Salvation Army Rescinds Domestic-Partner Benefits

Less than two weeks after western officials of the Salvation Army decided to extend health benefits to domestic partners in 13 states, the group’s national leaders have rescinded the order.

Until this month, the evangelical Christian group offered benefits only to married couples and their dependent children. But leaders of the group’s Western Territory said Nov. 1 that they also would begin offering benefits to all adult members of an employee’s household, including straight and gay partners.

Under the national leaders’ decision Monday, the Western Territory will follow the same policy as the rest of the group.

“We’ve been listening to our internal and external constituencies, and we now confirm adherence to biblical principles concerning marriage and the family,” said Theresa Whitfield, the Salvation Army’s media relations director.

In October, the Salvation Army’s commissioners decided to let the four U.S. territories determine their health care policies, and the Western Territory was the only one to expand benefits. On Monday, the commissioners decided to return health care policymaking to the national level.