Here's a piece about our latest add from The Christian Post:
Pastors Urge Wal-Mart to Repent This ChristmasA national television ad campaign featuring two prominent Baptist ministers who call on Wal-Mart to give the gift of economic justice this Christmas was launched Monday.
"The Bible says, 'To whom much is given, much is required,'" says the Rev. Charles Foster Johnson, interim pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church of Nashville, in the television ad which is being aired in 35 markets across the country.
"Wal-Mart rakes in over $21,000 in profit every single minute. This Christmas, let's make Wal-Mart be a better neighbor to us all."
The ad is part of the third annual "Hope for the Holidays" campaign by WakeUpWalMart.com, which spent over $1.5 million in radio and TV ads to draw attention to the retail giant’s unique responsibility toward the communities it represents.
The Rev. Markel Hutchins, a Baptist minister who heads Markel Hutchins Ministries, also joins Johnson in the ad to call on the multi-billion-dollar corporation to be a better “neighbor” to its communities this Christmas by paying fair wage, providing affordable healthcare, and ensuring the safety of the goods it sells.
“A corporation that big has the moral responsibility to do right by its customers and employees and all humanity,” says Hutchins in the television spot.
Although Wal-Mart is America’s largest private employer, the company pays its employees low wages for long work hours, contends WakeUpWalMart.com, and fails to provide affordable health care to its fleet of part-time workers.
The website also reports that Wal-Mart, which made $12 billion in profits last year, imports most of its merchandise from China, where product quality and work conditions have often been called into question.
“Wal-Mart is not the epitome of all unfairness and injustice in the world but it’s just that they are the biggest,” said Johnson in an interview with The Christian Post. “We want these corporate neighbors to have more equitable policies for their employees.”
The church has the role to be “a voice for fairness and justice in an economic system that is increasingly creating disparities,” said Johnson, a visiting Instructor of Preaching at the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University in Atlanta.
“Justice is figuring out what belongs to whom and giving it to them,” he added. “A decent wage is what belongs to the people of God who are workers.”
From a short-term perspective, one may think that Wal-Mart can accrue more profits by keeping its current employment policies, said Johnson. But he believes that through reform, the company can reap greater benefits in the long run.
“It’s not rocket science to see that that will cultivate a more dedicated, more loyal partner in your business,” asserted Johnson.
In conjunction with the television ad, community and religious leaders from more than 40 cities and towns began holding candlelight prayer vigils outside Wal-Mart stores on Monday night, offering prayers and handing out "Think before you shop" holiday cards to shoppers.
Johnson urged Americans to voice their protest to Wal-Mart’s policies by taking their business to a competitor, even if it means paying a few cents extra for some products. He also suggests that they write letters to the company’s leadership, the manager, or the editor of a local newspaper.
Meghan Scott, deputy campaign manager for WakeUpWalmart.com, told The Christian Post that she hopes for Wal-Mart to exhibit a positive model for other corporations in America.
“The truth is that if Wal-Mart made some small changes here, then everybody would follow suit,” she said.
The ad was paid for by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and will air until Thursday in most markets.
Posted by Taylor - December 18, 2007 11:36 AM - In The News
Thank God, Church leaders have joined the voice for voiceless. I appreciate their voices.
Posted by Ajay - December 18, 2007 01:37 PM
Church leaders shouldn't get involved in propaganda and lies. It's a sin to lie! God Bless walmart and it's employees and employers for that matter! They weren't afraid to actually say Christmas in their commercials! Is this the religious left playing poltics? I think so!
Church leaders joining voices for the voiceless? God, I'm going to be sick! What a bunch of crap!
Posted by Dwight - December 18, 2007 04:10 PM
First off...where is there a lie? What the revernds said in the ad were either bible quotes of opinions. Are opinions sins too? Am I a sinner because I believe that hard working people should be paid a decent wage? Or that these same people should be treated with respect at their work place?
As for Wal-Mart saing Christmas in their commericals, what does that have to do with anything? Wake Up Wal-Mart's latest ad says "This Christmas, lets make Wal-Mart be a better neighbor to us all". I think you could probably find a number of other adds with Christmas in it.
Lastly, what is wrong with church leaders joining voices for the voiceles? And if the religious right can play politics, why shouldn't the religious left? I think there are a lot of devout people who believe that the Christian faith requires speaking for the voiceless, and standing up for the helpless.
Posted by BackStageLeftist - December 18, 2007 05:06 PM
This whole site makes me sick. I have been with Wal-Mart almost 12 years, and have been treated wonderfully. The advancements I have wanted have been available, and even ones I haven't wanted. By working hard, and doing my job to my best extent I am paid fairly and given options in providing for my future and the future of my family. Maybe you should actually be speaking to the associates, and the ones that have been thru the changes and been taken care of by their company!
Posted by Shelly - December 18, 2007 05:11 PM
Then don't come to this site! I had been there for 19 and was not treated good. It all started going bad when Sam died and gets worse every year!
Posted by jean - December 19, 2007 05:13 PM
"Am I a sinner because I believe that hard working people should be paid a decent wage?"
The average pay for full time workers in 2005 or 2006 was 10.15/hr. The average minimum wage was 5.50. How are they underpaid? Do some research. This site likes to think stats from 2001 are relevant today.
The worst part is that since this reverand couldn't make any actual claims, he decided to go down the loose bible interpretation route. Infact, given and earned are very different.
Posted by Garet - January 8, 2008 10:39 PM
Thanks so very much for taking your time to create this very useful and informative site. I have learned a lot from your site. Thanks!!g
Posted by Albert - August 10, 2008 10:35 AM
Great site. I will bookmark for my sons to view as well!!!r
Posted by lhuv - August 13, 2008 10:19 PM
Thanks for your project. I like this site. KEEP IT UP..
Posted by Robert - August 15, 2008 01:29 PM
You guys do a wonderful job! Keep up the good work!!!
Posted by Vince - September 4, 2008 02:55 AM