Boy Scouts reviewing Ban on Gays ...

[Donuthole]

I wonder why it is an issue for Mo scouts at all? What percentage of Mo scout troops/varsity units are headed by someone in the ward that is called by the Bishop? In other words, no OUT gay man will be heading up a Mo troop anytime soon.

It's an issue of association, not implementation.

[Sullyute]

I wonder why it is an issue for Mo scouts at all? What percentage of Mo scout troops/varsity units are headed by someone in the ward that is called by the Bishop? In other words, no OUT gay man will be heading up a Mo troop anytime soon.

Is there an unwritten (or possibly written) rule that people who experience SSA cannot serve in the young mens or young womans organization?

[BYUMizzou]

I particularly like this reader comment to the article:

Boys need to learn the gay life style and see if it's for them. They can make it a merit badge.

[LA Ute]

I wonder why it is an issue for Mo scouts at all? What percentage of Mo scout troops/varsity units are headed by someone in the ward that is called by the Bishop? In other words, no OUT gay man will be heading up a Mo troop anytime soon.

I don't know but I am guessing that the fear is that somehow the church will lose the freedom to call whomever it wishes as a scout leader. I don't know why that would be. Right now, in our council here, there is effectively a "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which works. As long as chartered organizations get to choose their own leaders, I don't know why there would be an issue.

[smokymountainrain]

It's an issue of association, not implementation.

This

[Scorcho]

Is there an unwritten (or possibly written) rule that people who experience SSA cannot serve in the young mens or young womans organization?

I know the LDS Church does want Bishops to closer examine those individuals called to any positions dealing with youth, but I don't know if there is a specific set of guidelines.

I do recall a few years ago that there was an emphasis on new members of a ward not being called to those positions until the Bishop got to know the individuals a little better.

[Jacob]

I wonder why it is an issue for Mo scouts at all? What percentage of Mo scout troops/varsity units are headed by someone in the ward that is called by the Bishop? In other words, no OUT gay man will be heading up a Mo troop anytime soon.

It's an issue of association, not implementation.

I'm with DDD. It's not like the BSA is encouraging being gay or even much approving of it. They are only considering lifting a ban of a form of participation. As the church encourages participation of its gay members, I'm not sure a minor change like the one suggested would cause the Church to sever its ties. It would be a pretty frivolous excuse.

[Donuthole]

I'm with DDD. It's not like the BSA is encouraging being gay or even much approving of it. They are only considering lifting a ban of a form of participation. As the church encourages participation of its gay members, I'm not sure a minor change like the one suggested would cause the Church to sever its ties. It would be a pretty frivolous excuse.

You agree with me as well, then. I never said I had an issue with the association. But I think the church will. Selfishly, I hope they will. Scouting is a dry well.

[Surfah]

You agree with me as well, then. I never said I had an issue with the association. But I think the church will. Selfishly, I hope they will. Scouting is a dry well.

We share the same opinion.

[UtahDan]

I particularly like this reader comment to the article:

There is a religion merit badge, no? That is much more of a lifestyle choice than being gay is.

[LA Ute]

We share the same opinion.

I don't agree, but I can see why you feel that way. Done right, LDS Scouting can be wonderful. It's rarely done right, however, and I am not sure that can be changed.

[Moliere]

I don't agree, but I can see why you feel that way. Done right, LDS Scouting can be wonderful. It's rarely done right, however, and I am not sure that can be changed.

The most important callings to the scouting program are typically the ones that are not filled with competent or willing people (other than Scoutmaster). A functioning scout committee can go a long, long way in improving each program, however the "scout committee chair" calling is typically a second or even third calling for a person and that leaves them little time to do it properly.

LDS scouting also sucks when it comes to budget and funding but that has been rehashed thoroughly in other threads

[Paperback Writer]

I know the LDS Church does want Bishops to closer examine those individuals called to any positions dealing with youth, but I don't know if there is a specific set of guidelines.

I do recall a few years ago that there was an emphasis on new members of a ward not being called to those positions until the Bishop got to know the individuals a little better.

I'm fairly sure my stake has an unspoken rule that one has to hold a TR to serve in the YM organization. There is also a wait period for move ins as you describe.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I wonder why it is an issue for Mo scouts at all? What percentage of Mo scout troops/varsity units are headed by someone in the ward that is called by the Bishop? In other words, no OUT gay man will be heading up a Mo troop anytime soon.

That was what was so maddeningly absurd about the LDS opposition to gays back in 2000. It simply would not be an issue for LDS troops due to the fact that BSA leadership in LDS units is staffed by callings. And even so, why are people worried about openly gay leaders? It is the closeted pedophiles that are the problem, and the BSA already has policies in place to deal with that (two-deep leadership, etc.).

The BSA should have the guts to right this wrong and the Church should stay out of the way.

[Paperback Writer]

You agree with me as well, then. I never said I had an issue with the association. But I think the church will. Selfishly, I hope they will. Scouting is a dry well as currently implemented by LDS.

Made a minor but important clarification.

If the church does "dump" the scouting program, I wonder if they would allow local units to sponsor troops. In other words, scouting is replaced by Duty to God or some other program but local leadership still allows a BSA troop to meet in the ward building (basically a sponsor).

That would open up some interesting possibiliteis - like freedom of choice to join any local LDS sponsored troop. That would be awesome. The YM and parents who really want to participate in scouting would eventually migrate to a troop that has it together and could set parental expectations accordingly. No more Moms slowing down the Mo battlewagon just enough to kick their YM out before peeling back out of the church parking lot.

Or the LDS families that want to do scouting could all join the local Methodist BSA troop.