Politics & Religion

Jeff & Joni with Vice President Dan Quayle (taken at a Stewart Free Enterprise function)

Amway® has one stance on including politics and religion into your business, while many large distributors have another. I’m not talking about personal beliefs, as we would all differ at least slightly there. I am also not talking about my own personal beliefs because I don’t think they have anything to do with this discussion. I am talking about subjecting distributors to the personal beliefs of a particular Diamond. Click here for audio by Diamond Ron Rummel.

Amway®’s stance on this is fairly clear. Here is their policy from the Business Compendium:

From the section entitled: THE RIGHT TO DIFFER

From the beginning, the Amway® business has been one of equal opportunity. It's an opportunity open to people from all walks of life--people with varying religious convictions, political affiliations, nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, and racial origins. Amway® distributors come together as business associates, agreeing on the principles of free enterprise. They work together to achieve financial independence by following the Amway® Sales and Marketing Plan and observing the Code of Ethics and Rules of Conduct. On all other issues not specifically affecting the operation of their Amway® businesses, Amway® distributors have the right to hold differing viewpoints, without their differences jeopardizing their status as Amway® distributors or their business relationships with other distributors.

If the business platform becomes a pulpit for preaching religious doctrines or political causes, people with differing beliefs who attend what they expect to be a business meeting, are turned away--or turned off--from Amway®. In essence, they are denied their right to participate in a business opportunity.

Amway® has become so successful because it is not restrictive. Because it is accessible to virtually everyone. Because it can be tailored to meet the needs of the individual.

The right to choose, the right to differ. Personal freedom, personal choice. Isn't that really what Amway® is all about?

That is fairly clear, would you agree? Anyone who has gone to a Free Enterprise or Major Function or Rally knows these rules aren’t followed. Click here for audio by Crown Kenny Stewart. One of the most flagrant of these in my time was a speaker named Ezola Foster. Ezola was invited in to speak at a Free Enterprise Weekend by Kenny Stewart to do what she does- talk about politics. One of her topics was affirmative action. She spent quite a while discussing this. She even went on to insult homosexuality. This received a standing ovation by most of the crowd of around 20,000. This was clearly a case of using the stage as a political platform.

Jeff & Joni with controversial Political Activist Ezola Foster

Remember, it doesn’t matter if you agree or not. The point is if Ronald Reagan, Bob McEwen,( Click here for audio by Representative Bob McEwen.) George Bush, Dan Quayle, Jack Kemp or Oliver North speak at Amway® functions they should be told that this is not a political forum. Because they are politicians, I assume they would likely decline under those circumstances. I don’t blame these people for speaking what they believe. I blame the people who hired them to come in. By the way, I have seen all of those people speak at Amway® functions. I have never seen a Democrat speak at an Amway® function. Click here for audio by Crown Ambassador Dexter Yager.

Jeff with Jack Kemp (taken at a Stewart Free Enterprise function)

The same holds true for religion. I have seen Mike Murdock, Dave Roever, Paul & Billy Tseeka, Florence Littauer, Tim Lahaye, Bob & Cindy Harrison, Peter Marshall, Billy Zeoli, etc. speak at Amway® functions. They did what they do, as they are all Christian speakers. Don’t get me wrong--I’m sure many people who speak for a living are Christians. These people speak for a living about Christianity. And, of course, when they speak at Amway® functions that’s what they do. I have never seen a Jew, Buddhist, or any other denomination represented at an Amway® function.

Amway® doesn’t mind if someone mentions their religion in the process of telling their story of success. That is not what I am talking about. This is supposed to be a business, and I don't think it is being treated like one. Click here for audio by Crown Kenny Stewart.

For some more pictures click here for the Photo Album.

Politics & Religion

Last modified: July 14, 1998