Does Anyone Give Money to the Salvation Army Outside Stores?

[romantico]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 3:33pm

For the past month these people have been at my super market and retail stores ringing that damn bell.I use to print out these vouchers and put in the kettle but have not heard about this being done for the past couple years. Anyone know if the Salvation Army has changed their views and policy towards homosexuals? If not, I hope people who do not know their history will read up on their anti gay views before putting one penny in their kettle this holiday.

This article is about 5 years old,so if they have changed on any of their policy PLEASE let me know.

http://www.americablog.com/2004/11/details-of-salvation-armys-rabidly.html


http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache%3A966d4V16D_kJ%3Awww.soulforce.org%2Fpdf%2Fkettlevoucher.pdf+salvation+army+gay+voucher&hl=en&gl=us&sig=AHIEtbRk8noc7H8xWPl5FVPxpMtkZB2jvQ&pli=1

[StockardFan]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 4:16pm

I always try to avoid those people.....but in my own defense I rarely carry cash.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 4:19pm

I avoid these people and the other bellringers (many of whom PAY their "volunteers"). I donate generously to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at my parish because I know every single donation goes to help the less fortunate.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 4:23pm

Stockard, I am SURE they wouldn't reject your credit card.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 4:27pm

They are adding credit card machines to many of the bell ringers this year. lol

[NovaNurse7]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 4:45pm

This is the most updated version on their website:

Homosexuality

The Salvation Army holds a positive view of human sexuality. Where a man and a woman love each other, sexual intimacy is understood as a gift of God to be enjoyed within the context of heterosexual marriage. However, in the Christian view, sexual intimacy is not essential to a healthy, full, and rich life. Apart from marriage, the scriptural standard is celibacy.

Sexual attraction to the same sex is a matter of profound complexity. Whatever the causes may be, attempts to deny its reality or to marginalize those of a same-sex orientation have not been helpful. The Salvation Army does not consider same-sex orientation blameworthy in itself. Homosexual conduct, like heterosexual conduct, requires individual responsibility and must be guided by the light of scriptural teaching.

Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life. There is no scriptural support for same-sex unions as equal to, or as an alternative to, heterosexual marriage.

Likewise, there is no scriptural support for demeaning or mistreating anyone for reason of his or her sexual orientation. The Salvation Army opposes any such abuse.

In keeping with these convictions, the services of The Salvation Army are available to all who qualify, without regard to sexual orientation. The fellowship of Salvation Army worship is open to all sincere seekers of faith in Christ, and membership in The Salvation Army church body is open to all who confess Christ as Savior and who accept and abide by The Salvation Army's doctrine and discipline.

Scriptures: Genesis 2:23-24; Leviticus 18:22; Mark 2:16-17; Romans 1:26-27; Romans 5:8; I Corinthians 6:9-11; I Corinthians 13; Galatians 6:1-2; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; I Thessalonians 5:14-15; I Timothy 1:15-16; Jude 7

[zoraksferal]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 6:11pm

Ya know, I never really realized there was a connection between the Salvation Army, and any sort of political or religious opinion. I guess I have just never really cared about it... but this makes me sorta glad I have always avoided those annoying ringing bells like the plague.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 6:16pm

LMAO! Credit card machines? Damn there goes my excuse!

[Jane2]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 6:17pm

I don't have the bell ringers but I had the folding table with the big jar for the homeless. I put money in there every time I came out of the supermarket until I saw on tv that those people are scams.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 6:20pm

Folks, just assume that any religious organization is homophobic unless they specifically state otherwise.

"Likewise, there is no scriptural support for demeaning or mistreating anyone for reason of his or her sexual orientation."

Actually, Leviticus is quite clear that gay men must be put to death, so the Salvation Army is quite simply lying by saying that.

[Yawper]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 6:43pm

Are there any gay run organizations that help the entire community in need like the Salvation Army does?

[artscallion]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 7:12pm

What do you mean by "gay run"? Gays are not a cohesive group like the church that can run something. If you mean groups that deal with gay issues like The Gay and Lesbian Task Force, that would be like expecting a womans' breast cancer survivors group to "help the entire community in need" Are there non-church related "straight run" charities?

