Posted on 08/02/2015 6:10:57 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The Boy Scouts of America may experience a severe backlash from church sponsors following its recent vote to approve openly gay scout leaders.
A national organization boasting over 2.6 million members, many of the BSA's more than 37,000 troops come from churches that officially state that homosexuality is a sin.
These include the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the United Methodist Church, and the Southern Baptist Convention.
Roger S. Oldham, spokesman for the SBC, told The Christian Post that Southern Baptist churches have been cutting ties with the BSA since 2013, when the youth organization voted to allow openly gay members but not leaders.
"Some already have following the 2013 vote. We anticipate that others will following this vote," said Oldham to CP.
"We predicted in 2013 that the Scouts would see an immediate loss in membership with continual attrition over time, something their 2014 and 2015 annual reports clearly demonstrate."
Oldham told CP that while the SBC does not have an official relationship with BSA, there are member churches within the Convention that sponsor troops.
Ernest Easley, professor of evangelism with the School of Theology and Missions at Union University, has called on churches still connected to the BSA to sever their ties.
"The Supreme Court's recent ruling on same-sex marriage played right into the hands of the Boy Scouts as they take ... yet another step away from their own pledge of being 'morally straight.' I suppose it's time to change the pledge," said Easley to the Baptist Press.
"I hope churches that still sponsor troops, that were reluctant to end their sponsorship earlier, will now decide to cut their ties with the Scouts and find other ways … to invest in the lives of young boys."
In July, the BSA executive committee voted to end its historic ban on openly gay adult leaders, a decision ratified soon after by the National Executive Board in a 45-12 vote.
While ending the gay scout leader ban, BSA also stated that church-sponsored troops can still set their own policies on adult leaders.
The Boy Scouts leadership said in a memo that it "rejects any interference with or condemnation of the diverse beliefs of chartering organizations on matters of marriage, family, and sexuality."
Nevertheless, denominations like the LDS church have openly considered reassessing and possibly ending its connection to the BSA.
In a statement released soon after the vote, the LDS Church said they were "deeply troubled" by the BSA's decision, adding that "the admission of openly gay leaders is inconsistent with the doctrines of the Church."
"As a global organization with members in 170 countries, the LDS Church has long been evaluating the limitations that fully one-half of its youth face where Scouting is not available," continued the statement.
"Those worldwide needs combined with this vote by the BSA National Executive Board will be carefully reviewed by the leaders of the Church in the weeks ahead."
The United Methodist Church, itself embroiled in a debate over its official position on homosexuality, is not openly considering a severance with the Scouts.
A UMC spokeswoman directed CP to a statement by Gilbert C. Hanke, general secretary of the General Commission on United Methodist Men.
"The Office of Civic Youth-Serving Agencies/Scouting, GCUMM, has enjoyed partnerships with four civic youth agencies for many years, including the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, Camp Fire and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America," stated Hanke.
"The primary reason for these partnerships is our commitment to ministering to the children and youth of our church communities, including at-risk youth."
Hanke also said that further comments on the BSA policy change may come following the next meeting of the GCUMM Board on Aug. 20-22.
I attended a Catholic wedding yesterday. In the ceremony, the priest made the point that a family consists of a wife and a husband and the children deserved the strong support and guidance of mother and father. My first thought, was, gosh, if I’d said those exact words at my last employer I’d have been counseled for my attitude and possibly written up under a hate policy.
I think its time for the marketplace to take over and offer alternatives to the Boy Scouts.
Think of the liability. How many lawsuits will be filed 10-20 years from now. No one will be able to say they didn’t know.
I will be invited to a wedding in the spring where the bride has had the stupid flag on her profile picture now for months. She is marrying a man, the father of her son. I’m struggling with this choice. She’s not a close friend and my going would support various issues we disagree on.
Our government is trying to force churches to not teach the Bible. We’re near the end for the USA
If you wish, you can do as I do. I hate weddings in general, especially those lavish affairs my family loves. So I don't go, but I just send a gift and wish the couple well.
The Left will not stop here.
Sounds as if she has several things in her life backwards. Maybe she'll move in a different direction now.
“The Boy Scouts leadership said in a memo that it “rejects any interference with or condemnation of the diverse beliefs of chartering organizations on matters of marriage, family, and sexuality.”
Yes, that’s it, let the liberalism and arrogance flow through you.
“She’s not a close friend and my going would support various issues we disagree on.”
I had a similar problem with attending this wedding. But the father of the bride has been very pleasant and gone out of his way to be nice to me. I felt badly taking a seat that cost him money, but he went out of his way to extend the invitation. I went. I enjoyed the ceremony and I met an awesome potential new friend. All I can say is follow your feelings. They’ll tell you which is the more positive decision. If you say no, I’d simply return a gracious, “I’m sorry but I have other plans. Thank you so much and I wish you a long and happy marriage.”
The BSA was once a great American institution. No more.
The destruction of the BSA was the plan all along.
Angry blowback will come.
IMHO, the government will fund the BSA to keep it afloat. Just watch...
it’s a shame but this is what happens when people don’t fight back..
As a former Eagle Scout, I am saddened to have severed all ties to the BSA.
Last year, during their annual popcorn sales fund-raiser, I was solicited by a group of Scouts outside my local Walmart. I told them “I’m very sorry, but I can’t buy anything from the Scouts”.
One of the adult leaders followed me into the store and politely asked me if it was because of the gay scouts allowed rule? I told him that it was. He said to me that they were getting alot of that: that their sales were down 90% this year over the last, and that He would be cutting ties with the organization when/if the BSA decided to allow gay leaders.
The goddamned gaystapo and political correctness has RUINED a once-outstanding organization! The Second American Revolution cannot come soon enough!
Who didn’t foresee that gay scout leaders would follow allowing openly gay scouts?
Surprise, surprise... NOT.
Well, how close to you is she? I have had to say no to attending receptions to college pals because I wouldn’t be reasonably able to make 12 cross the country trips by plane, train, or car.
I recently withdrew my pledged support for a local Boy Scout troop’s project. When asked why I politely told them I did not want my name or my business name associated with the troop when a molestation scandal hits. They were not pleased.
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