The recent merger of Exxon and Mobil comes with an added pro-family twist. You see, the two companies had different policies concerning domestic partnership benefits. So the merged company had to make a choice. In the end, they decided to stay with Exxon's policy of only providing benefits to married couples. The move effectively ends Mobil's previous policy of providing medical insurance and other benefits to same sex couples or unmarried couples living together.
All of this is taking place while legislators in Vermont will have to consider whether they will provide domestic partnership benefits. As I talked about a week ago, the Vermont Supreme Court exhorted the state legislature to grant benefits to homosexual couples. If the legislators do so, they would be the first state legislature to extend marital rights and benefits to homosexual couples.
Once again, this shows how the battle for the traditional family is fought on many fronts. While one battle was taking place in the courts, another was taking place in the board room. Now another battle will be fought in the legislature.
And perhaps that is a lesson for you. Many times when we talk about these battles, they seem far away. They are battles that take place in Washington, D.C. in the Congress or the Supreme Court. Or they are battles that take place in Austin, Texas or Albany, New York. But as any employee of Exxon or Mobil can attest, some of the battles take place right at your place of work. The decision to stop granting domestic partnership benefits came from recommendations by fifteen hundred employees.
So the next time you think you won't have a chance to stand for the traditional family, think again. Like one of those employees at Exxon, you can take a stand and make a difference.
I'm Kerby Anderson of Probe Ministries, and that's my opinion.