In Canada, schools two provinces have canceled Operation Christmas Child over the organization’s stance on homosexuality.
Operation Christmas Child is run by the Christian ministry Samaritan’s Purse. As a Christian organization, Samaritan’s Purse holds to biblical beliefs on homosexuality, which the school district trustees believe is incompatible with their school’s policies.
According to CBC News, school district trustees voted on Nov. 25 to end the school districts’ participation in Operation Christmas Child.
Students and teachers will no longer have the opportunity to fill shoeboxes with Christmas gifts to send to children in need around the world.
Director of Education Tony Stack defended the school’s decision telling Christian headlines.com:
“This organization is on record with its statement of beliefs that it requires its co-ordinating volunteers to sign statements of faith that are in direct conflict with our inclusive philosophy, particularly as it pertains to the LGBT community.”
Since 1993, the Samaritan’s Purse project, Operation Christmas Child, has collected and delivered more than 135 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories.
The children in those countries are some of the neediest in the world and missing some of life’s most basic necessities. Operation Christmas Child attempts to show them God’s love through these gifts.