Howard Schultz, CEO of mega coffee chain Starbucks, cancelled a scheduled appearance at The Global Leadership Summit this week – a move reportedly motivated by the fact that the event’s host, Willow Creek Community Church, holds anti-gay views.
According to Forbes, official reports from a Starbucks spokeswoman confirmed the cancellation, but failed to cite a reason for Schultz’s sudden change of plans. However, Willow Creek pastor Bill Hybels explained that, after learning that the high-profile conference would be held at the Chicago-area church, online petitioners urged Schultz to withdraw from the Summit due to claims that the congregation holds anti-gay religious views.
Petitioners added that the Starbucks CEO’s participation in The Global Leadership Summit would be “unacceptable” under the circumstances. Meanwhile, Hybels maintained that the megachurch is not in fact anti-gay, and noted that the Willow Creek community even separated itself from Exodus International – a ministry that strives to convert LGBT individuals to heterosexuality – over two years ago.
The Global Leadership Summit has attracted many big names in years past, and featured such political and cultural luminaries as U2’s Bono, former President Bill Clinton and GE’s Jack Welch.
