BSA Membership Policy Change Proposal

[Merlyn_LeRoy]

I spoke with a friend . . . he is further concerned that the fact that the BSA still will not allow LGBT adult membership means that the schools' date=' civic organizations, and military units who have to follow corporate or government policies on LGBT "inclusion" will not be willing or able to step up to offer to be COs for the unchartered troops.[/quote']

 

You won't get (public) school or military units until atheists can join. It's not rocket science.

 

[packsaddle]

The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) just published a pastoral letter opposing the proposed new policy: http://wmltblog.org/2013/05/boy-scouts-of-america-why-the-proposed-policy-change-matters/

 

[h=1]Boy Scouts of America: Why the Proposed Policy Change Matters[/h]

A statement by the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, President,

The Lutheran Churchâ€â€Missouri Synod

May 16, 2013

 

Western culture is at a crucial moment in history. After 103 years of existence, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) may vote to change drastically its membership policy. For those who may be unaware, the BSA, in recent months, has discussed allowing both gay Scouts and Scout leaders into its organization. Recently, however, the BSA has changed its course. Now the vote will determine only whether to include openly homosexual Scouts as members.

 

LCMS leaders have been carefully monitoring the proposed BSA policy changes. When news of the proposed change was made public, I sent a letter to BSA, imploring its leadership not to make the proposed policy change. And even though the initial proposal to focus on Scout leaders has been shelved, I believe the current proposal still has unknown implications for the future of BSA as well as LCMS support and involvement. The proposed change will highlight sexuality, which has not been and should not be a matter of focus for Scouts. I suspect it will make it more challenging to care for young people struggling with same-sex attraction and perhaps open our churches to legal action.

 

This vote matters to the LCMS. The proposed change in BSA policy on values and membership to include openly homosexual Scouts adversely affects, even supersedes, the authority of the local pastor and congregation by allowing and promoting a moral position that we as LCMS Lutherans believe is against the will of God and in opposition to Holy Scripture.

 

This vote matters because, if enacted, the proposed change to BSA policy on values and membership will cause a crisis of conscience for our church leaders, pastors, parents and congregations. Even if the decision of values and membership remains at the local level, Scouts from troops sponsored by congregations of the LCMS will be affected because, as part of the scouting program, they also participate at regional and national scouting activities.

 

This vote matters because, for more than a century, scouting has sought to uphold moral values at a level greater than that of general society. The capitulation now to societal pressures would mar the long and honorable history of the Boy Scouts to honor the natural law of God, which at least for now, is still reflected in the current scouting membership policy.

 

For these reasons, I and some 25 other Protestant church leaders have signed onto a statement, copied below, that implores BSA not to change its policy, noting that, “In our current culture, it’s more important than ever for our churches to protect and provide moral nurture for young people and for the Scouts.†The statement will be released in conjunction with its delivery to the BSA office and before the organization’s vote, which will take place May 24.

 

I share this with you today because it is difficult to know which of our LCMS BSA members will be part of the 1,400 members who will vote on the policy change later this month. I am hopeful that all of you will share this information with those in your congregation who are involved with BSA and even those in your community who will cast votes later this month.

 

As the church awaits the BSA vote, we still have much to do. We repent, and we pray. We confess Christ and elevate marriage among us. We do what the church does best: We bear witness to Christ, show mercy to those in our midst  including those challenged by same-sex attraction  and care for all in our life together.

 

Pastor Matthew C. Harrison

 

President, The Lutheran Churchâ€â€Missouri Synod

 

Statement

 

We strongly support the Boy Scouts of America current prohibition on open homosexuality and retaining it without revision. Nearly 70 percent of BSA troops are hosted by churches and religious institutions. Upholding traditional morality is vital for sustaining this partnership, for protecting Scout members, and for ensuring BSA has a strong future. A proposal from the BSA board to prohibit “discrimination†based on “sexual orientation or preference†for BSA members potentially would open the Scouts to a wide range of open sexual expressions. In our current culture, it’s more important than ever for our churches to protect and provide moral nurture for young people and for the Scouts. We implore members of the upcoming BSA Council to affirm the BSA’s present policy, which the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed, and which has served BSA well.

 

 

Bishop David C. Anderson, Sr.

