groups have been considering future perspectives on their relationship.

“This initially arose” says Simpson, “because our board was discussing the role of

LGBT Statement

The following statement is The Salvation Army Northern Division’s response to false accusations claiming that The Salvation Army discriminates against the LGBT community and pays lobbyists to fight against their interests.

  • The Salvation Army is open and inclusive to all people. Anyone who comes through our doors will receive help based on their need and our capacity to assist. We annually serve around 30 million Americans from a variety of backgrounds – we do not pick and choose who we serve based on religion, sexual orientation or any other factor. This promise to serve goes to the core of our beliefs as laid out in our organizational Mission Statement: “The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.”
  • Any instance of discrimination is in direct opposition to our core beliefs and is against all of our polic

    Several years ago, I began bypassing the Salvation Army bell-ringers and stopped putting money in the ubiquitous red Christmas kettle, a holiday fixture in 2, stores and street corners across Canada.

    Yes, the Salvation Army helps the needy by running food banks and offering emergency relief, addiction rehab, and clothing and shelter for people in need — and it’s been doing so in Canada since But it also has a long history of discriminating against the LGBTQ2 community.

    Like many conservative organizations, the Salvation Army adheres to a theology that considers gay sex sinful. It has denounced marriage equality as a threat to religious freedom, vigorously fought against policies extending health benefits to same-sex partners and referred gay individuals to conversion therapy. In , it campaigned to retain the criminalization of homosexuality in New Zealand. It eventually apologized 20 years later.

    One of the most disturbing incidents was a Australian radio interview with a media spokesperson who said he agreed with Romans , which calls for homosexuals to be put to death. “That’s

    Salvos back away from anti-gay comments

    The Salvation Army in Australia is distancing itself from a statement by its international parent organisation that homosexuality is "an unacceptable urge".

    The gay community has criticised the church's online declaration.

    Church spokesman Major Bruce Harmer says its Australian arm believes the statement needs to be changed.

    He has denied the Salvation Army is homophobic and has appealed to the gay community not make judgements on the declaration.

    "If you had a bad taxi driver, you wouldn't group all taxi drivers the similar as well," he said.

    "At the moment the international statement is our statement, but we are functional behind the scenes."

    He says the church's position on homosexuality is being debated internally and the Australian arm believes it needs to be changed.

    Major Harmer says the Salvos suggest services to all who are in need, regardless of sexual orientation.

    "The Salvation Army has worked for many years with gay and lesbian people through their treatment centres and welfare