to ask for your help in writing an objection to Operation Christmas Child?

[autumnwinds]

Our local primary is supporting OCC and has published a piece in the village magazine explaining how wonderful it is and how much the local children enjoy it, what a difference it makes to needy children, and inviting local residents to donate too. The piece omits any reference to the evangelical christian literature that is distributed with the parcels and the way that the gifts are used as a tool to agressively convert recipients to christianity.

I would like to write a reply for publishing in next month's issue trying to give the full picture so that people can make an informed choice about whether to donate to this charity, and to suggest some alternatives that don't come with the religious baggage.

As I don't have a child at the primary yet I'm not sure about tackling the school itself about it (they are not a faith school, so not sure they should be supporting this). DC will be starting next year so I might save that fight for next xmas!

Anyway does anyone have any ideas about a few lines I could write, something succinct and unemotional? I feel quite cross about it but don't want to come across as an equally fundamentalist atheist. I've been looking for some evidence on the web for people who want to know more but most of it is not well referenced...

redtoothbrush, completely agree with your points and to add, it is pure cynicism of OCC to recruit through primary schools.

Most parents trust the school staff not to engage them in anything dubious, so I wouldn't expect most of them to think they had to research the organisation first.

And pester power probably accounts for the high take up in schools. My DC were gutted when we stopped supporting OCC because all their friends still did.

I miss Brian, too.

You know, some of his best friends were unhappy gays.

You personally may not support homophobic views, but if you support Operation Christmas Child, you are indirectly supporting the anti-gay agenda of Samaritan's Purse.

Not that they publicise that either, of course, so you could be forgiven for not being aware of it, just as many people are not aware of the evangelism. That's how they work.

The suggestion that the children are told that the gifts are from Jesus really pisses me off. In the words of Jarvis Cocker-I am not Jesus (but I have the same initials).

However, I thought I had read most of Brians camp America type evangelism about SP but I didn't see the bit about his miserable gay friends. For clarity, please could someone link me to that post so that I can put the final nail in the coffin so to speak?

Evelynj - I think it all started here -when Brian said that deep down no one gay is happy with their lifestyle and then he carries on digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole...

"I have gay friends and I have a real heart for what they are going through and have sought to understand why. God loves them but loves them too much to see them continue in that lifestyle; I have never met a gay person who, when you get to really know them, is truly comfortable with that lifestyle. Brian"

evelynj are you annoyed at the suggestion that the children are told that the gifts are from Jesus because you don't think its true? Even if the words 'Jesus made these presents for you' don't come out of their mouths, they are still trying to insinuate that it is because of the merciful Lord Jesus that fortune has smiled down on them. I very much doubt they explain in detail where the boxes actually come from.

Why else would they be handing out presents and giving out these materials out simultaneously? In what other possible way could they be linked?

Don't like them at all. I believe they're using disadvantaged children and people in poverty to spread their message and it's not on. Some of their views are downright vile, as highlighted by exexpat.

Me and my nan used to do them. Until I read up on it and saw all the leaflets that went into the boxes. Doesn't sit right with me.

Thanks all. It was an entirely different thread I'd read I think. O.M.G. I am agog & haven't even read past that post yet.

Tracy-yes I'm annoyed that they don't say the gifts are e.g. from charitable people in the UK. From Jesus?! Even in a religious sense, Jesus was only the physical presence on Earth as the son of God & no longer exists. At least if they said they were from God, it's a bit more all encompassing but I'm guessing that's what they want to avoid as 'God' is more meaningful & open to personal interpretation?

I'm slightly worried that in my small (extremely) presbyterian town the head teacher will think I'm a troublesome parent & refuse my DS a place in the primary school when I highlight this issue. Feel like I can't be the only parent out of 800+ that has learnt of this? Has anyone who has challenged supporting this organisation faced any opposition from schools?

Off to read the rest of Brian's thread & will keep you updated if I hear anything from the school.

I've never heard of OCC, until this evening.

Tbh, if I'd been asked to pack a box by DC's school I suppose I might have done so without checking up on the organisation. And I'd have been pissed off to discover later about the evangelical Christian stuff.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, OP.

Just read that thread, exexpat. Fascinating. I also saw in it the bit where he assured parachuti that he would contact me to look in to the incident at my son's former preschool (where all the rich kids were given boxes of stuff they had plenty of at home ).

Did he contact me?! I'll let you guess the answer!!!

Oh, what a surprise, Wellies.

Evelynj - there is no legal way a headteacher could refuse you a place at a school because you objected to OCC or anything else religious, and I hope no headteacher would stoop low enough to try to take it out on you or your DS. Much more likely that they would just ignore your objections, unfortunately.

