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The Boy Scouts of America Statement:
“For 103 years, the Boy Scouts of America has been a part of the fabric of this nation, with a focus on working together to deliver the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training.
“Based on growing input from within the Scouting family, the BSA leadership chose to conduct an additional review of the organization’s long-standing membership policy and its impact on Scouting’s mission. This review created an outpouring of feedback from the Scouting family and the American public, from both those who agree with the current policy and those who support a change.
“Today, following this review, the most comprehensive listening exercise in Scouting’s history the approximate 1,400 voting members of the Boy Scouts of America’s National Council approved a resolution to remove the restriction denying membership to youth on the basis of sexual orientation alone. The resolution also reinforces that Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting. A change to the current membership policy for adult leaders was not under consideration; thus, the policy for adults remains in place. The BSA thanks all the national voting members who participated in this process and vote.
“This policy change is effective Jan. 1, 2014, allowing the Boy Scouts of America the transition time needed to communicate and implement this policy to its approximately 116,000 Scouting units.
“The Boy Scouts of America will not sacrifice its mission, or the youth served by the movement, by allowing the organization to be consumed by a single, divisive, and unresolved societal issue. As the National Executive Committee just completed a lengthy review process, there are no plans for further review on this matter.
“While people have different opinions about this policy, we can all agree that kids are better off when they are in Scouting. Going forward, our Scouting family will continue to focus on reaching and serving youth in order to help them grow into good, strong citizens. America’s youth need Scouting, and by focusing on the goals that unite us, we can continue to accomplish incredible things for young people and the communities we serve.”
Still not happy that the ban wasn’t lifted for adults, but I’m sure we’ll get there and hopefully soon.
The good news is that I am meeting with our District Executive on Thursday evening to talk about my church, an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ, sponsoring a unit. We are looking at a Venturing Crew and a Cub Scout pack. While our senior pastor and I would like to see the ban on LGBT adults repealed, we realize that kids are better off in Scouting and by sponsoring a unit, we can still be that catalyst for change.
I have a feeling that the adult membership issue isn’t going to a vote at the next National Annual Meeting. I think what is likely to happen is that National will defer adult membership qualifications to the chartered organization. Regardless, our unit will be up front about our non-discrimination policy because it will reflect the values of our church. As long as the adult leader passes the criminal background check, doesn’t harm the Scouts or put them in precarious or perilous situations, their sexual orientation and who they are partnered with is a non-issue. Period. End of Story. Welcome back to Scouting!
It saddens me to think that adults and Chartering Organizations are willing to walk away so easily because they don’t personally agree with what BSA National Council has adopted. It seems, at least to me, that the young men and women in our programs need the coaching and mentoring of their adopt leaders now more than ever. Are they afraid that homosexual youth are going to be beating a path to their doors to join in record numbers as some sort of sign of solidarity? If so, they need a serious reality check. Do they feel the same about Scouts with disabilities? Muslim Scouts? Jewish Scouts? I agree with other posts; give it a year and all the hoopla will die down and we can get back into the business of developing young people into the best possible citizens they can be while making the moral and ethical choices they’ve been making for the past 103 years…
I just can’t help but believe in a year or so, virtually no one will give a rat’s pituty. Keep calm and carry on.
I’m with Karl. When the vocal agitators on both sides of this issue tire and move on, they can check back with me. We’ll be doing Scout business as usual using the Scout Oath, Law, and our training as guides.
We’re in a similar situation as Will. There is one VFW post that is thinking about chartering our soon-to-be-orphaned troop, but they haven’t committed yet. If that falls through, though, it’s likely the troop will fold. Since on top of everything else BSA asks of its adult volunteers (training, time, money, effort) we now are facing giving up even more of our time and resources to sustain a troop (such as setting up our own chartered organization), I’ll leave it to others with more of those things to spare. It’s unfortunate for the current Scouts and those boys in our community that may have joined Scouting, but the bottom line is without adult volunteers there is no “sanctioned” Scouting, and our volunteers (including me) aren’t willing to give up even more time/effort/money on top of what we already do to make this work. It’s been really fun and satisfying working with youth in Scouting all these years, but BSA has made a choice with real repercussions that not only they but the youth in our community will now have to bear.
Let your district executive know what’s up and see if they can help. If the troop is going to fold get your Scouts transitioned into another troop ASAP, that way they’ll be able to go on.
Working with charter organizations is almost certainly the #1 priority for every DE in the country right now. Let them know as early as possible, so they can help.
We have a troop that will probably need a new CO because the BSA didn’t go far enough. They already voted to drop it, but put that on hold waiting for the BSA’s process.
This issue has come up with my troop which has been sponsored by our Catholic parish since 1949. I listened to the presentation by the National Board, read the resolution and decided that as written,it is aligned with the Catholic principles of loving the sinner and hating the sin. Scouts can be dismissed for their behavior but not their orientation.
As laid out in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, people with same-sex orientation are to be treated with respect and support, recognizing that same-sex orientation is a heavy cross to bear. However, same-sex activity is not licit nor allowed, as is other sexual activity outside of marriage.
Hence I have sent an e-mail to my troop laying out this case. I expect that the parish will continue to support us but we may lose some parents and other support. While I can accept the policy as written, it will not make things easier for me or my troop.
Good on you Jeff! Sometimes the way forward is a challenge, but if we look at things with and open mind and heart we can find a way!
