If the Boy Scouts allow local chapters to have gay leaders, how will this affect your attitude toward Scouting?

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Poll Results

If the Boy Scouts allow local chapters to have gay leaders, how will this affect your attitude toward Scouting?

I have not been supportive of scouting in the past, so no change. Votes: 2
I would support local chapters that prohibit gay leaders, but not the entire organization Votes: 1
I would remove my support/approval of the entire organization. Votes: 5
This is the way things are going, I would still support the scouts even though I disagree Votes: 1
I would add my approval to a new group forming in the tradition of the old Votes: 5
Other (try to approximate to avoid this choice if possible) Votes: 0

(Migrated poll)

N/A
0% (0 votes)
Total votes: 0

Discussion

Jim Neighbors recently “married” his boyfriend. There is talk that the Boy Scouts are going to let local chapters decide if they want to allow gay leaders or not.

I have personally not been involved in boy scouting, but I have been impressed with it. I have been privileged to pray at Eagle Scout ceremonies, and I have boys become more masculine and confident from scouting, not to mention the positive moral influence.

If the scouts officially allow chapters to decide on whether to allow gay leaders or not, how will this affect your attitude toward scouting? Or will it?

"The Midrash Detective"

Growing up on a farm surrounded by corn, bean, wheat and woods, I never saw the need for learning to tie knots, make fires and camp out — we did that anyway. To me, the scouts were for those boys who just couldn’t figure this stuff out on their own — or didn’t have a dad or grandpa to show them how to dress a rabbit or clean fish. (Do they dress rabbits & clean fish in the scouts? — I don’t know.)

[Easton]

Growing up on a farm surrounded by corn, bean, wheat and woods, I never saw the need for learning to tie knots, make fires and camp out — we did that anyway. To me, the scouts were for those boys who just couldn’t figure this stuff out on their own — or didn’t have a dad or grandpa to show them how to dress a rabbit or clean fish. (Do they dress rabbits & clean fish in the scouts? — I don’t know.)

For the small percentage of boys growing up on farms like you, such things are indeed superfluous. But for the 90 some percent of boys not growing up on farms, it can make a difference. My son was in Civil Air Patrol, and it did a lot for him.

"The Midrash Detective"

  • The camping (sometimes in snow or rain …. )
  • Cooking outdoors
  • The hiking
  • The canoeing
  • Swimming … I first swam a mile as a Scout
  • Summer camps
  • Lifeguard training
  • All that stuff

I loved it until I discovered girls (about 16) and quit. As a “Life” scout.

One of my regrets in life is that I didn’t complete Eagle

I wasn’t a Christian in my youth, but we had to go to church when we were out on scouting camp-outs. They would divide the Protestants and the Catholics. We would arrive at worship in our scouting uniforms. I can’t say that it left much impression upon me other than the face that we went to church when I was at a Scouting event and otherwise I would not.

The Boy Scout Oath has new meaning today:

http://scoutmaster.org/ADVANCE/boyscout/bsoathlaw.asp

On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

Seems that way. Other than snazzy uniforms and lifeguard training, doesn’t sound like I missed much.

[Easton]

Seems that way. Other than snazzy uniforms and lifeguard training, doesn’t sound like I missed much.

You’re fortunate having grown up in a rural area. Growing up in the city (Cincinnati) I missed all of the rural experiences

Lord Baden-Powell developed Scouting for urban youth to replace skills rural youth took for granted.

Hoping to shed more light than heat..

[Rob Fall]

Lord Baden-Powell developed Scouting for urban youth to replace skills rural youth took for granted.

That would explain the original purpose of scouting. Don’t many Scouts go on to join ROTC or enter the military? If so, wouldn’t experience working for and with gay members be beneficial?

My father and brothers were scouts as well as a nephew. Now my son is a scout and my husband and I are leaders. We have really enjoyed the time we have spent in scouting thus far.The scouts have always taught morals and good character as well as knots camping skills and lots of other important things. I could go on about all the good things scouting has done for us. If you would like a place to let the scouts know how you feel about gays as leaders and scouts, then go to scouting.org click contact us in the bottom right corner of the page. Up will pop the form to fill out. Karen

Karen

I don’t think that activists really want to join scouts to learn how to build rope bridges. I think that an organization with 2.8 million youth members whose ideals start with “Duty to God” and are summarized by “A Scout is Reverent” simply looks like a big target to them.

While the “indoctrination/agenda” has already invaded most public schools to teach sexuality at earlier and earlier ages, the BSA has no component of its curriculum devoted to sexuality (nor should it ever as that’s a topic best left for parents and any advisors of their choice such as clergy/pastors/rabbi/etc.).

From their perspective, wouldn’t it be great to have a captive audience to influence? 2.8 million boys who have to complete “Family Life” merit badge to become Eagle scouts — just change the curriculum of that badge to include alternate lifestyle choices, etc.

Lastly, the tactics employed are completly counter to scouting ideals which is, at the least, ironic since those who wish to become scouts are going about it in the exact opposite manner that a scout would pursue — wasn’t it Groucho Marx who said “I wouldn’t want to join any club that would have me as a member?”

As a homeschooling, Baptist dad, Eagle scout and scoutmaster, I’ve been pretty upset by this situation, the manner in which the corporate people have handled it and even by fellow Christians who seem sympathetic, but disinterested since they feel that since they’re not involved in scouting, this isn’t their fight. This fight isn’t going to stop at the scouts — How long until faith-based groups (college-student groups, church youth groups, Awanas, et.al.) are brought into this spot light?

Before this situation erupted, I blogged about why my family chose scouting for our sons. It was called “A Christian Alternative to Scouts?” (http://troop113.wordpress.com/2013/01/05/a-christian-alternative-to-scouts/) since I assert that scouting can be (and is designed to be) tailored to the faith practices of the chartering (sponsoring) organization. Many churches give scout units “free rent” and leave it at that. Churches who sponsor scouts should “own” the unit and make it a ministry — that’s how the chartering system was designed to be operated. It can be outreach to unsaved, it can be father-son discipleship with camping outings, it can be both.

One set of three brothers has been coming to our troop for two years. They said “we like coming and hearing about how to behave like men from the bible — we often skip church since our parents sleep in on Sundays and it’s been encouraging to us” These brothers just left our troop to pursue high school sports — I doubt they’re hearing about the bible or biblical manhood from their coaches (but I hope so, or that they’ll come back this summer).

I followed up with “A Christian Alternative to Scouting (Part Two)” (http://troop113.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/a-christian-alternative-to-scouting-part-two/) to present the argument that all Christians have “some skin in this game.” If BSA changes, it’s just another domino in a string of dominos. The activists have said repeatedly that they will not tolerate (how ironic) ANY organization that discriminates against them for ANY reason.

Additionally, if we believe in God, who spoke the universe into existence and can do anything He desires, why aren’t we universally on our knees praying for a victory as King Asa did when he was facing a million men and 300 battle tanks (um, I mean, chariots)?

“Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.” (2 Chron 12:11 NASB)

Even if you have no interest in scouting, would you please pray for those of us who are dealing with this situation? There are many Christian brothers *young and old* involved in scouting — men searching for truth and encouragement in God’s word as they participate in this youth organization.