Baptists attack Wal-Mart
Posted December 14, 2006
A group of Baptist ministers is challenging Wal-Mart's treatment of its employees, suggesting some of the company's policies are anti-family and un-Christian. The letter below, is signed by dozens of Baptist leaders including at least eight Kentuckians. Among the signers: Baptist Seminary of Kentucky professor Glenn Hinson, and pastors from Frankfort, Louisville and Campbellsburg. The letter:
Baptist Center for Ethics | Nashville, Tennessee | www.ethicsdaily.com
December 14, 2006
Mr. H. Lee Scott, CEO
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Bentonville, AR 72716-8611
Dear Mr. Scott,
We write you as moral theologians with grave concerns about Wal-Mart's corporate practices-practices that conflict with our commitment to pro-family values.
The Christian prophetic witness teaches that justice is the highest family value for any society-protection for the fatherless, security for the single mother, honesty in the marketplace, fairness for the weakest one in society, respect for the elderly.
The Hebrew prophet Micah said that God required justice (Micah 6:8). The prophet Amos said that God wanted justice to flood the land (Amos 5:24). The prophet Isaiah said that God wanted his people to seek justice (Isaiah 1:17). Jesus told community leaders that they were neglecting justice (Luke 11:42).
The biblical witness also teaches responsibility-parents are responsible for children (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) and employers are responsible for fair wages for their employees (1 Timothy 5:18). Jesus said, "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded" (Luke 12:48).
We believe that Wal-Mart has been given and entrusted with much wealth, power and influence. We believe that much is required of and demanded from Wal-Mart in terms of its responsibility to working families. That responsibility necessitates that Wal-Mart treat well its employees with such things as:
- fair-living wages, not poverty-level wages;
- generous health care benefits, not eliminating low-deductible health care plans;
- decent places to work that treat women with dignity and equality;
- respectful schedules for children in school; and good benefits for sound retirements.
A company with the wealth of Wal-Mart has the responsibility to advance the common good for a better society, not seek only personal gain. Wal-Mart's leaders need to recognize their moral obligations to be good stewards of what the corporation has been given and entrusted, not simply through acts of charity but with justice for working-family employees who have built but not necessarily benefited from Wal-Mart's vast earnings.
When we celebrate Christmas, we mark the birth of the Messiah who gave the moral imperative of the Golden Rule (Luke 6:31; Matthew 7:12), a rule that encourages Christian consumers to consider where they shop and that guides corporate practices.
We challenge you this Christmas to make Wal-Mart a Golden Rule company, one that is mindful in reflecting the best of Christian values and one that seeks a higher standard for its employees and their families.
[To read the list of signers, click below.]
*Respectfully,
Robert Parham, Executive Director
Baptist Center of Ethics, Nashville, TN
James R. Adair, Professor
Baptist University of the Americas, San Antonio, TX
Bud Adams, Pastor
First Baptist Church of Central Square, Central Square, NY
Marion Aldridge, Coordinator
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Jimmy R. Allen, Chaplain Emeritus
Big Canoe, GA
Mary Jayne Allen, Minister of Education
First Baptist Church, Chattanooga, TN
Daniel G. Bagby, Professor
Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Richmond, VA
Bob Ballance, Pastor
Heritage Baptist Church, Cartersville, GA
David Benjamin, Pastor
King's Cross Church, Tullahoma, TN
Paul Benz, Director
Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State, Seattle, WA
Ronnie Brewer, Pastor
Trinity Baptist Church, Madison, AL
Booker T. George, Pastor
Silver Creek Baptist Church, Danville, VA
Frank Broome, Coordinator
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia, Macon, GA
Sandy Brown, Executive Director
Church Council of Greater Seattle, Seattle, WA
Brian Burchfield, Region 1 Mission Director
