C12 Feature on CNN Rescheduled for Tonight
A few days ago, I mentioned that the C12 group was scheduled to appear on Andersen Cooper. However, due to last minute editorial decisions, CNN postponed its segment on C12 originally scheduled for Friday night. We are told that it will air TONIGHT between 10PM- Midnight EST.I would really encourage you to read the summary and the comments on Anderson's blog. They don't come as any sort of suprise, but it is a direct reminder as to how some of the "the world" recieves the ideas of intersecting faith and work. I'm going to paste a few of them here in the full article and I encourage you to click here to read more.
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I don't necessarily agree with a CEO using his power position in a business to essentially preach his religious beliefs to his employees as though it's a ministry. He could still "walk the talk" with his beliefs but why create a "church-like" atmosphere by beginning the day with prayer and bible studies? I'm guessing that this construction company does not employ a large number of people. If this management style was practiced in bigger businesses, I'm sure those CEO's would get some complaints!
Posted By Jolene, St. Joseph, MI : 12:30 PM ET
My initial reaction was confusion. This is a level of faith and religious practice I cannot understand, really, and the concept of a religion-based work environment seemed ridiculously unprofessional. I checked out the C12 Group site for a better understanding and overall, it doesn't seem so bad. It offers the chance for more community worship which of course is considered fundamental for many. Besides having a strictly Christian board and trying to save at least one life for all of eternity (I'd be so incredibly annoyed at work everyday...), the mission statement includes promoting balance in all aspects of life, moral coaching and guidance and as a business, it encourages a healthy yet very productive work ethic. If it is 100% true that everyone else feels comfortable working for Azzarelli, then it seems like an amazing company to be a part of. I just can''t accept the fact that it's focused so intensely on one religion. And let's be honest, the main goal in business is to profit, not to "glorify God." They know it.
Posted By Sabrina, Montreal, Quebec : 12:44 PM ET
David, I think this is very scary. Religion(I prefer spirituality) is a personal thing as is a relationship with God.As we watch on a daily basis how fundamentalist Islam eats away at the rights of people, we should be wary of fundamentalist Christianity doing the same thing here. Once people get the idea in their heads that there is one way to God(funny,its always their way), then they begin to force their way on others. I feel sure that those who work in Mr. Azzarelli,s company and are not practicing his brand of religion, feel very uncomfortable. God in his greatness has offered us many paths to salvation. As a recovering alcoholic, I found my path thru AA, and their wonderful advice to find a God of my understanding has kept me sober and given me great solace.
Posted By Brett, Oriskany, VA : 12:59 PM ET
David:
I just checked out the C12 Group website. On the surface, in one way, I see it as a great way to network within the Christian business community. But as I read more of the website under "Empowering Christian Leaders in Business", I wondered if this organization may be on the fringe of the Capitalist Christians agenda as it was described on AC360 segment, "What is a Christian?"
I feel uneasy with..."The Biblical qualifications include that God has an external plan for believers' life and that includes your business."
Also, "Each company within a C12 Group of 10-15 firms typically has an on-going opportunity to touch more people than all but the largest mega-churches! Imagine the personal blessing of empowering these local Christian business leaders to fruitfully respond to the opportunities they've been given as stewards and servant leaders of the Lord's provision in your local marketplace."
In addition, it reads "As a primary vocational focus, you'll find C12 to be a unique opportunity to earn an attractive professional income while serving the community you've come to know so well, and becoming an integral part of C12's cadre of highly talented and committed Area Leaders across America."
I do admire Bert Azzarelli's commitment to his faith and making it a part his every day business life. But, the Biblically qualified C12 Christians written about in the website is connected with 1 Timothy and Titus books in the Bible. What are the chapters and verses?
I am also uncomfortable with the Member Experiences page where it reads, "C12 is all about results and is committed to helping our members discover that operating according to timeless Biblical principles is the best way to generate results that really matter!" and references to the "fruitful" CEO's and owners....
So, as a Christian businesswoman, I am intrigued, but I also feel guarded and see some red flags about "exclusivity" and interpretation issues in the Biblical teachings and qualifications of this "inclusive" organization.
Posted By Sharon D., Indianapolis, IN : 1:41 PM ET
David,
These C12 are all over Florida. The C12 organizations just had a huge rally on this side of the state about 6 weeks ago.
They claim this is the work of the Lord to bring religion into the workplace and by doing this they have been rewarded with wonderful gifts like increase sales and increase bottom-lines. These are the Christians who believe God will lead you to great abundance and wealth. I think Mr. Doss calls these the "capitalist" Christians. First time I ever heard that term was last week.
Before hiring someone, they ask for your church affiliation. If you are a building sub-contractor, they check your tax returns to make sure you are donating at least 10% to God's works. It is an interesting way of doing business.
I learned about these folks about 5 years ago. One of my clients told me about it. At one manufacturing firm in town they only play Christian music in the world place. They formally pray at noon before lunch. The owner comes on the speaker and does a prayer. If he is on vacation doing God's work on a missionary trip, he brings in a "guest business owner" to pray with his people.
I wonder, "Will I stop in purgatory -- temporary because I didn't push my religious views on my employees and staff?" Can someone answer that question for me?
Posted By Renee Bradenton, FL : 1:48 PM ET
I would definitely not work at this place. I firmly believe in separation of church and state and I absolutely believe that religion should be kept out of the workplace. It seems like it's perfectly fine to alienate or insult agnostics or atheists, but never members of organized religions. I sort of think it's slightly dangerous to push religion at work-and make no mistake-that's exactly what's going on here. Studies indicate that most people want to feel like they're part of a TEAM at work-not a religion. This is how problems start because no one believes in one thing, nor should they. This country was built on religious freedom, so if I want to worhsip Buddha, for instance, I shouldn't feel intimidated at work if I'm not a Christian. That's why worship should be saved for the church or home. Organized religion has been at the root of most wars. Let's keep it where it belongs.
Posted By Debbie Darby, Denham Springs, LA : 1:53 PM ET
