Assemblies of God Response to the Boy Scouts of America's Resolution May 23, 2013

Royal Rangers ^ | 5/23/13 | George O. Wood, General Superintendent

[SoFloFreeper]

Assemblies of God leadership regrets that the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has voted to change its policy regarding inclusion of homosexual youth members. We believe – as do a majority of Boy Scout volunteer leaders and parents – that this is not the best policy for BSA, nor for the young men it serves.

As the landmark 2000 Supreme Court decision stated, BSA is a private organization with freedom of association to determine its own membership standards, upholding BSA's policy not to allow homosexual leaders or members. BSA stated at the time that a departure from that longstanding policy would undermine its purpose of guiding boys to keep themselves "morally straight," which is part of the Boy Scout Oath.

While we are disappointed by BSA's recent membership decision, we are pleased that the organization will retain its policy regarding adult leaders, and applaud the organization for standing firm on that issue. However, today's vote to allow homosexual youth members negates BSA's ability to legally defend its position regarding leadership and opens the door to more efforts by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) lobbies to make further policy changes.

A majority of scout groups are sponsored by churches or other religious entities, which have as their foundation a belief in biblical teachings that identify homosexual behavior as outside of God's plan for sexuality. While we agree that youths who experience confusion or same-sex attraction need to be welcomed, in our churches they are confronted with this biblical teaching and will be counseled and prayed with that God will help them to align their lives in conformity to that teaching. We agree with the BSA that we need to demonstrate compassion and welcome those who are struggling with sexuality issues, but not in a way that condones such behavior, which is what the new BSA policy does.

Though the BSA shares a common mission with the Church, "to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes," the Church answers to a higher Authority in providing a value-added spiritual dimension. As such, based on Scripture, we provide a loving, welcoming environment to young people in their search for purpose, meaning and God's best for their lives. Until this decision today BSA agreed in teaching that "homosexual conduct is not morally straight" and in not wanting to "promote homosexual conduct as a legitimate form of behavior." BSA had been well-served by holding to that position.

We believe that the BSA policy change will lead to a mass exodus from the Boy Scout program, as Assemblies of God and many other churches can no longer support groups that are part of an organization allowing members who are openly homosexual. However, as a positive alternative, we offer a program – the Royal Rangers – that operates with values consistent to that of the BSA prior to today's change.

In the fractured family and culture today, we recognize that many youth are struggling with sexual identity and behavior. Our Assemblies of God churches seek to help these young people experience sexual purity in their lives, and remain virgins until married to a person of the opposite sex. Love, counseling and prayer is given for those who fail in this regard so that young people who engage in sexual relations outside marriage can reset their moral compass toward God's will through repentance, forgiveness and restoration.

Dr. George O. Wood General Superintendent Assemblies of God

[metmom]

ping.

[cyclotic]

I wish I could say the same. My oldest son is working on his Eagle project right now and the other is a few months from earning Life. They are as disgusted as I am.

[Bigg Red]

So very sad. The entire camel will be in the tent very soon.

[jmaroneps37]

The big losers in the long run will be Jewish kids who won’t be allowed to join these new strictly Christian organizations either by regulation or conscience.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I am hugely impressed by this Assemblies of God statement. It is exactly what was needed, it hit every note clearly, and it provides the positive alternative.

I am waiting to hear what other denominations will say. I hope my own beloved Catholic leadership do't disgrace us with a bunch of equivocating bafflegab. (Sorry: I woke up cynical this morning.)

Again, highest marks for this declaration. Thank God for His faithful ones.

[Girlene]

Very sad. The gay agenda destroys yet another American tradition.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Rome2000, your insult against Royal Ranggers is entirely out of line, and you owe an apology.

There is a huge need for Christian alternatives (plural) to the now rapidly-composing BS once known as Boy Scouts. The Baptists, AOG and others are to be congratulated for stepping up like men and doing what is so cryingly necessary.

Let the Knights of Columbus or some other Catholic-based fraternal group step into the chaos and organize something manly, something Christ-like, something with a robust Catholic identity for our boys.

We deserve, we demand, more importantly WE CAN CREATE durable cultural bulwarks in the midst of what is rotting all around us. SO HELP ME GOD.

[Sans-Culotte]

Indeed, it is a sad and strange day for the BSA, when an organization somehow twists and warps the meaning of "morally straight" to include openly deviant sexual behavior.

This is why the organization is finished. It is either about being "morally straight" or it isn't. A house divided against itself cannot stand.

[Jack Hydrazine]

It’s not 5% but only about 1.5% of the population.

[Jack Hydrazine]

They’ll start their own program.

[Utah Binger]

Mormons Caved

[ProtectOurFreedom]

And it’s going to be a quick downward death spiral, too. I’m glad my son completed scouting when it was an excellent organization. I simply cannot understand why one traditional conservative organization after another collapses like a house of cards in the face of some radical minority pressure. Where is the backbone to resist that once made us great?