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Seattle, WA
Susan Vanhoy Burchfield, Minister
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Seattle, WA
Lawrence Campbell, Elder
Bible Way Cathedral, Danville, VA
Tony Campolo, Professor
Eastern University, St. Davids, PA
Daniel Carro, Latino Pastor
Baptist General Association of Virginia, Richmond VA
Gary Carver, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Chattanooga, TN
Kyle Childress, Pastor
Austin Heights Baptist Church, Nacogdoches, TX
Van Christian, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Comanche, Texas
Scott Cole, Associate Pastor,
Fellowship of the Valley, Birmingham, AL
Larry Coleman, Pastor
Churchland Baptist Church, Chesapeake, VA
Ron Cook, Professor
Baylor University, Waco, TX
Dorisanne Cooper, Pastor
Lake Shore Baptist Church, Waco, TX
R. Robert Creech, Pastor,
University Baptist Church, Houston, TX
Polk Culpepper, Pastor
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, New Albany, IN
Gary Dalenius, Pastor
Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Bellvue, WA
J. Daniel Day, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC
Miguel A. De La Torre, Professor
Iliff School of Theology, Denver, CO
Mel Deason, Executive Director
Mainstream Alabama Baptists, Birmingham, AL
Javier Elizondo, Professor
Baptist University of the Americas, San Antonio, TX
David Ellingson, Professor
Trinity Lutheran College, Issaquah, WA
James Evans, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Auburn, AL
Brian W. Ford, Pastor
Little Bonne Femme Baptist Church, Columbia, MO
Nick Foster, Executive Director
The Alabama Poverty Project, Montevallo, AL
David B. Freeman, Pastor,
Weatherly Heights Baptist Church, Huntsville, AL
Rufus Fuller, Pastor
East New Hope Baptist Church, Danville, VA
Mike Graves, Professor
Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, MO
Henry Green, Pastor
Heritage Baptist Church, Annapolis, MD
Beverly Greer, Missions Coordinator
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of South Carolina
Ron Grizzle, Pastor
Riverchase Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL
Darrell Gwaltney, Dean
Belmont University, Nashville, TN
Anne Hall, Pastor
University Lutheran Church, Seattle, WA
Ircel Harrison, Coordinator
Tennessee Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Murfreesboro, TN
Michael Helms, Pastor
Trinity Baptist Church, Moultrie, GA
Keith Herron, Pastor
Holmeswood Baptist Church, Kansas City, MO
David Hinson, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Frankfort, KY
Glenn Hinson, Professor
Kentucky Baptist Seminary, Lexington, KY
Ron Hinson, Pastor
College Avenue Baptist Church, Lenoir, NC
Ed Hogan, Pastor
Jersey Village Baptist Church, Houston, TX
Jay C. Hogewood, Pastor
University Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, LA
Jim Holladay, Pastor
Lyndon Baptist Church, Louisville, KY
Tony Hopkins, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Greenwood, SC
Larry Hovis, Coordinator
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina, Winston-Salem, NC
David Hughes, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, NC
Greg Hunt, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Shreveport, LA
Bill Ireland, Pastor
Ardmore Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, NC
Jim Ivey, Chaplain
Baptist Hospital East, Louisville, KY.
Darrell James, Pastor
Culbertson Baptist Church, New Albany, IN
Carol Jensen, Minister
St John United Lutheran Church, Seattle, WA
Charles Foster Johnson, Professor
McAfee School of Theology, Atlanta, GA
Jay Kieve, Pastor
Crosscreek Baptist Church, Pelham, AL
Martin Knox, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Temple, TX
Courtney Krueger, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Pendleton, SC
Tom Leland, Pastor
University Baptist Church, Charlottesville, VA
Joe Lewis, Pastor
Second Baptist Church, Petersburg, VA
Phil Lineberger, Pastor
Williams Trace Baptist Church, Sugar Land, TX
Emmanuel McCall, Pastor
Fellowship Group Baptist Church, East Point, GA
Rick McClatchy, Coordinator
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Texas, San Antonio, TX
Hayes McConnell, Pastor
Jones Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Danville, VA
Tommy R. McDearis, Pastor
Blacksburg Baptist Church, Blacksburg, VA
Brent McDougal, Coordinator
