Thread: Christmas Kettles Safe for Now

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/? ... RlMDhkN2I=

[Mark Krikorian]

When the National Association of Evangelicals endorsed amnesty earlier this month, the organization's president, Leith Anderson, gave the clear impression that all the member denominations had joined in that endorsement. It turns out that he was, ah, bearing false witness. The Salvation Army, one of the NAE's biggest member denominations, does not support the Washington lobbying office's position. In fact, it seems that only 11 of the 42 member denominations back the amnesty resolution, which was not at all the impression Reverend Anderson gave when he responded this way to Senator Schumer's question about how widespread support for amnesty was among evangelicals:

We actually had a vote today on this resolution with leaders in the National Association of Evangelicals and there was no dissent. . . . On the board there are 75 (members) who represent the head of denominations.

Yet another example of headquarters staff pretending to speak for their supposed constituents.

10/19 12:07 PM

http://www.numbersusa.com/content/news/ ... bying.html

The Salvation Army has announced that it does not endorse the National Association of Evangelicals' recent lobbying for amnesty and an increase in foreign labor importation.

With its National Commander on the NAE's executive committee, the Salvation Army is one of the largest denominations in the National Association of Evangelicals. A spokesman told NumbersUSA today that the Salvation Army is neutral on immigration policy and neither supports nor opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants.

"We came to the conclusion that it was inappropriate for us to sign" the NAE pro-amnesty document that was presented at a U.S. Senate hearing last week, said Major George Hood, National Community Relations Secretary.

NAE President Leith Anderson, pastor of an independent Minnesota church, had given the impression to the Senate that the NAE's 40 denominational members were unanimous in their support for amnesty.

After saying that NAE represented 40 denominations, he was asked by Sen. Schumer (D-N.Y.) how much support there was for the NAE amnesty position in the evangelical community. Rev. Anderson responded:

We actually had a vote today on this resolution with leaders in the National Association of Evangelicals and there was no dissent ... On the board there are 75 (members) who represent the head of denominations.

-- Leith Anderson, President NAE

But Major Hood explained that the lack of dissent by a denomination was not the same as agreement. To what he called a large quantity of inquiries to the national headquarters about the NAE lobbying, he responded:

Please know that Salvation Army leadership chose to abstain from signing the final resolution on immigration reform. While the news releases did not report this specifically, the fact remains that any resolution produced by the National Association of Evangelicals does not automatically become the official policy of a member organization (ie: The Salvation Army) unless they choose to make it so. In this case, The Salvation Army chose not to adopt the resolution nor will it become our stance on immigration reform. In actuality, The Salvation Army has never established any official position on this topic and has chosen to remain politically neutral on the matter.
-- Salvation Army statement, Oct. 15, 2009

Major Hood noted to NumbersUSA that the Salvation Army would never deny its charity to somebody because of legal status and would not inquire about it, quoting the denomination's official mission "of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and to serve suffering humanity in His name, without discrimination."

But the question of whether an illegal immigrant should be given U.S. citizenship is the kind of political issue in which the Salvation Army does not involve itself, he said.

The denominations that DID sign the NAE document urged an amnesty for most of the nation's 12-20 million illegal aliens, stating that the government should . . .

. . . establish a sound, equitable process toward earned legal status for currently undocumented immigrants, who desire to embrace the responsibilities and privileges that accompany citizenship.
-- NAE document

Rev. Anderson amplified that before the Senate:

We believe that undocumented immigrants who have otherwise been law abiding members of our communities should be offered the opportunity to pay any taxes or penalties owed, and over time earn the right to become U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The process of redemption and restitution is core to Christian beliefs, as we were all once lost and redeemed through love of Jesus Christ.
-- NAE President

The denominations that DID sign the NAE document also called for increased importation of foreign labor while nearly one out of five Americans looking for a full-time job cannot find one. The NAE explained its position on the basis of what it believes are labor shortages in the U.S.:

At the same time, many jobs and industries rely on immigrant workers. Current quotas do not grant enough visas to meet these needs, nor does federal immigration law provide sufficient opportunities to others who also come seeking gainful employment.
-- NAE document

NumbersUSA President Roy Beck responded to the Salvation Army announcement, saying, "I am much relieved that this great organization that has done so much to relieve the suffering of the most vulnerable members of our national community is not working with other denominations to make it harder for these unemployed Americans to get a job because of an increase in foreign labor competition.

"It is fully understandable -- and admirable -- for religious groups to tend to spiritual and humanitarian needs of illegal aliens, even though their presence is the result of their breaking our immigration laws and illegally taking U.S. jobs. But I hope leaders of other denominations will soon be making it clear that they also have no intention of hopping on the pro-amnesty bandwagon that helps lawbreakers by harming the weakest in our own national community."

[/quote]

"It is fully understandable -- and admirable -- for religious groups to tend to spiritual and humanitarian needs of illegal aliens, even though their presence is the result of their breaking our immigration laws and illegally taking U.S. jobs. But I hope leaders of other denominations will soon be making it clear that they also have no intention of hopping on the pro-amnesty bandwagon that helps lawbreakers by harming the weakest in our own national community."

Amen Roy!

I am also glad they have stepped back and stated they simply will not be counted in on this political issue, as they simply do not dabble in politics. As for those who do, take away their tax exempt status as the government threatens when pastors speak out against current faulty politics. Even the playing field, if one can't speak out against this administration, then they also should not speak FOR anything this administration promotes.

The religious-or irreligious, if you prefer-left is one of the greatest threats to the future of this country, as this story illustrates.

I'm glad that Beck and Krikorian cleared this up for some people who might have been confused because of the misleading statements of the NAE.

The Salvation Army is a great cause, IMO. In fact, I just donated a used Land's End coat to them a few days ago.

Shapka, I used to work for the ARC, my husband too, and they are one of the few non-profits that put nearly all profits to work. Their "officers" (the people wearing the uniforms) do not get paychecks. They live in housing owned by The Salvation Army, and all of the furniture and needed kitchenware is not even theirs, and they simply have their clothes, and get paid a small monthly stipend for their own personal uses. They even have grocery budgets depending on their family size.

Last time I heard, many of the so-called non-profits, actually only put the minimum, which I think is 10%, to actual charitable use, the rest if all profit. Still the government lets them write of all of their costs as operating a non-profit charitable organization.

I know. Steven Malanga-from the Manhattan Institute-has done a lot of good work researching the fraudulent mechanisms of so many of these non-profits, which act like a political bloc in cities like mine.

Well one big one is Goodwill. Last I heard, they use less that half of their overall profit for community/charitable efforts. Besides, they overcharge on everything. T-shirts for about 5 dollars, used mind you....TSA charges only .99 cents for mens, which are in good shape (get them for my husbands warehouse job). At Goodwills price, you might as well go to Wal-mart (ugh!).