By Allie Martin and Jody Brown
November 12, 2001

(AgapePress) - The Salvation Army has established a national policy that overrides a controversial decision by one of its territories that would have extended "domestic partner" benefits to its employees.

On Monday, it was announced that The Salvation Army's Commissioners' Conference established a national policy to extend health benefit access to an employee's spouse and dependent children only. Last week, officials in the Western Territory of The Salvation Army announced that they were offering domestic partner benefits to employees, even homosexual employees, indicating it was willing to go along with a City of San Francisco policy that demands groups doing business with it have a domestic partner benefits program.

According to a memo distributed Monday by The Army's Commissioner Lawrence Moretz to Army officers, the Commissioners' Conference states clearly that its decision rescinds the Western Territory's earlier policy on domestic partner benefits.

"In rescinding this policy and in the establishment of a national policy on health-care benefit access to spouse and dependent children, we must stand united in the battle that will undoubtedly follow from those who would now challenge our biblical and traditional position," the memo reads. "We will not sign any government contract or any other funding contracts that contain domestic partner benefit requirements."

Moretz acknowledges the Conference decision may mean The Army will have to back away from some historical funding sources or cut back services in some communities. "We must be prepared for this," Moretz writes, "and prayerfully accept the challenge to seek funding and continue our ministry that will not compromise any of our principles."

The Mississippi-based American Family Association is applauding the decision to rescind the policy. AFA president and founder Dr. Don Wildmon says he and other pro-family groups are pleased because the extension of same-sex partners of homosexual employees of The Army "had caused great confusion and consternation within the Christian community."

Lt. Col. Donald Canning, divisional commander for The Army's Southern Territory, also stated he is pleased that officials quickly reversed their controversial decision.

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