Ministry helping persecuted Christians now defends itself - Attack comes from church leader who accused group of being divisive
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Pastor Dale Morgan
Oct 23, 2011, 10:34:14 AM10/23/11
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Ministry helping persecuted Christians now defends itself - Attack comes from church leader who accused group of being divisive
Posted: October 22, 2011
10:45 pm Eastern
By Michael Carl
A prominent international ministry that focuses on helping persecuted Christians around the world now has had to defend itself from accusations leveled by a "church" leader in the United Kingdom that its pro-Christian activism is "divisive."
The stunning attack on the Barnabas Fund, also known as Barnabas Aid, was orchestrated by a person only identified as a "lay reader" in the Church of England.
The situation actually has a happy resolution for the Christian ministry that explains in its mission statement that its goal is "to support Christians where they are in a minority and suffer discrimination, oppression and persecution as a consequence of their faith. Our goal is to strengthen Christian individuals, churches and their communities by providing material and spiritual support in response to needs identified by local Christian leaders."
We do this by making their needs known to Christians around the world, by encouraging prayer and financial giving in support of these brothers and sisters in Christ, working with existing local Christian organizations, and by speaking on their behalf. The Fund channels this aid from donors to the needy recipients with minimum overheads. All gifts are monitored to ensure they are used in line with the stated need.
In accordance with Biblical teaching, we believe that Christians should treat all people of all faiths with love and compassion, even those who persecute them.
The end of this chapter of the organization's ministry is that the UK Charity Commission has cleared the human rights group of allegations that it was violating the rules of its charitable status by "committing a divisive act" by "campaigning against another religion."
The Fund said the commission ruled it did not commit a hate crime for distributing the booklet "Slippery Slope," which promotes Christianity.
In a statement from the Fund, it said, "On 7 August 'The Sunday Times' carried an article about our campaign against the growing Islamization of Britain, making reference to our booklet 'Slippery Slope.' Having read the article, a lay reader in the Church of England then filed a complaint against us with the Charity Commission."
The Fund continued, "The complainant asked whether Barnabas should be allowed to retain its charitable status when we were engaged in allegedly 'divisive' activity. She suggested that 'campaigning' against another religion was akin to inciting racial hatred and questioned its public benefit."
But in its letter to the Barnabas Fund, the Charity Commission wrote that the booklet that was the focus of the complaint fits the Barnabas Fund's mission.
"The charity, in its campaigning around 'Operation Nehemiah' appears to be acting within its objects, as the campaign can be seen as promoting 'the advancement of the Christian faith.' A charity can become involved in a campaign which furthers or supports its charitable purposes," the commission's letter said.
The commission also ruled that the Barnabas Fund was not "inciting racial hatred."
"The campaign does not appear to be inciting racial hatred and the charity believes that it has public benefit in that it 'is committed to maintaining Christian values of freedom of conscience, speech and religion for the next generation in church and society,'" the letter also said.
"We are therefore content that the charity, in carrying out this campaign, is operating within its objects and within the terms of our guidance," the Charity Commission letter concluded.
In reacting to the case, Christian Solidarity International-USA President John Eibner says he's pleased with the Charity Commission ruling. He also turns the tables and suggests that the intolerance was from the one who complained.
"CSI is concerned about efforts of intolerant individuals and groups who often advocate a utopian vision of a 'Eurabian' civilization," Eibner said.
"In an effort to advocate for their vision, they often prevent non-violent free speech and open debate about religious ideologies and their implications for religious liberty and other aspects of human rights," Eibner said.
Eibner adds that he hopes this decision will give more religions freedoms to groups like Barnabas Fund.
"Hopefully, the decision of the Charity Commission in the UK signifies a broader resolve in the UK and other Western countries not to yield to forces of intolerance," Eibner also said.
Ministry helping persecuted Christians now defends itself - Attack comes from church leader who accused group of being divisive
Posted: October 22, 2011
10:45 pm Eastern
By Michael Carl
A prominent international ministry that focuses on helping persecuted Christians around the world now has had to defend itself from accusations leveled by a "church" leader in the United Kingdom that its pro-Christian activism is "divisive."
The stunning attack on the Barnabas Fund, also known as Barnabas Aid, was orchestrated by a person only identified as a "lay reader" in the Church of England.
The situation actually has a happy resolution for the Christian ministry that explains in its mission statement that its goal is "to support Christians where they are in a minority and suffer discrimination, oppression and persecution as a consequence of their faith. Our goal is to strengthen Christian individuals, churches and their communities by providing material and spiritual support in response to needs identified by local Christian leaders."
We do this by making their needs known to Christians around the world, by encouraging prayer and financial giving in support of these brothers and sisters in Christ, working with existing local Christian organizations, and by speaking on their behalf. The Fund channels this aid from donors to the needy recipients with minimum overheads. All gifts are monitored to ensure they are used in line with the stated need.
In accordance with Biblical teaching, we believe that Christians should treat all people of all faiths with love and compassion, even those who persecute them.
The end of this chapter of the organization's ministry is that the UK Charity Commission has cleared the human rights group of allegations that it was violating the rules of its charitable status by "committing a divisive act" by "campaigning against another religion."
The Fund said the commission ruled it did not commit a hate crime for distributing the booklet "Slippery Slope," which promotes Christianity.
In a statement from the Fund, it said, "On 7 August 'The Sunday Times' carried an article about our campaign against the growing Islamization of Britain, making reference to our booklet 'Slippery Slope.' Having read the article, a lay reader in the Church of England then filed a complaint against us with the Charity Commission."
The Fund continued, "The complainant asked whether Barnabas should be allowed to retain its charitable status when we were engaged in allegedly 'divisive' activity. She suggested that 'campaigning' against another religion was akin to inciting racial hatred and questioned its public benefit."
But in its letter to the Barnabas Fund, the Charity Commission wrote that the booklet that was the focus of the complaint fits the Barnabas Fund's mission.
"The charity, in its campaigning around 'Operation Nehemiah' appears to be acting within its objects, as the campaign can be seen as promoting 'the advancement of the Christian faith.' A charity can become involved in a campaign which furthers or supports its charitable purposes," the commission's letter said.
The commission also ruled that the Barnabas Fund was not "inciting racial hatred."
"The campaign does not appear to be inciting racial hatred and the charity believes that it has public benefit in that it 'is committed to maintaining Christian values of freedom of conscience, speech and religion for the next generation in church and society,'" the letter also said.
"We are therefore content that the charity, in carrying out this campaign, is operating within its objects and within the terms of our guidance," the Charity Commission letter concluded.
In reacting to the case, Christian Solidarity International-USA President John Eibner says he's pleased with the Charity Commission ruling. He also turns the tables and suggests that the intolerance was from the one who complained.
"CSI is concerned about efforts of intolerant individuals and groups who often advocate a utopian vision of a 'Eurabian' civilization," Eibner said.
"In an effort to advocate for their vision, they often prevent non-violent free speech and open debate about religious ideologies and their implications for religious liberty and other aspects of human rights," Eibner said.
Eibner adds that he hopes this decision will give more religions freedoms to groups like Barnabas Fund.
"Hopefully, the decision of the Charity Commission in the UK signifies a broader resolve in the UK and other Western countries not to yield to forces of intolerance," Eibner also said.
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