YWAM vs. Integrity
Posted by rantsampersandmore on August 23, 2009
Integrity
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Integrity comprises perceived consistency of actions, values, methods, measures and principles. A value system‘s abstraction depth and range of applicable interaction are also significant factors due to their congruence with empirical observation. A value system may evolve over time while retaining integrity if those who espouse the values account for and resolve inconsistencies.
Integrity may be seen as the quality of having a sense of honesty and truthfulnessin regard to the motivations for one’s actions. The term hypocrisy is often used in contrast to integrity to assert that one part of a value system is demonstrably at odds with another, and to demand that the parties holding apparently conflicting values account for the discrepancy or change their beliefs to improve internal consistency.
YWAM is who and what it is… please see previous posts for a definition courtesy of Wikipedia.
YWAM Australia, nationally has been ‘busted’ for a severe lack of Integrity in relation to the “visa’s” that non-Australian YWAMers have used, to be allowed to stay in Australia, while engaged in volunteering with Youth With a Mission.
Many non-Australian YWAMers have been in Australia on an Australian Visa (Religious Worker Visa – subclass 428) see below for definition… ***Disclaimer… some YWAM Centres in Australia may have been integral in all of their dealings with the Immigration Department, however several stand to loose up to a third of their ‘staff’ to this crackdown on incorrect visas.
Religious Worker Visa (subclass 428)
http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/special-activity/428/
This visa provides for the temporary stay of persons who will be full-time religious workers in Australia. Religious work is work of a religious nature for which the applicant has had relevant religious training. The religious work proposed must directly serve an organisation’s religious objectives. It would usually be religious work involved in: providing spiritual leadership, conducting worship, teaching or guidance in religion, ministering, pastoral care or proselytising or other high level specialist work in relation to the above.
Who is this visa for?
Religious workers from overseas who wish to work in Australia to directly service an organisation’s religious objectives. You must be sponsored by a religious organisation in Australia for this visa.
What does this visa let me do?
With this visa you can: work full-time for your sponsoring religious organisation stay in Australia for as long as your visa is valid, bring eligible family members with you.
There would NOT be a YWAMer in Australia (not even YWAM Leadership) be it an Australian or a non-Australian that would have a ‘job description’ that meets the requirements for this visa. YWAMers are volunteer workers, generally un-educated (theologically), somewhat gifted but never-the-less have no ‘papers’ endorsing a ‘qualification’.
Why YWAM have not worked with the Local Church and/or developed ministries that could ‘legally’ have an overseas person ‘working’ on a Religious Worker Visa, is a question to ask! ***See post “3 Notable Exclusions”
The so-called “Voice of the Lord” takes a lot of the rap, whereas if the YWAM leadership ‘fessed up’ and actually admitted to it’s failings, then did something about ‘getting it right’… then they are in with a chance on actually hearing what God is saying about this situation.
*** It is worthy of note that some two years ago (October 2007) that during a time of Base Intersession ( at a YWAM centre in Australia ) where all present went through the ‘Steps of Intersession’ that the resounding theme of that prayer time was – clear and direct ‘warnings’ that God was not happy with the lack of Integrity with regard to YWAM Australia and Immigration issues it was ‘fudging’. ***This Prayer time was documented and was presented to Base leadership, for follow-up.
The Australian Government / Immigration Department have discovered the inconsistencies and have now ruled against ‘some’ non-Australian YWAMers and have issued notices for them to exit the country.
We have several good friends who are affected by this ruling and we have in the last few days said our farewells. Although we are saddened at their leaving, we are glad that YWAM has been finally brought to account for this area where ‘integrity’ is absent.
Our friends and many like them, join the ranks of the Y’Whammed’
News Flash….. we have also learned recently that certain individuals with YWAMs consent / encouragement have written NEW ‘job descriptions’ that address each of the points required – armed with this they hope to re-apply for this particular visa.
Hopefully, the Department of Immigration in Australia will not be taken as fools and truth, integrity, righteousness, justice will prevail.
On a similar topic…. Without knowing the actual requirements of a ‘Student Visa’, I would hazard a guess that many ‘students’ coming to Australia to do a DTS, actually do not meet the criteria of a student visa. The ‘student’ may, but the ‘school’ probably doesn’t!!! But, that is a whole other area of a lack of integrity – YWAM Australia and the schools it runs!
According to a Wikipedia definition…
The opposite to Integrity is Hypocrisy.
I am sure there will be further updates on this issue in the weeks and months ahead, our source for all things YWAM will be out-of-country for a while (if not forever) , so updates may be some time in coming.
Until then….
Jen said
It does seem that YWAM thinks they are above the law in many countries where they work. I have been (unknowingly) illegally involved in 2 countries with YWAM and only found out we were there illegally when the immigrations officer told us. We were so ashamed and mad that YWAM would flat-out lie to us and say we were there legally, when we clearly were not. We mentioned this to a leader and they said that “God’s work” was worth breaking the law for.