Alabama Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Elba, AL
Mark McEntire, Professor
Belmont University, Nashville, TN
Jeanie McGowan, Associate Pastor
First Baptist Church, Jefferson City, MO
Johnny F. McKinney, Pastor
Boulevard Baptist Church, Anderson, SC
Larry McSwain, Professor
McAfee School of Theology, Atlanta, GA
Bill Marshall, Retired Executive Director
Kentucky Baptist Convention
Mike Massar, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Tyler, TX
Ken Massey, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Greensboro, NC
John Miller, Pastor
Alum Spring Baptist Church, Culpeper, VA
Ron Moe-Lobeda, Minister
University Lutheran Church, Seattle, WA
Bert Montgomery, Pastor
Campbellsburg Baptist Church, Campbellsburg, KY
Evelyn Oliveira, Co-Director
Metanoia, N. Charleston, SC
Devita Parnell, Associate Coordinator
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia, Macon, GA
Julie Pennington-Russell, Pastor
Calvary Baptist Church, Waco, TX
John Petty, Pastor
Trinity Baptist Church, Kerrville, TX
James Pettus, Pastor
Hopel Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Danville, VA
Joseph Phelps, Pastor
Highland Baptist Church, Louisville, KY
Bruce Prescott, Executive Director
Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists, Norman, OK
Robert Prince, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Waynesville, NC
Allen Reasons, Pastor
Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, Huntington, WV
Sandi Evans Rogers, Minister
Columbia Baptist Church, Falls Church, VA
Tarris Rosell, Professor
Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, MO
Carol Richardson, Associate Pastor
First Baptist Church, Memphis, TN
John Ewing Roberts, Pastor Emeritus
Woodbrook Baptist Church, Baltimore, MD
Don Rogers, Pastor
Buechel Park Baptist Church, Louisville, KY
Gilbert Sanders, Pastor
Livonia Baptist Church, Livonia, MI
Craig A. Sherouse, Pastor,
First Baptist Church, Griffin, GA
Bill Shiell, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Knoxville, TN
Bob Shrum, Pastor
Oakland Baptist Church, Rock Hill, SC
Walter Shurden, Professor
Mercer University, Macon, GA
Judy Skeen, Professor
Belmont University, Nashville, TN
Jonathan Spencer, Pastor
Druid Hills Baptist, Atlanta, GA
Bill Stanfield, Director
Metanoia, N. Charleston, SC
Glen Stassen, Professor
Fuller Theological Seminary, Los Angeles, CA
Scott L. Stearman, Pastor
Kirkwood Baptist Church, Saint Louis, MO
James E. Sten, Pastor
Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Danville, VA
Larry Stevens, Pastor
Noble Avenue Baptist Church, Guthrie, OK
Ed Sunday-Winters
Ball Camp Baptist Church, Knoxville, TN
Roger W. Thomas, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Ablemarle, NC
T. Thomas, Coordinator
Cooperating Baptist Fellowship of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Bill Tillman, Professor
Logsdon School of Theology, Abilene, TX
Tiffany Triplett, Associate Pastor
Metro Baptist Church, New York City, NY
Joe Trull, Editor
Christian Ethics Today, Denton, TX
Michael R. Tutterow, Pastor
Wieuca Road Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA
Michael S. Usey, Pastor
College Park Baptist Church, Greensboro, NC
Robert Walker, Pastor
Peachtree Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA
Andrew Watts, Professor
Belmont University, Nashville, TX
Cindy Weber, Pastor
Jeff Street Baptist Community at Liberty, Louisville, KY
Steve Wells, Pastor
South Main Baptist Church, Houston, TX
Jim West, Pastor
Petros Baptist Church, Petros TN
Gene Wilder, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Jefferson City, TN
Bill Wilson, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Dalton, GA
Richard Wilson, Professor
Mercer University, Macon, GA
G. Todd Wilson, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Clemson, SC
Lee W. Wimberly, Minister
Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Renton, WA
Philip Wise, Pastor
Second Baptist Church, Lubbock, TX
Slayden Yarbrough, Professor Emeritus
Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, OK
Tim Sean Youmans, Youth Minister
First Baptist Church, Shawnee, OK
Gerald L. Young, Co-Pastor
The United Baptist Church, Annandale, VA
*Signatories are listed by churches, schools and organizations only for the purpose of identification.
