A Recurring Debate

The question of whether or not NZUSA should support World Vision first came up at May Council in 1978, when it was reported that the AGM of the Massey University Students Association had defeated a motion to make a donation to the organisation, largely as a result of criticisms levelled at it. MUSA undertook at that Council to prepare a report on it. That report, prepared by Massey's then International Affairs Officer, Don Carson, was tabled at this Council's International Commission, as was a reply, prepared by Geoff Renner, to some of its main points. The criticisms in Mr Carson's report relate to administrative extravagance, political bias, religious bias coupled with a strong evangelical emphasis and an attempt to treat poverty without trying to treat its causes, especially political ones.

Mr Renner, speaking to the Commission, admitted that his organisation was a Christian one. "We make no apology for It," he said. "Our history is primarily a conservative evangelical history. But while we are a Christian organisation we don't give aid with Christian strings attached. That is our rule. Sure, there are people (in the organisation) who break the rules but you get that in any organisation."

He said that the main fault in Mr Carson's report was that it was a "snapshot" of World Vision in 1974, and that this does not coincide with World Vision in 1979. Like the Handy Andy, it seems, it's all been changed.