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Megachurch pastor predicts surge in Boy Scout alternative programs after vote to accept gays
AL.com ^ | 24MAY2013 | Greg Garrison

Posted on 05/25/2013 9:00:39 AM PDT by Jack Hydrazine

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - A Birmingham megachurch pastor predicts a surge in alternatives to the Boy Scouts of America after a decision Thursday by the Boy Scouts to accept openly gay scouts.

The Rev. Harry Reeder III, senior pastor of the 4,100-member Briarwood Presbyterian Church, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church in America and outspoken critic of efforts to change Boy Scout policy on homosexuality, said evangelical churches are a bedrock of support for the Boy Scout tradition in Alabama.

That’s now in danger, he said.

“When a church holds to a biblical social ethic of sex only between a man and a woman in monogamous marriage, it cannot support an organization that opposes that,” said. “That would introduce sexual anarchy into the teaching of the church. There will be a significant response from evangelical churches.”

Reeder said evangelical churches have been moving toward other youth development programs and he expects those to accelerate. The Southern Baptist Convention’s Royal Ambassadors program, the Christian Brigade program from England, Pioneer Clubs and the AWANA evangelical parachurch program embraced by several denominations are likely to be viewed as possible alternatives, Reeder said.

“Something that is this much of a deviation from ethical commitments may give birth to something new, a continuing organization that maintains the historic scouting program,” Reeder said.

Briarwood Presbyterian Church currently hosts Troop 254, with Cub Scouts and Boy Scout troops. Any decision to change support for hosting Boy Scouts will be made by the church, Reeder said. “Our elders will make that decision,” he said. “We have been very impressed with the effect of our leaders and we have produced a number of Eagle Scouts who have had outstanding achievements.”

But Thursday’s national vote puts evangelical Christian churches in a difficult position, and it also puts the Boy Scouts in an awkward position, he said.

The Boy Scouts plan to start welcoming openly gay scouts on Jan. 1, but still have a prohibition against openly gay scout leaders.

“Their position is illogical,” Reeder said. “There is no reason to maintain a moral position that the leaders can’t be homosexual. When you are approving the practice among members, how can you not approve it for leaders?”

He expects the Boy Scouts to move toward eventual acceptance of openly gay leaders.

“There are some clear things that are going to happen – continued pressure from the Lesbian, Bisexual, gay, transgender community and from donors for acceptance of openly gay leaders, and an exodus from a significant number of participants and evangelical church-based organizations,” Reeder said.

The Boy Scout oath of “duty to God” becomes problematic, he said.

“They now have to address their Scout oath,” Reeder said. “Clearly, they have abandoned all the primary religions that maintain the historic sexual ethic of one man, one woman in the context of marriage. I see no reason to maintain its previous principled commitment to a theistic oath. If you’ve abandoned the sixth commandment, that sexuality belongs in the context of marriage between a man and a woman, you’ve abandoned your duty to God.”

He expects churches and parents to look for alternatives to the Boy Scouts. “Parents are going to have to vote with their money and feet whether they will sustain scouting,” Reeder said.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Alabama
KEYWORDS: alternatives; boyscouts; bsa; homosexualagenda; moralabsolutes; queeringamerica
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To: greene66

The homosexuals now run the BSA and the lesbians, the GSA.


41 posted on 05/25/2013 9:33:08 AM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (IÂ’m not a Republican, I’m a conservative! Pubbies haven't been conservative since before T.R.)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Ask as many stupid questions as you feel free to ask.

Your mileage may vary with the answers provided.


42 posted on 05/25/2013 9:34:22 AM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (IÂ’m not a Republican, I’m a conservative! Pubbies haven't been conservative since before T.R.)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

My husband was an Eagle Scout and then very active in Boy Scouts all his life. I know he would be appalled at this and it would be the end of his lifelong love of scouting!


43 posted on 05/25/2013 9:35:12 AM PDT by MomofMarine
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
I have been giving money to them for years specifically because they resisted the homosexual bullies.

I took a lot of heat in a company I worked for years ago. I was the only 'officer' of the company who would not contribute to the United Way, because the UW supports abortion and planned parenthood. The HR folks told me I coud direct all my donation to a specific cause, but I knew this was a shell game. I had a conversation with the president of the company, and basically told them I would not donate one penny to murdering babies. the company dropped it's campaign to have 100% participation.

I have been a huge supporter of Scouting, with my time, talent and treasure.

It is over now. I have two Eagles. Lots of memories. But the Gay Boys get not one penny, not one second of my time. I feel a bit like Michael Corleone telling Freddie "you are dead to me"

44 posted on 05/25/2013 9:35:52 AM PDT by FatherofFive (Islam is evil and must be eradicated)
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To: Jack Hydrazine

Someone asked a wise question yesterday on the radio.

