Kenny Xu insists The Salvation Army is promoting an environment of racial divison | colorusunited.org
Kenny Xu insists The Salvation Army is promoting an environment of racial divison | colorusunited.org
An upcoming presentation with a speaker and author whose expertise is “racial righteousness” has many questioning the Illinois chapter of The Salvation Army despite recent news of its training guide including the suggestion for whites to consider repenting for the “sin” of racism.
On May 21, the Illinois Salvation Army will host Dominique Dubois Gilliard, a pastor and director of racial righteousness and reconciliation at Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) and author of the book Subversive Witness: Scripture's Call to Leverage Privilege, highlighting some of the controversial themes promoted by TSA last year. According to Central Nova News, the Salvation Army was scrutinized last December after suggesting that whites offer a “sincere apology” for the sin of racism in their training materials.
"The Salvation Army’s event with Gilliard shows the Salvation Army has not backed down from its apparent view that America is a racist country,” said Kenny Xu, president of the group Color Us United, according to New York Business Daily.
"I have written letters to The Salvation Army, pleading with them to put their mission and purpose ahead of so-called 'woke' politics,” said Xu. "I have been continuously concerned that the messages that The Salvation Army promotes are contributing to a culture of racial division and warfare. The Illinois event underscores this concern."
Many have spoken out against the stance, with many religious figures condemning the stance altogether. One poll by Rasmussen last December found that the public held a negative view of The Salvation Army, increasing nearly fourfold after learning about the organization's so-called "diversity, equity and inclusion" programs.
“It appears that the general public is losing confidence in them. Thus, they must revert back to their roots and reject the forces advocating racist, divisive materials and recommit to Christ-centered theology," said Charles Arsenault, a retired senior pastor from Springfield, Missouri's Evangel Temple Christian Center, according to the Springfield Standard.
Even with the criticism, Kenneth Hodder, head of the National Salvation Army, has remained firmly against removing the controversial racial programming, and the Illinois chapter will continue to defy the critics by hosting Pastor Gilliard, according to Central Nova News.
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