Church Plans to Reevaluate Scouting Program
Contributed By MormonNewsroom.org
The Church says it will be reevaluating its Scouting program after the Boy Scouts of America National Executive Board voted on a policy change to admit openly gay leaders.
Article Highlights
- The Church will be reevaluating its Scouting program due to worldwide limitations and the recent BSA policy change allowing openly gay leaders.
“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.” —Official Church statement
The Church released the following statement July 27 after a vote on a policy change by the Boy Scouts of America National Executive Board to admit openly gay leaders:
“The Church of Jesus 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.”
