.
Last month the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) ended its ban on openly gay adult leaders through a vote by the group’s 71-member board. While many are thrilled by the decision’s promotion of equality, some religious organizations have openly voiced their disgruntlement.
Regarding the decision, Zach Wahls, executive director of Scouts for Equality triumphed “as of this vote, the Boy Scouts of America is an organization looking forward, not back.”
The Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS), however, does not share this opinion. The BSA’s decision maintains the ability of scout groups to select leaders whose beliefs are similar to their own; scout groups sponsored by religious organizations, which is about 70 percent of all troops, can still select leaders whose religion aligns with theirs. Despite this loophole, LDS reported that they view the decision as, “deeply troubling.” LDS opposes the new decision because it does not align with LDS religious beliefs or the traditional beliefs of the BSA.
The Church of Latter Day Saints houses more boy scout troops than any other religious organization, granting it enormous influence over proceedings within the Boy Scouts; 430,000 of the Boy Scout’s 2.6 million troopers belong to units sponsored by LDS.
With most prominent religious organization voicing disapproval, fear arises that other organizations that sponsor the BSA will follow. Already, a spokesman for the Southern Baptist Convention’s executive committee voiced the SBC’s “consummate sadness that this once vibrant organization continues to cave to social pressure.”
But while some religious organizations oppose the decision, others have or are working to accept it. The United Methodist Church finds solace in the maintained ability of troops to select their leaders. The Roman Catholic Church—whose troops account for 10 percent of all scouting units—has not publicly dismissed the decision, but has expressed concern about how “sexual orientation” is defined by scouts. While still supporting the BSA, they noted that the decision will be challenging, but worth adhering to because providing a Catholic focus to Catholic Scouts is vital.
Religious organizations who previously cut ties with the BSA because of its bans on gay members and leaders view the new decision as an opportunity to reestablish relations. Reform Judaism, which urged congregations to stop housing troops in 2001, will review its prior recommendation. Similarly, the Unitarian Universalist Association will start re-establishing relations with the BSA.
However, the LDS Church’s public and vehement disapproval of the decision may lead to the end of their 100-year relationship with the BSA. Because many troops are affiliated with the LDS Church and the LDS Church may discontinue its support of the BSA, this decision is extremely consequential for the BSA; it may lead to the end of many established religious ties and require organizational changes. It also serves as a big step for social reform.
Photo credit: Ted Eytan | Boy Scout Memorial - A Striking Contrast. Creative Commons License
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
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BSA’s Religious Establishment at Odds With New Ban Lift
August 10, 2015
Last month the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) ended its ban on openly gay adult leaders through a vote by the group’s 71-member board. While many are thrilled by the decision’s promotion of equality, some religious organizations have openly voiced their disgruntlement.
Regarding the decision, Zach Wahls, executive director of Scouts for Equality triumphed “as of this vote, the Boy Scouts of America is an organization looking forward, not back.”
The Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS), however, does not share this opinion. The BSA’s decision maintains the ability of scout groups to select leaders whose beliefs are similar to their own; scout groups sponsored by religious organizations, which is about 70 percent of all troops, can still select leaders whose religion aligns with theirs. Despite this loophole, LDS reported that they view the decision as, “deeply troubling.” LDS opposes the new decision because it does not align with LDS religious beliefs or the traditional beliefs of the BSA.
The Church of Latter Day Saints houses more boy scout troops than any other religious organization, granting it enormous influence over proceedings within the Boy Scouts; 430,000 of the Boy Scout’s 2.6 million troopers belong to units sponsored by LDS.
With most prominent religious organization voicing disapproval, fear arises that other organizations that sponsor the BSA will follow. Already, a spokesman for the Southern Baptist Convention’s executive committee voiced the SBC’s “consummate sadness that this once vibrant organization continues to cave to social pressure.”
But while some religious organizations oppose the decision, others have or are working to accept it. The United Methodist Church finds solace in the maintained ability of troops to select their leaders. The Roman Catholic Church—whose troops account for 10 percent of all scouting units—has not publicly dismissed the decision, but has expressed concern about how “sexual orientation” is defined by scouts. While still supporting the BSA, they noted that the decision will be challenging, but worth adhering to because providing a Catholic focus to Catholic Scouts is vital.
Religious organizations who previously cut ties with the BSA because of its bans on gay members and leaders view the new decision as an opportunity to reestablish relations. Reform Judaism, which urged congregations to stop housing troops in 2001, will review its prior recommendation. Similarly, the Unitarian Universalist Association will start re-establishing relations with the BSA.
However, the LDS Church’s public and vehement disapproval of the decision may lead to the end of their 100-year relationship with the BSA. Because many troops are affiliated with the LDS Church and the LDS Church may discontinue its support of the BSA, this decision is extremely consequential for the BSA; it may lead to the end of many established religious ties and require organizational changes. It also serves as a big step for social reform.
Photo credit: Ted Eytan | Boy Scout Memorial - A Striking Contrast. Creative Commons License
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