Archived Comments
I fully agree with the position taken by the Baptists here, though I have not often had anything good to say about either Baptists or other evangelicals.
If Jesus taught us anything, it was the golden rule. Who among us would want to be treated as WalMart treats its employees? And, who among us would want to be treated like the sweatshop workers in third world contries that manufacture most of the goods that WalMart sells?
At some point, the capitalists convinced us that corporate profits were more important than people, and we need to turn back the tide on that, and come to a more equitable system of compensating workers.
Good luck with that. If Wal-Mart had any morals or care for American people they would never have dropped their father's buy American policy or failed to raise wages to meet inflation over the years. They're corrupt. We don't shop there any more.
You know. I hate to see all the blame being put on wal-mart, they are in a business to to make a profit and they do a good job of it. Everybody wants the same things that these clergy want for those employees but its just not possible. To offer half of these benefits would double the price of most of the merchandise in the store which in turn would lead to slower sales , lay offs and eventual store closings. Some things can be implemented because of the wal mart hierarchy. They are a smart bunch of people and I personally would like to see them come up with a health care plan that the nation could use as a model. I do think its unreasonable to place this kind of burden upon walmart simply because they are successful at what they do. In the job market today one could start al walmart and work their way up the ranks or use the experience by going to another store that offers the benefits described.
What's strange about this is that many of the institutions and churches listed here are of the more liberal-ish variety.
It's a shame that more conservative folks are so blind to the way mega-corporations and big box retailers work against the thigs they are supposed to value like stability, thrift, tradition aand the family.
Where are the conservatives on this?
I wish Godspeed to this letter and its signers. To me, what's really frightening about Wal-Mart is occurring mostly in the rural areas of Kentucky and other states. In my own area at least, I have seen the chain wipe out literally dozens of little local mom-and-pop operations, while at the same time exerting all the attraction of a three-ring circus to a lot of rural people. In the most rural churches I ever worked in, I've heard Wal-Mart preached against many times, not for any social-gospel reason but because the place fascinated so many people they'd wind up going to Wal-Mart instead of church on Sunday morning. In other words, it almost makes one wonder: why did Karl Marx declare that religion was the opiate of the people? Because television hadn't yet been invented at that time.....or because there weren't yet any Wal-Marts?
Hey Bart: This ought to be right up your alley. I bet you and mr phelps could even manage a few picket lines. Or are you busy right now doing that christmas thing with the tree that you hate so much
Gimme a Break. Why stop at Wal-Mart? Hasn't Cracker Barrel been sued for racial discrimination?
Or what about Fast Food places that sometimes work 15, 16, and 17 year old kids a few minutes past what they should.
Or what about some of the seasonal or temp jobs or other part time jobs out there in most all businesses that don't pay for health benefits?
Besides that who do they think they are to tell us where Jesus would or wouldn't have gone? If I remember correctly in the Bible Jesus went everywhere the Pharisee's thought he shouldn't.
He came for all people and went to all people to show them a better way and to show them God's love.
Tell me again how God's love is shown by boycotting a business and putting in jeopardy the jobs to those they claim to be fighting for?
I think we are called to be a light in the world to shine for God, a light that shows others a better way of life and the love of Jesus Christ. Exactly how are we doing that by boycotting Wal-Mart? What is our witness to those who need those jobs to survive? Are they going to want to think about coming to our churches if we take away their jobs?
Is "made in china" in your house? If so, your part of the trade decifit.
Something to consider about health care, in Ky.since health care reform under Jones administration my premiums have gone up 600 percent, needless to say my income hasn't. If as a group the baptist want to make an impact on social issues, I would personally start looking who are major stock holders in insurance companies and would research the profit margins in the last 10 years. The increase in prices overall seems to start with the increase in insurance premiums. Who by the way run this country, in my opinion.
Awesome! Glad to see the teachings of Christ espoused in such a way. It's especially encouraging to see this from Baptists, if only because they have lately been so closely associated with right-wing political views that would never tolerate such a letter.
Here's hoping that this is an early indication of a new movement in Christianity to emphasize what Christ taught and not just what we want to believe. Remember - Jesus was homeless.