Congratulations! I know many people have worked hard for this for many years. Although I do my Scouting on a different continent, in a different hemisphere, I’m still excited about this decision.
One of my friends in Cubs and all the way through to Scouts came out in his final year of school, and I’m proud to say that his old cub scout leader took him in to her home when his family didn’t support him. Today I’m thinking Scouts like Sergio who will be able to live out their promise in the movement in the years to come.
Scouting is about leadership, outdoor skills, and fun. National’s decision was the right one. It does not require a troop to participate in a gay pride parade. The policy only requires that we don’t turn boys away. If your CO won’t support you, then they don’t understand what scouting is about. Make your own chartered orginazation. Create a 501c3 LLC or limited partnership. Meet in a school, golf course, vfw, boys and girls club , or business. We ask a lot from scouts. Now it’s time for us scouters to work hard and allow them to be scouts.
A good step, however finding a new chartering organization may be a challenge. Our troop will be 100 years old next year and we have big plans.
Mike, the question our troop is now facing is how do we tell 45 Scouts that they can no longer be a troop in our town? Our Chartering Organization stated early in this debate that if BSA changed membership rules, they would not renew our charter. We’ve solicited more than a half-dozen other organizations in our small town, and none of them are willing to take on the potential headaches chartering a troop under these new rules might create, so by the end of this summer 45 current, active Scouts will have the choice of driving 30+ minutes one-way to maybe get to a troop (we don’t currently know if the troops in nearby towns are continuing or not), or leaving Scouting. About 10 families have already said they will pull their sons from Scouting before they have to make those drives, so bravo BSA National and all those supporting the membership change–you’ve effectively ended the Scouting experience for at least 12 Scouts, and potentially the experiences of 45 in an effort to be more inclusive.
I’d be happy to help you work on getting a new chartering organization. We are going through the same process with our Troop. Your district executive and council can help too. There’s no reason your Scouts should miss out on anything, there are lots of options.
While some councils discourage it, and it’s not ideal for ongoing continuity, chartering as “Concerned Parents of…” I believe is still an option.
The largest troop in our district is sponsored by “The Parents of Troop 57”. http://www.troop57.net/
My son’s troop is chartered to “The Friends of …”
I must admit I don’t fully understand the process or the requirement of your CO’s. here in Australia we don’t have that set up. Our groups are run by a group leader, each section is run by leaders and assistant leaders who are under the control of the group leader. We also have a parents committee who helps the group leader. We ten have a district commissioner a regional commissioner branch commissioners all the way up to a chief executive scout. Why not set up your troop similar to the way we have done and wave good bye to your CO since they cannot adapt
There was an option to form an informal ‘committee of citizens’ to charter a unit, but that is now discouraged in favor of formally constituted organizations. It is possible to form a legal, non-profit corporation and obtain a charter. There is some expense and administrativa involved but it’s not insurmountable. This is what my troop is pursuing now.
I am also working on adopting the group model (all age divisions under one organizing committee) the way things are done now each major age division (Cubs, Scouts and Ventures) are independently formed and administered so there’s often little formal connection or shared support.
Hi Clarke,
Its ironic about you working on the group model for one committee as our Cubmaster was talking about doing a joint committee with our Troop. I think this would be a great way of combining resources and building a solid Troop/Pack relationship. Keep us posted on how it goes!
YIS,
Bill
We don’t have a pack to work with as of yet, we are chartering a Venture Crew this year though and it will be under the same committee as the Troop.
We have a tightly integrated Pack and Troop. We share leadership and resources and go camping together regularly. It works well and we are adding a venturing crew next year, for our daughters. It makes troop recruiting easier as it is mostly done at the tiger and wolf level, and then we just keep the webelos interested.
As to incorporating as “citizens of”, this can be expensive to do initially though the bigger problem is the longevity of the organization. Having to run a real entity on top of just staffing a regular committee is daunting on volunteers. It would make most sense however if it covered a pack, troop and crew. Our district would prefer we do not go in this direction, but depending on what the Catholic Church decides to do, this may be our best option.
Regarding Davids mention of the Australian model of scouting, if the US had followed this model, we would not be in this mess now. Before I explain further, I am an expatriate Australian and as a youth did cubs and scouts with the Upper Mount Gravatt scout group in Brisbane, Australia.
Most Australian troops do not have “chartering organizations” and are known as “Open Groups” and are set up independently of any sponsor and are controlled only but the Group Leader, but are subject to the direction of the District and Area. Most Groups build their own scout halls, the ownership of which is vested in the Scouting Association. So, with their own buildings, and answering to no one but the district, they are free from the interference of churches. As a result, religion is only on the periphery of scouting in Australia.
One of the reasons that Scouters in other parts of the world are so bemused by the de-chartering threats, is that they do not comprehend that all US troops are wholly owned by a chartering organization, and most of those are churches these days. That to be de-chartered, is to cease to exist. In-fact some members of my troops committee don’t comprehend this. They just think we met in the church hall because it is a nice space.
A applaud the BSA for their decision today but it has to be a first step. How do we tell a great Scout, who attained the rank of Eagle, was a leader for the troop and is a fine young man that he’s no longer welcome after he turns 18 because he’s gay?
A step in the right direction for sure. And while not unanimous, 61% voting for the resolution is a solid number. We’ve elected presidents with smaller margins.
The last US president elected with a 61% vote was Lyndon Johnson in 1964. I think we can safely call this a decisive vote