American Baptist leaders have issued a statement of solidarity with an Oklahoma charity in the news for refusing to accept a donation given in honor of an atheist group.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies released a statement Aug. 25 affirming the right of the Murrow Indian Children’s Home — one of 16 Neighborhood Action Program Christian centers across the country supported by domestic missions arm of American Baptist Churches USA — “to refrain from lifting up a religious view that is not aligned with its own.”
The century-old home in Muskogee, Okla., dedicated to caring for Native American children who have been victims of neglect or abuse, made headlines across the country for returning a $100 gift from a donor who designated the money in honor of the Muskogee Atheist Community.
Keli and Matt Wilbourn
In response, after discussing the matter with other members of the atheist group, community co-founders Matt and Keli Wilbourn started a GoFundMe account intended to increase pressure on the children’s home by upping the size of the gift to a $1,000 goal. Three days later the couple closed the campaign after 1,268 people donated a total of $28,280.
Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, executive director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies, criticized the Muskogee Atheist Community for “blatant bullying” in insisting that Murrow charity accept a monetary gift in exchange for advertising the atheist group in printed materials and then “threatening to use its muscle to shame and embarrass” the Christian charity.
“Murrow has not taken a stand against anyone or any cause,” Haggray told American Baptist News Service. “They have taken a stand in favor of the religious principles that have informed and undergirded their work for more than 100 years, which include performing their acts of charity quietly.”
Susan Gillies, interim general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA, defended the children’s home against media accusations that administrators were putting religious dogma ahead of the welfare of children.
“Throughout my years of service to American Baptist Churches USA, I have been moved by the ministry of Murrow and the faithful ways it brings God’s love to the most vulnerable among us, nurturing children in crisis to physical, psychological and spiritual wholeness,” said Gillies, retired executive minister of the American Baptist Churches of Nebraska. “Christian faith has always been the cornerstone of this important ministry.”
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