It was with much sadness that I read Kristy Woudstra's article published on this site on Thursday morning. Sadness because of what was written, but also sadness because of what it means for the work that World Vision Canada is so committed to doing.
When I look at the very serious concerns that were described, it is so upsetting to think that anyone might feel excluded by World Vision Canada. While World Vision U.S. has made changes to their policies over the past week, World Vision Canada has not.
While it's not appropriate to comment on any of the specifics around any individual's hiring, we can say this about our approach: World Vision Canada does not ask questions around sexual orientation during interviews.
As a Christian organization, we follow the example of Jesus who reached out to everyone, especially those who were marginalized or left out. We support equality for all and the rights of all people. In the work that we do, we provide assistance to people regardless of sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or religion. Integral to the work we do is standing up for the marginalized and disenfranchised. We need to continue to stand up and speak out for children and families around the world who are living in poverty. We are so grateful for the thousands of Canadians who partner with us, and we are deeply committed to continuing this important work.
Dave Toycen
President and CEO, World Vision Canada