[Tired of Taxes]

Statement from the National Catholic Committee on Scouting: http://www.nccs-bsa.org/comment/NCCSComment52313.php

REACTION TO POLICY CHANGE IN MEMBERSHIP STANDARDS FOR THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
National Catholic Committee on Scouting
Thursday, May 23, 2014@ 5:48 PM

For over 100 years, thousands of children in Catholic parishes, schools and fraternal organizations have benefited from chartering Scouting units. The Catholic Church has maintained a strong relationship with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) through the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) for many years and we hope to maintain that relationship.

Today, the voting members of the BSA voted to change the membership standards for its youth members. The BSA proposed in its resolution that "no youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone." Its membership standards for adult leaders remain unchanged.

The Catholic Church teaches that people who experience a homosexual inclination or a same sex attraction are to be treated with respect recognizing the dignity of all persons. The Church's teaching is clear that engaging in sexual activity outside of marriage is immoral. Individuals who are open and avowed homosexuals promoting and engaging in homosexual conduct are not living lives consistent with Catholic teaching.

Since the change in policy will not take effect until January 1, 2014, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting has adequate time to study its effects. The NCCS will determine how it may impact Catholic chartered Scout units and activities. In doing so, we will work within the teachings of our Catholic Faith and with the various local bishops and their diocesan scouting committees.

Ed Martin- National Chair
Father Michael Hanifin-National Chaplain

[Yosemitest]

You know well that Jesus is also LORD of the Old Testament.
You you know well that

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven"

Doing is important.
I believe the "fiery trial" has already started.
We haven't been very diligent " ... to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses ... "
and there are consequences for our actions and in-actions.
We are living in the time of those consequences.

I strongly recommend you OBEY God.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Geez, wouldn't you think they'd have a response all worked out and ready to go by this time? "January 2014"? Give me a break.

< If this "new" BSA policy were just about quietly undstanding that some boys suffer from a certain amount of sexual/gender confusion, not "announcing" or "celebrating" or "affirming" their difficulty but helping them to develop morally straight and psychosexually normal, --- it wouldn't be a new policy, because all youth organizations have been doing that forever--- I hope. It's part of their mission.

But that's not what this "new policy" is. It's "new" precisely because it's caving to the LGBT lobby and making gay part of the new normal. It's fraudulent from the git-go.

Is the NCCS really that naive??

My head hurts.

[Persevero]

“I wish I could say the same. My oldest son is working on his Eagle project right now “

Nothing wrong with finishing up if his troop/leaders are good, in my opinion. I just wouldn’t start any more kids with them, myself, and if it was early days I’d probably pull them out. After advocating that the troop switch to Rangers or CSB or similar.

[stephenjohnbanker]

” It’s not 5% but only about 1.5% of the population.”

Correct, Jack. And I even question 1.5

[Jack Hydrazine]

Here’s a study that was done in the UK a couple of years ago that showed only 1.5% of the population is lesbian, homo, or bisexual.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1314619/UKs-homosexual-population-size-revealed-Just-1-5-Britons-say-gay-lesbian-bisexual.html

I think this percentage runs about the same in the USA.

[cyclotic]

Actually, I’m the Scoutmaster. I think that’s what we’re going to do. Tons invested with my two boys. We’ve got a new troop and none are very far yet where we can’t change. I’m loosely involved with a group trying to build a new moral, Christian organization.

[Yosemitest]

From the article Secrecy, Heavy-Handed Tactics Reported at Boy Scouts Meeting:

"Reports are that BSA has asked hotel staff to confiscate any literature or leaflets that are not approved by BSA’s top leadership—
meaning anything that disagrees with the proposed change.
These leaders organized an “informational” meeting for the voting delegates, mostly dedicated to persuading delegates to change BSA’s longstanding policy.
This becomes all the more interesting since all three of Texas’ most prominent statewide leaders—Gov. Rick Perry, Sen. John Cornyn, and Sen. Ted Cruz—have openly encouraged the Scouts to maintain the current policy.

As an example of the muzzling tactics in play,
one supporter of the traditional policy went to the FedEx shop in the Gaylord to print copies of the Dallas Morning News ad presenting the reasons for maintaining the current policy.
This was to counter the USA Today op-ed from BSA’s Chief Scout Executive Wayne Perry—
leading the effort to change the current policy—that was distributed in the hotel.

The traditional policy supporter was suddenly confronted by Daron Smith, the PR Director for BSA, accompanied by two hotel security guards with earpieces and handheld radios,
who told him he would not be allowed to distribute the literature within the hotel.
It also seems that outside literature was not allowed from the other side, either,
but such literature would seem unnecessary after the USA Today piece.

When confronted, the FedEx manager admitted that when he saw the handouts being printed in the shop
that he contacted the hotel to tip off BSA staff so they could respond.

It’s also being reported by those onsite that media reporters are not being allowed inside the Gaylord.
Anyone familiar with how lobbying works knows it should raise eyebrows
when people don't allow reporters or cameras to cover events on the ground."

So Pro-Homosexual Leaders in the Boy Scouts Of America don't believe in fairness or in free speech.