So you think that if a person applying for a leadership position puts down that he is a member of a Metropolitan Community Church and believes in the god of that church, that he'd be eligible as a Boy Scout leader?
Nope. The MCC is a church catering to homosexuals. Boy Scouts of America tends to frown on that.
Now that's a national standard. Since churches are legally responsible for what goes on inside their doors and on campouts, the 'Scouts leave it up to churches to filter its leadership.
Ripliancum has already said on this thread that the LDS church treats the BS as an adjunct part of the church; and that it's integral to what the church does (substitute youth program). So if they treat it as a "ministry," on what grounds are you objecting that the Presbyterians do as well?
Hence, Mormons in effect treat it as part of their "calling" and an extension of their priesthood roles. And this church likewise treats it as ministry. Don't forget that all ministry is not simply formal ministry...and that a lot of informal interaction goes on between leaders and scouts/cubs, especially on outings.
Also, just even who a church sanctions as a leader sends a message to kids. If a Christian church is telling the world that a polytheist, necro-baptizing, protective underwear-weearing, cemetery-record obsessive is "the" key to a "faith life" then what kind of a message are our kids getting?
Colo, I didn’t say the Church uses scouting for a “substitute” youth program. It’s used as an activity arm of the church, but not a substitute.
I didnt say you had to belong to a church and I didnt say that belonging to a church automatically gets you in.
You have to believe in a God, and they do not specify which God it must be. That is a requirement, but not an automatic in. If you believe in a God, but are homosexual, you can not join. The point I was making is that the specifics of the religion dont matter to the BSA.
As for the church picking leaders, that isnt how it happened when I was in, which was only about 10 years ago. The church we used had absolutely no involvement in picking leaders or setting rules. They just gave us a place to conduct meetings and the pastor would give an invocation if we asked. As a troop, we actually used 3 different churches in 8 years.
The rest of your post is just you trying to push an agenda. It takes a special type of laser focus to take an article about Mormons not being allowed to be leaders and use it to attack what Mormons do.