“The Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints is deeply troubled by today’s vote by the Boy Scouts of America National Executive Board. In spite of a request to delay the vote, it was scheduled at a time in July when members of the Church’s governing councils are out of their offices and do not meet. When the leadership of the Church resumes its regular schedule of meetings in August, the century-long association with Scouting will need to be examined. The Church has always welcomed all boys to its Scouting units regardless of sexual orientation. However, the admission of openly gay leaders is inconsistent with the doctrines of the Church and what have traditionally been the values of the Boy Scouts of America.
As a global organization with members in 170 countries, the Church has long been evaluating the limitations that fully one-half of its youth face where Scouting is not available. Those worldwide needs combined with this vote by the BSA National Executive Board will be carefully reviewed by the leaders of the Church in the weeks ahead.”
CNN Reports:
The Boy Scouts of America announced Monday that it's lifting the ban on gay adults as Scout leaders.
"On Monday July 27 the national executive board ratified a resolution removing the national restriction on openly gay leaders and employees," Boy Scouts of America President Robert Gates said in a video statement on Monday.
The move has been in the works for weeks. This month, the organization's executive committee adopted a resolution that would change the policy.
"This resolution will allow chartered organizations to select adult leaders without regard to sexual orientation, continuing Scouting's longstanding policy of chartered organizations selecting their leaders," the Boy Scouts said in a statement July 13.
For more on the history of the LDS Church allowing openly gay boys and leaders into the scouting program you might be interested in reading these past posts on WBMW. Needless to say, this has been an interesting progression with many mixed feelings.
APR 20 Boy Scouts of America Propose Brilliant Plan: Upset Pretty Much Everyone
LDS Church Response: BSA Voting Members Approve Proposal Amidst Controversy
APR 25 LDS Church Releases Brilliant Statement in Response BSA Proposal
Mormon 100 Year Partnership with BSA that Almost Wasn't
2013: A Year of Division, Liberalism and Hastening the Work!
tDMg
Kathryn Skaggs
I'm not too sure about this one. Openly gay members can hold callings in church, why can't they work in the scouting program? I'll be disappointed if they quit the BSA.
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