Where does that number come from? I think our modern culture would look a lot different if this was true. For example, I wouldn't have to consider the following to be a subversive statement:
Posted on 12/05/2005 4:54:18 AM PST by Liz
Following comments made on today’s “Focus on the Family” radio broadcast regarding the organization’s decision to end its banking relationship with Wells Fargo, Focus President and CEO Jim Daly issued the following statement: “Focus on the Family has elected to end its banking relationship with Wells Fargo, motivated primarily by the bank’s ongoing efforts to advance the radical homosexual agenda. These efforts are in direct opposition to the underlying principles and purpose of Focus, and thus a decision of conscience had to be made, and a stand taken.
Earlier this year we learned that Wells Fargo gave a matching gift to a pro-homosexual group to enable it to raise more money to fight organizations like our own. As one of Wells Fargo’s customers, we objected, and we received no satisfactory resolution from the bank’s corporate office.
The homosexual group’s web page said this: “Incredible news: Wells Fargo has offered to help support GLAAD’s fight for equality against the Anti-Gay industry by matching your tax-deductible contribution dollar for dollar.”
We realize that if we dealt only with companies that reflect our Christian values we would have a hard time doing business with Corporate America. That said, when our bank allows proceeds from our business to be used to impede our work, we must object, even if it inconveniences us in our professional relationships.
We at Focus on the Family respect the worth and dignity of every human being. We are not attacking the gay individual, nor are we singling out Wells Fargo employees for censure. We had the opportunity to work with many Wells Fargo staff while in relationship with the bank, and we know firsthand the good job they do. However, we feel that the aggressive agenda of the homosexual movement and its activists is harmful to families, and we believe it is time to stand up and fight that. Our decision is not personal, but principled, and we trust our constituents and others will respect it.”
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For more information, contact Lisa Anderson at (719) 548-5883 or publicity@family.org.
FOTF went with the First National Bank of Omaha.
Here's some more information about the First National Bank of Omaha that I retrieved off of our intranet (I'm a FOTF employee):
"Outsourcing certain functions makes sense for FOF, as addressed in the previous the FOF Outsourcing Philosophy. The basic reasons are to provide the best possible service to Focus constituents, while honoring our stewardship responsibilities. Two of the vendors who can handle our business transactions at a significant cost savings are Patni and First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO).
...
"First National Bank of Omaha has been a banking partner with FOF for over 10 years. We decided to outsource to FNBO since they could more efficiently integrate simple transaction processing, imaging, and coding into our existing banking system. In the process, we were also able to eliminate the problem of a production bottleneck and avoid additional captial expenditures for equipment. Although this shift of production eliminated jobs within the FOF Colorado Springs operation, customer service was improved, costs were reduced, and FOF staff were able to maintain their focus on the ministry needs of our constituents."
As part of your argument that FOTF was doing this just for the publicity you used an absolute standard, which is the tool of those who know they don't have a leg to stand on otherwise.
You used the standard that the new institution must not have ANY connections to those things that FOTF is opposed to, homsexuality, abortion, etc. I think I'm on safe grounds when I say that no such institution exists anywhere on this side of the after-life. However, I'm confident that the new institution they went with is reasonably close to meeting that standard.
Most of us know that, and accept that fact that in going about our daily business we need to interact with those who have different standards than we do, sometimes opposing standards.
Your posts thus far on this subject have indicated an all or nothing approach.
I think they (Focus on the Family) moved to National Bank of Omaha or something like that - it's a Christian owned and operatd bank. :-)
Thanks Liz,I have written and will send this email address out to others..
Where does that number come from? I think our modern culture would look a lot different if this was true. For example, I wouldn't have to consider the following to be a subversive statement:
I wound up leaving Wells Fargo in 2002 due to service lapses. Repeated failures to update address records after a move was the specific problem. Yes, I knew of WF's pro-gay inclinations at the time, and based on my experience as a customer with other corporations, when corporations get sidetracked with appeasing leftist pressure groups, service suffers. Maybe it wakes up, more often it doesn't, and crashes. Same is happening with Washington Mutual (which acquired Bank United in 2000, a bank known for excellent service), same happened with AT&T (not referring to the entity currently called AT&T, which is really an enlarged Southwestern Bell that devoured the original AT&T).