What happens when all these homo boys grow up, stay in the Boy Scouts. Then after they become an adult, they become adult asst scoutmasters, because they are still within the same troop they started out in, then they become scoutmasters?


45 posted on 05/25/2013 9:38:03 AM PDT by rawhide
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To: rawhide

The answer is pretty obvious - Buggerers Seducing Adolescents.


46 posted on 05/25/2013 9:39:43 AM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (IÂ’m not a Republican, I’m a conservative! Pubbies haven't been conservative since before T.R.)
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To: FatherofFive
The left would call them the SS. Need something different.

Junior Woodchucks?

47 posted on 05/25/2013 9:42:08 AM PDT by N. Theknow (Kennedys=Can't drive, can't ski, can't fly, can't skipper a boat, but they know what's best for you.)
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To: Jack Hydrazine
This was never about making Boy Scouts a better organization by making it "more inclusive." It was always about destroying the organization.

The BSA has always been seen by the left as an organization that instills positive values, which is why they feel the need to destroy the Boy Scouts. Hitler did in in Nazi Germany, outlawing Boy Scouts and "replacing" it with the Hitler Youth.

Mark

48 posted on 05/25/2013 9:52:04 AM PDT by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: MarkL

Add that as another sign of the Nazification of America.


49 posted on 05/25/2013 9:52:58 AM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (IÂ’m not a Republican, I’m a conservative! Pubbies haven't been conservative since before T.R.)
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To: Jack Hydrazine
That’s now in danger, he said.

I sure as hell hope so...

50 posted on 05/25/2013 9:55:27 AM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: Jack Hydrazine
Woodcraft Indians

Ernest Seton, founder.

Later collaborated on founding of the BSA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodcraft_Indians

Sorry, forgot how to do a hotlink.

51 posted on 05/25/2013 9:55:30 AM PDT by GunsAndBibles (All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Come to think of it, we should start calling the homosexualized organization "The Gay Scouts of America."

Don't let the commies control the language. Nothing 'gay' about them; they are the 'Sodomite Scouts'...

52 posted on 05/25/2013 9:57:47 AM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: Jack Hydrazine

Sons of Liberty.


53 posted on 05/25/2013 9:58:33 AM PDT by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

Executives and money. The BSA gets loads of money from major corporate donors, so once they hired a major corporate exec it was over.


54 posted on 05/25/2013 10:09:00 AM PDT by CodeToad (Liberals are bloodsucking ticks. We need to light the matchstick to burn them off. -786 +969)
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To: Jack Hydrazine
Old Boy Scouts motto: “Be Prepared.”

New Boy Scouts motto: “Be Fabulous!”


55 posted on 05/25/2013 10:10:06 AM PDT by Perseverando (The truth is hate to those who hate the truth.)
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To: Jack Hydrazine

No son of mine would join the Butt Scouts.


56 posted on 05/25/2013 10:21:56 AM PDT by chris37 (Heartless.)
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To: mware
You really believe that?

Of course not, but the same political correctness that forces the Church to teach that will be the cause of many molestations and lawsuits to come because the Church will continue to sponsor the Boy Scouts now and in the near future when homosexual leaders are accepted (I give them two years before that happens.)

57 posted on 05/25/2013 10:24:00 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (People are idiots.)
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To: Dilbert San Diego
Since the activities of scouting have nothing to do with sexuality issues

You would think so, but when I was twelve I sure didn't want to share a tent with a homosexual. Which brings up an interesting side effect of this decision: Can a Scoutmaster now be sued for refusing to bunk homos up with straights? You betcha.

58 posted on 05/25/2013 10:26:47 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (People are idiots.)
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To: rawhide
What happens when all these homo boys grow up

Homos will be accepted as leaders within two years.

59 posted on 05/25/2013 10:29:08 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (People are idiots.)
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To: Jack Hydrazine
Its going to take a whole lot of powerful and wealthy private individuals, immune from govt and lavender mafia harassment and suppression, to replace the infrastructure of camps and organization to simply teach male children how to develop male leadership skills, hone personal and social virtue, and develop competency and self sufficiency in nature. All of which are skills abhorred by dweebs like obama and his communist mentors

there's a reason being a Scout or Scout leader was grounds for concentration camps or execution by the Nazis in WW2
and why there are no Scouts in China (at least, no Girl Scouts)

60 posted on 05/25/2013 10:41:19 AM PDT by silverleaf (Age Takes a Toll: Please Have Exact Change)
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