You all are making me sad to be a Christian with your remarks about leaving Thrivent over this change. I for one am happy they are funding neither side of this issue - it SHOULD lead to less bureaucratic meddling in the Choice program. Ever since the LCMS first complained about planned parenthood being on the list, Thrivent has spent money and time trying to please both sides - money an time that could have gone to doing good works instead. By adopting this new policy they are hoping to avoid upsetting either side. Clearly, as a Christian organization they believe in life. However, the LCMS and other bodies have told them for decades to stay out of theology and stick to finance. This is what they are doing. It was Lutheran Thrivent members who voted intitially to let ANY 501(c)3 into the program, likely not thinking that in doing so they opened up questions and situations like this. Thrivent is now simply trying to get the program back to what is has always been meant to be - a helpful hand to churches and charities to go out and do good work.

You all need to stop and realize that there are many Christians who like charities that you may not - like Planned Parenthood - for reasons you may now have considered - as in they do prenatal care for low income women. Please get off your pedestals and realize you are in no right to judge a company poorly who is just trying to navigate a very complicated path in an ever changing world. The good work they are doing should never be out shadowed by these petty and unimportant disagreements.