Salvation Army hosts two-day racial justice forum after racism guide controversy

The Salvation Army is internet hosting a two-day racial justice forum in Illinois in an effort to “help alleviate the pain of suffering humanity within our communities and institutions” after the group sparked controversy final month with a racism guide that it has since retracted.

The Young Adult Racial Justice Forum, hosted by the Salvation Army Metropolitan Division, will happen in Hoffman Estates close to Chicago on Jan. 8-Jan. 9 and can characteristic theologian and activist Esau McCaulley as a visitor speaker.

SALVATION ARMY’S RACISM GUIDE TELLS WHITE AMERICANS RACISM IS ‘SYSTEMIC,’ COLORBLINDNESS IS HARMFUL

“We believe racial justice is an urgent issue close to the heart of God,” the occasion description states, “and therefore are eager to create opportunities to disciple our soldiers and stakeholders in ways that will encourage deeper holiness and to provide those in our ranks with the resources to help alleviate the pain of suffering humanity within our communities and institutions.”

The forum comes after the Salvation Army confronted a backlash in November for publishing a guide known as “Let’s Talk About Racism” that contained racially charged language instructing White folks and Christians to “evaluate” racist attitudes and practices. The group later eliminated the guide from its web site for additional overview.

“Elements of the recently issued ‘Let’s Talk About Racism’ guide led some to believe we think they should apologize for the color of their skin, or that The Salvation Army may have abandoned its Biblical beliefs for another philosophy or ideology,” the Salvation Army posted on its web site Nov. 25. “That was never our intention, so the guide has been removed for appropriate review.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

Meanwhile, the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaigns have failed to fulfill fundraising targets in a number of states. The group has denied that the racism guide has damage donations.

“We have no information to suggest that the efforts of any political action group is affecting the Red Kettle results,” a Salvation Army spokesperson informed Fox News on Friday.

Fox News’ Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.