 

President, American Anglican Council

 

 

Sara L. Anderson

 

Executive Vice President

 

Bristol House, Ltd. (United Methodist)

 

 

The Rev. Canon Phil Ashey

 

Chief Operating & Development Officer

 

American Anglican Council

 

 

Dr. Robert D. Benne (Lutheran)

 

Jordan Trexler Professor Emeritus

 

and Research Associate

 

Religion and Philosophy, Roanoke College

 

 

Dr. Robert H. Blackburn

 

Past Chairman, National Association of Covenanting Congregations

 

 

The Rev. John Bradosky, Bishop

 

The North American Lutheran Church

 

 

Pastor Mark C. Chavez

 

General Secretary, North American Lutheran Church

 

 

The Rev. Sue Cyre

 

Executive Director of Presbyterians for Faith, Family and Ministry (PFFM)

 

 

The Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison

 

President, The Lutheran Churchâ€â€Missouri Synod

 

 

Doug Harvey, Executive Director

 

Disciple Heritage Fellowship

 

 

The Rev. Charles Huckaby

 

Dean, Western Classis of the Calvin Synod Conference United Church of Christ Term 2010– 2013

 

 

Dr. Jeffrey Jeremiah

 

Stated Clerk

 

Evangelical Presbyterian Church

 

 

John Lomperis

 

Director, United Methodist Action

 

 

Alex McFarland

 

Director for Christian Worldview and Apologetics

 

 

Senator Patricia Miller

 

Executive Director, Confessing Movement (United Methodist)

 

 

Bob Morrison

 

Secretary, REVIVE! (Iowa United Methodist renewal)

 

 

The Rev. Dr. Mary Holder Naegeli

 

Minister-at-Large, San Francisco Presbytery; Moderator of the Presbyterian Coalition

 

 

Rev. Kevin C. Rudolph

 

National Covenant Association of Churches

 

Windwood Presbyterian Church

 

Houston, TX

 

 

The Rev. Dr. Frederick J. Schumacher

 

Executive Director, American Lutheran Publicity Bureau

 

 

The Rev. W. Stevens Shipman

 

Director, Lutheran Coalition for Renewal

 

 

The Rev. Paul Stallsworth

 

President, Taskforce of United Methodists on Abortion and Sexuality

 

 

David M. Stanley

 

Director, Institute on Religion and Democracy

 

Chairman, United Methodist Action Steering Committee

 

Co-Chair, REVIVE! (Iowa United Methodist renewal)

 

 

Bishop Ray Sutton

 

Ecumenical Officer, Anglican Church in North America

 

 

Mark Tooley

 

President, Institute on Religion & Democracy

 

 

The Rev. Dr. David Wendel, Assistant to the Bishop for Ministry and Ecumenism

 

The North American Lutheran Church

 

 

Dr. George O. Wood

 

General Superintendent

 

General Council of the Assemblies of God

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyone want to guess at how many times "Western culture" has been "at a crucial moment in history"?

And because of a BSA membership policy?

Gimme a break.

[Kahuna]

The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) just published a pastoral letter opposing the proposed new policy: http://wmltblog.org/2013/05/boy-scouts-of-america-why-the-proposed-policy-change-matters/

 

[h=1]Boy Scouts of America: Why the Proposed Policy Change Matters[/h]

A statement by the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, President,

The Lutheran Churchâ€â€Missouri Synod

May 16, 2013

 

Western culture is at a crucial moment in history. After 103 years of existence, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) may vote to change drastically its membership policy. For those who may be unaware, the BSA, in recent months, has discussed allowing both gay Scouts and Scout leaders into its organization. Recently, however, the BSA has changed its course. Now the vote will determine only whether to include openly homosexual Scouts as members.

 

LCMS leaders have been carefully monitoring the proposed BSA policy changes. When news of the proposed change was made public, I sent a letter to BSA, imploring its leadership not to make the proposed policy change. And even though the initial proposal to focus on Scout leaders has been shelved, I believe the current proposal still has unknown implications for the future of BSA as well as LCMS support and involvement. The proposed change will highlight sexuality, which has not been and should not be a matter of focus for Scouts. I suspect it will make it more challenging to care for young people struggling with same-sex attraction and perhaps open our churches to legal action.

 

This vote matters to the LCMS. The proposed change in BSA policy on values and membership to include openly homosexual Scouts adversely affects, even supersedes, the authority of the local pastor and congregation by allowing and promoting a moral position that we as LCMS Lutherans believe is against the will of God and in opposition to Holy Scripture.

 

This vote matters because, if enacted, the proposed change to BSA policy on values and membership will cause a crisis of conscience for our church leaders, pastors, parents and congregations. Even if the decision of values and membership remains at the local level, Scouts from troops sponsored by congregations of the LCMS will be affected because, as part of the scouting program, they also participate at regional and national scouting activities.

 

This vote matters because, for more than a century, scouting has sought to uphold moral values at a level greater than that of general society. The capitulation now to societal pressures would mar the long and honorable history of the Boy Scouts to honor the natural law of God, which at least for now, is still reflected in the current scouting membership policy.