I do know that the Unitarian Universalist church has a huge population of gay members because of its inclusive policies that promote equality. And their foundation is built on social activism and charity for the entire community.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 7:38pm

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 7:40pm

"I donate generously to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at my parish because I know every single donation goes to help the less fortunate."

You do realize that St. Vincent de Paul Society donated money to Prop.8, right.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 7:43pm

That credit card machine is a stupid idea, if it works the same way I think it does.

People don't usually donate more than 1 or 2 dollars and the credit card companies charge for the use. So, really, they aren't making much, if any, by using the credit card machine.

[Yawper]

Posted: 11/29/09 at 7:48pm

I want to know if there are any self-identifying gay administered groups that provide a public service to all needy people across the board like the Salvation Army does.

Posted: 11/30/09 at 4:21pm

Sweet Q, you would be wrong. I work for a non-profit. We accept credit cards because while the Credit card processors do charge us a fee to handle the donations (usually around 4-5% depending on any number of factors), we've found that accepting credit cards INCREASES donations by 300-400 percent. During our largest fundraisers, 80 to 90 percent of our donations come in via credit cards.

Stockard IS NOT the only one who never carries cash.

Posted: 11/30/09 at 4:26pm

And I do not know what area of the country you are in Yawper, but I give to Howard Brown Center in Chicago- a huge Gay Service agency. They do a huge amount of AIDS work, and also sponsor gay coming out groups and mental health services as well as a drop-in community center in the heart of Chicago's Boystown among many other programs.
Howard Brown

Posted: 11/30/09 at 4:47pm

"MAUMEE, Ohio — A man who claimed to hate Christmas shoved a Salvation Army bell ringer to the ground and swiped one of the charity's red kettles stuffed with hundreds of dollars, police said.

The bell ringer, an unemployed woman, tried to pull the kettle away from the man Saturday evening, but he pushed her down and said, "I can't stand you and your bell-ringing. I hate Christmas," police said. The bell ringer chased him into a store parking lot before he tossed the kettle into the back of a stolen pickup truck and sped away, police said.

An empty kettle was found a day later. Police arrested Shawn Krieger of Toledo on Monday morning and charged him with robbery.

The Salvation Army estimated that the kettle held $500 to $700."
I can't stand you and your bell-ringing

[danmag]

Posted: 11/30/09 at 5:22pm

Hmm. I don't put money in and I try to avoid eye contact at all costs with those bell ringers. They have always freaked me out for some reason.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 11/30/09 at 5:27pm

I would love to. Unfortunately I never carry cash and they haven't started using those nifty credit card machines yet.

Funny though, as a kid my mother would always hand me a quarter to drop in there. It was always the same guy ringing the bell at our grocery store and whenever I would go to drop the money in he'd say thank you in a Donald Duck voice. I thought it was annoying, but it was nice of him.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 11/30/09 at 5:39pm

Danmag that new scarf is FEROSH! LOVE IT!

I must admit, I wish the scarf was ALL you were wearing in your new avatar though!

P

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 11/30/09 at 6:03pm

I'm clearly in the minority here, but I like the bell ringers and I always carry extra cash to give them a donation. They remind me of that song "Silver Bells". And I do make eye contact with them. Many are homeless individuals who have people rush by them all the time and never stop to make a personal connection.

As to the policies of the Salvation Army, I certainly don't agree with them theologically, politically or socially, but I'm giving them money to fund their homeless shelters and soup kitchens, not their church. Their delivery-of-services-per-dollar rate is extremely high, according to Guidestar and Charity Navagator.

[Yawper]

Posted: 11/30/09 at 11:10pm

Howard Brown's mission statement states they target LGBT for their services, not everyone in need.

[Q]

Posted: 11/30/09 at 11:24pm

Yawper - do you think the SA's policies should be questioned at all, and if so, in what way?

Personally, I still haven't gotten over the 9/11 fiasco. They were listed as a primary source for donation nationally, and received a LOT of money. But then denied benefits to surviving gay partners. It will take a lot to get that out of my mind.