Thanks for highlighting this issue OP and others. I tried writing to my child's headteacher about this organisation but did not even receive the courtesy of a reply. This thread has inspired me to try again to highlight the issues that have been raised.

I was brought up CofE (now lapsed) but as a child did experience this type of sneaky, manipulative evangelism back in the 1970s whilst on holiday in Lyme Regis in the form of the United Beach Mission. I remember the uncomfortable feeling when we were encouraged to sit down and do bible study on the beach when we just thought we were joining in with some beach games. .

This thread has reminded me of the uncomfortable feelings I had as a child and encouraged me to see if the UBM is still operating and I see that unfortunately it still is although thankfully some efforts are being made to discourage their operations.

thanks to many of the posters on this thread, the head of my dc's school has agreed that the school will not be supporting this hateful organisation again... the school were "completely unaware" of the background to OCC/Samaritan's Purse/Franklin Graham... it really is worth writing to the schools and putting pressure on them to stop.

Great news :)

result!
all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good (wo)men to do nothing

or something-
or in other words it IS worth speaking up

That's great news, mrsravelstein, hopefully as word spreads more and more of these collections will be shut down.

Well done mrs ravelstein. I have written my letter and posted it so will let you know how we get on...

Thank you all for the heaps of information about OCC, I have drafted my letter to the school today and hope for a positive response. Another one here who is ashamed to say that this is the first time I have really looked into the charity, despite living in an area where the "shoebox campaign" seems to be part of the Christmas tradition in school, toddler groups, nurseries etc.

Dear all, I had hoped my earlier involvement on Mumsnet would have been sufficient to address genuine concerns about Operation Christmas Child and put people straight on so much myth, lies and misinformation that abounds on a programme that brings joy and happiness to so many disadvantaged children around the world. I have been open, honest and transparent about Operation Christmas Child and the work and ministry of Samaritan's Purse, the organisation I am privileged to work for.

I see that some of what I have said to another Mumsnet member (you know who you are!) on a previous thread is being taken out of context and used against me - shameful. If anyone participating in or viewing this thread wants to know the truth, if you have any genuine concern, please feel free to ask me and I'll be happy to respond.

But bear in mind we're closing in on another million shoeboxes from so many wonderful people in the UK - we're very busy and I cannot guarantee instantaneous responses, but I'll do my best to respond as quickly as I can.

In closing can I just say a BIG THANK YOU to all the wonderful people on Mumsnet:

a) Who have been working throughout 2013 to ensure that we are organised and fully staffed with volunteers to enable us to receive and process shoebox gifts,

b) Who have selflessly organised Operation Christmas Child in their school, church, workplace, community or elsewhere

c) Who have wrapped and packed shoeboxes, or who are wrapping and packing shoeboxes right now!

d) Who have volunteered to collect shoeboxes from drop-off points in their area, to check them and cartonise/containerise them for shipping to needy children overseas

You know you are part of something really special but I hope you also know and can appreciate the difference you are making in the lives of children overseas! THANK YOU!

To the rest of you, it's not too late to get involved!

Blessings!
Brian Bennett - - Head of Communications, Samaritan's Purse

hopefully as word spreads more and more of these collections will be shut down.

Yay! So great you're all getting more and more collections shut down. Those pesky kids don't need anything frivolous at Christmas.
They're poor. They should be happy getting clean water supplies and some more grains to eat.
They don't want anything (I quote) plastic and tatty.'
So, Father Christmas isn't coming. YAY.

Brian, you may have been completely open and honest but it's clear that some schools haven't been. I'm sure you wouldn't want people to feel coerced or misled, so I'm sure you support pps' intentions to inform their friends and perhaps choose another organisation with similar generous aims if they feel that a conflict of interest exists.

Brian, did you see this thread on mumsnet earlier this week: Operation Christmas Child and punishments for not taking part. Do you think OCC could do something to stop schools putting pressure on children to take part?

Also, I have been keeping an eye on media coverage of OCC this year, and I suspect you are putting out highly misleading/selective press releases to local newspapers, because 90 per cent of the stories I have seen do not mention anything to do with evangelism, bible story booklets etc, even though they are appealing to the the general public to donate shoeboxes. This one is typical: Operation Christmas Child needs your help.

And it doesn't sound like the new leaflet has reached many/any schools yet.

I think you still have an awful lot of work to do before you can claim the way you present yourselves in the UK is open, honest and not misleading.

HorryIsUpduffed We are so encouraged to see so many schools taking part in Operation Christmas Child, over 6,000 in the UK alone! Are you suggesting that these schools are setting out to deceive parents?

From what I know and from what I have seen first hand, nothing could be further from the truth. It is generally the case that children in schools wishing to participate in this programme are either given a leaflet to take home, or a letter. I have dealt with enough 'correspondence' from parents - on here and via email - to know that this is happening.