Now from Theo's reply in #42, he notes from being a Focus on the Family employee:
"Outsourcing certain functions makes sense for FOF, as addressed in the previous the FOF Outsourcing Philosophy. The basic reasons are to provide the best possible service to Focus constituents, while honoring our stewardship responsibilities.
Two of the vendors who can handle our business transactions at a significant cost savings are Patni and First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO).
... "First National Bank of Omaha has been a banking partner with FOF for over 10 years. We decided to outsource to FNBO since they could more efficiently integrate simple transaction processing, imaging, and coding into our existing banking system. In the process, we were also able to eliminate the problem of a production bottleneck and avoid additional captial expenditures for equipment. Although this shift of production eliminated jobs within the FOF Colorado Springs operation, customer service was improved, costs were reduced, and FOF staff were able to maintain their focus on the ministry needs of our constituents."
I think I was the one who said cost savings in some shape or form was really the reason behind this. There was no mention in the press release of the cost savings or the jobs lost.
There are several FOTF memos relating to Wells Fargo and the First National Bank of Omaha. Other internal memos do point out how Wells Fargo is simply an organization we don't want to deal with because of their radical homosexual agenda.
Cost savings is not "really the reason behind this" as you put it. There are a number of factors, but the primary reason for severing from Wells Fargo is indeed that organization's immoral stances. We just don't want to be part of such a messed up banking institution, and we can take our finances elsewhere.
No need to be so suspicious of FOTF's motives. :-)
It appears people are not swayed by your attempted disparaging of FOF's motives -give it a rest already or some may think you are simply a homosexual activist.
"Talking the talk and walking the walk" bump
thank you for the info.
Wells Fargo is making dollar for dollar contributions to GLAAD's political wing which focuses on fighting FOTF activities.
I doubt ALL other banks are doing likewise. FOTF dumped Wells Fargo for the above activity, not because it has a diversity statement.
As for being an activist, I'm not. As for being pro agenda, I am not. As for organizations that are to be setting the standards of truth and accountability, then yes, I have an agenda.
"Outsourcing certain functions makes sense for FOF, as addressed in the previous the FOF Outsourcing Philosophy. The basic reasons are to provide the best possible service to Focus constituents, while honoring our stewardship responsibilities. Two of the vendors who can handle our business transactions at a significant cost savings are Patni and First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO). ... "First National Bank of Omaha has been a banking partner with FOF for over 10 years. We decided to outsource to FNBO since they could more efficiently integrate simple transaction processing, imaging, and coding into our existing banking system. In the process, we were also able to eliminate the problem of a production bottleneck and avoid additional captial expenditures for equipment. Although this shift of production eliminated jobs within the FOF Colorado Springs operation, customer service was improved, costs were reduced, and FOF staff were able to maintain their focus on the ministry needs of our constituents."
I heard this given in a speech by a investment professional in 2002. He went on to say that 42% of all mutual funds are held by people who define themselves as Christian. I do not know the source of his data and as such, probably shouldn't have quoted it.
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You thank me for providing you helpful information, and then in your next two posts continue to trash Focus on the Family? I'm trying to help bring some background to FOTF's prior relationship with the Bank of Omaha, and you intentially miscontrue that to mean that FOTF is all about money and not about principle? You are one jaded man to assume that FOTF is deceptive and hiding its "true" motives.
My providing additional information should indicate to you that FOTF and its employees have a culture of transparency and honesty, not deception.
Once and for all, FOTF severed its relationship with Wells Fargo because of their support of the homosexual agenda. And FOTF chose to go with Bank of Omaha for variety of reasons, including that doing so would better serve our constituents.
You need to consider *your* motives for being so accusatory against a fine organization that's trying to do the right thing.
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