 

For these reasons, I and some 25 other Protestant church leaders have signed onto a statement, copied below, that implores BSA not to change its policy, noting that, “In our current culture, it’s more important than ever for our churches to protect and provide moral nurture for young people and for the Scouts.†The statement will be released in conjunction with its delivery to the BSA office and before the organization’s vote, which will take place May 24.

 

I share this with you today because it is difficult to know which of our LCMS BSA members will be part of the 1,400 members who will vote on the policy change later this month. I am hopeful that all of you will share this information with those in your congregation who are involved with BSA and even those in your community who will cast votes later this month.

 

As the church awaits the BSA vote, we still have much to do. We repent, and we pray. We confess Christ and elevate marriage among us. We do what the church does best: We bear witness to Christ, show mercy to those in our midst  including those challenged by same-sex attraction  and care for all in our life together.

 

Pastor Matthew C. Harrison

 

President, The Lutheran Churchâ€â€Missouri Synod

 

Statement

 

We strongly support the Boy Scouts of America current prohibition on open homosexuality and retaining it without revision. Nearly 70 percent of BSA troops are hosted by churches and religious institutions. Upholding traditional morality is vital for sustaining this partnership, for protecting Scout members, and for ensuring BSA has a strong future. A proposal from the BSA board to prohibit “discrimination†based on “sexual orientation or preference†for BSA members potentially would open the Scouts to a wide range of open sexual expressions. In our current culture, it’s more important than ever for our churches to protect and provide moral nurture for young people and for the Scouts. We implore members of the upcoming BSA Council to affirm the BSA’s present policy, which the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed, and which has served BSA well.

 

 

Bishop David C. Anderson, Sr.

 

President, American Anglican Council

 

 

Sara L. Anderson

 

Executive Vice President

 

Bristol House, Ltd. (United Methodist)

 

 

The Rev. Canon Phil Ashey

 

Chief Operating & Development Officer

 

American Anglican Council

 

 

Dr. Robert D. Benne (Lutheran)

 

Jordan Trexler Professor Emeritus

 

and Research Associate

 

Religion and Philosophy, Roanoke College

 

 

Dr. Robert H. Blackburn

 

Past Chairman, National Association of Covenanting Congregations

 

 

The Rev. John Bradosky, Bishop

 

The North American Lutheran Church

 

 

Pastor Mark C. Chavez

 

General Secretary, North American Lutheran Church

 

 

The Rev. Sue Cyre

 

Executive Director of Presbyterians for Faith, Family and Ministry (PFFM)

 

 

The Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison

 

President, The Lutheran Churchâ€â€Missouri Synod

 

 

Doug Harvey, Executive Director

 

Disciple Heritage Fellowship

 

 

The Rev. Charles Huckaby

 

Dean, Western Classis of the Calvin Synod Conference United Church of Christ Term 2010– 2013

 

 

Dr. Jeffrey Jeremiah

 

Stated Clerk

 

Evangelical Presbyterian Church

 

 

John Lomperis

 

Director, United Methodist Action

 

 

Alex McFarland

 

Director for Christian Worldview and Apologetics

 

 

Senator Patricia Miller

 

Executive Director, Confessing Movement (United Methodist)

 

 

Bob Morrison

 

Secretary, REVIVE! (Iowa United Methodist renewal)

 

 

The Rev. Dr. Mary Holder Naegeli

 

Minister-at-Large, San Francisco Presbytery; Moderator of the Presbyterian Coalition

 

 

Rev. Kevin C. Rudolph

 

National Covenant Association of Churches

 

Windwood Presbyterian Church

 

Houston, TX

 

 

The Rev. Dr. Frederick J. Schumacher

 

Executive Director, American Lutheran Publicity Bureau

 

 

The Rev. W. Stevens Shipman

 

Director, Lutheran Coalition for Renewal

 

 

The Rev. Paul Stallsworth

 

President, Taskforce of United Methodists on Abortion and Sexuality

 

 

David M. Stanley

 

Director, Institute on Religion and Democracy

 

Chairman, United Methodist Action Steering Committee

 

Co-Chair, REVIVE! (Iowa United Methodist renewal)

 

 

Bishop Ray Sutton

 

Ecumenical Officer, Anglican Church in North America

 

 

Mark Tooley

 

President, Institute on Religion & Democracy

 

 

The Rev. Dr. David Wendel, Assistant to the Bishop for Ministry and Ecumenism

 

The North American Lutheran Church

 

 

Dr. George O. Wood

 

General Superintendent

 

General Council of the Assemblies of God

 

 

 

 

 

 

And it's a meaningful surprise that the Missouri Synod would take this stance?