UCC Synod urges Boy Scouts to change policies excluding gay

Worldwide Faith News ^ | 07/15/03 | Tim Kershner

[RonF]

MINNEAPOLIS -- The General Synod of the United Church of Christ on Sunday urged the Boy Scouts of America to change their policy banning gay youth from membership.

"Discrimination against anyone based on sexual orientation is contrary to our understanding of the teachings of Christ," delegates said in a resolution adopted with overwhelming support.

"We affirm the work of the Boy Scouts of America," said Diana Burdett, Saunderstown, R.I., "but as an open and affirming United Church of Christ, we must speak the truth and speak out against" the national organization's policy.

During a spirited debate, most delegates praised the positive contributions the Boy Scouts have made in the lives of individuals and communities. "We recognize the powerful place the Boy Scouts have in our lives," said Leslie Hoffman of Bethlehem, Penn., especially in promoting citizenship, respect for the environment and respect for others. But Scouting's value of tolerance conflicts with the policy of singling out gay youth and adult leaders for exclusion, she said.

The action was not unanimous. The resolution supports both those churches that struggle to preserve their ties with BSA councils and those that choose to separate from the organization. But all churches should remain in dialogue with Scouting officials, opponents of the resolution said. "Once you sever ties," noted Mark Mendes, Plymouth, Mass., "it is difficult to influence and change" the situation. Others questioned the motives behind the resolution. "I ask you to reconsider your attack on this American institution," said James Haun, a member of Zion New Providence Church in Strasburg, Pa., and a volunteer Scout leader. "Scouting is portrayed as anti-gay and perverted. This must be challenged. This has everything to do with [gay] activists enlisting Scouting into their crusade."

Current and former Scouts and Scout leaders spoke on both sides of the issue. Peter Knutson, an Eagle Scout from Saginaw, Mich., said we "have to be accepting of all people, even if they are not accepting" of us.

Kendrick Norris of Guilford, Conn., said he is proud of the Troop sponsored by his Open and Affirming congregation. His troop and the local Scout council have reached "an agreement" but appreciate Synod's move to change Scout policies.

Other BSA councils have been less open to compromise with the non-discrimination policies of Open and Affirming churches. Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio, negotiated a modus vivendi with Scouting representatives to allow its troop (the oldest in Cleveland) to stay in relationship with the congregation. But the area council overruled the compromise and reassigned the troop to a Roman Catholic parish.

The Girl Scouts of America and the Campfire Boys and Girls do not exclude homosexual youth or adult leaders.

The resolution directed local churches were also directed to resources, including "How Shall We Respond to the BSA Policy Regarding Sexual Orientation" prepared by Local Church Ministries, Justice and Witness Ministries, and Wider Church Ministries.

[RonF]

Here's a link to the text of the actual resolution. One error of fact is that it states that the BSA has a policy of excluding gays. This is wrong; the BSA has a policy of excluding avowed homosexuals. Homosexuals who don't preach about their sexuality and stick to the BSA program are welcome to join the BSA. Another error of fact is that they state that the policy started in 1978. The policy has been around since the BSA started. It wasn't until 1978 that circumstances required the BSA to discuss it, because until then it was generally inconceivable that anyone would think that an avowed homosexual would be compatible with Scouting.

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[Paleo Conservative]

The General Synod of the United Church of Christ

Isn't that one of those "mainstream" denominations that is declining precipitously?

[onedoug]

"Discrimination against anyone based on sexual orientation is contrary to our understanding of the teachings of Christ..."

How do they figure that as far as the act is concerned?

[Paul Atreides]

They live in a world where they get to pick and choose which parts of The Bible to believe in. In their world, The Bible says that it is wrong for the Boy Scouts to free associate, but that same Bible says nothing about condemning homosexuals.

It is all a part of the new movement to tranform Christianity, sans Christ, into a New Age religion. Just preach peace and love and you will be fine. Just don't try to preach morals. And, whatever you do, don't believe in Christ!

[Colofornian]

The General Synod of the United Church of Christ

This is the most liberal Protestant denomination out there. They had homosexual clergy as early as 1967--when it wasn't on the radar screen of any church body.

The UCC does have some very conservative church bodies (Lake Avenue Congregational in Pasadena), but I'm not even sure how much these individual churches still associate with the wider denomination.

[zerosix]

Where are these "guys" going to go for a little "fun" if not the BSA?

[Congressman Billybob]

So the General Synod is willing to have other people's sons sexually molested by adult homosexuals who are attracted to the Boy Scouts and every other recruiting opportunity -- They want to feel good about their "moral" stand, and don't care the least about the harm to children that will result.

People who claim to be "moral" but who are blind to the dangerous consequences of their positions should be rightfully condemned as social morons.

Congressman Billybob

Latest article, now up FR, "Why I Hate Lawyers."

[mlmr]

OUr local congo church has been a member for about 15 years. The former pastor kept this nonsense at arms length but the new pastor seems to embrace the denomination.

[Russell Scott]

Stand strong Boy Scouts and you will shortly receive a tremendous blessing.

[hoot2]

Sodomy is an abomination to the Lord, 

"Jude 7 "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, in like manner given themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." "

after "legalizing" sodomy; they'll lower the "age of consent"...

[Paul Atreides]

If a heterosexual male wanted to be a troop leader to the Girl Scouts as badly as homosexual men want to be to the Boy Scouts, the heterosexual guy would wake up with law enforcement knocking on his door.

[livius]

"mainstream" denominations that is declining precipitously

That's putting it mildly - today I read that Hartford Seminary (founded by Congregationalists - now UCC) has a student body that is 18% Muslim, and in fact trains Islamic chaplains.

Jonathan Edwards would be pretty upset.

[VOA]

"Discrimination against anyone based on sexual orientation is contrary to
our understanding of the teachings of Christ," delegates said in a resolution
adopted with overwhelming support.


from the lips of The Master:

Matthew 18
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me,
it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck,
and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

So I guess the UCC thinks Christ had an off day when he said this rather judgemental
thing about pedophiles and child abusers.

[John Locke]

"Discrimination against anyone based on sexual orientation is contrary to our understanding of the teachings of Christ,"

They should read what Christ had to say in Matthew Chapter 18 verse 6, and rethink their understanding.

[george wythe]

Isn't that one of those "mainstream" denominations that is declining precipitously?

Largest denominational families in U.S., 2001

(self-identification, ARIS)

Denomination	1990 Est. Adult Pop.	2001 Est. Adult Pop.	Est. % of U.S. Pop., 2001	% Change 1990 - 2001
Catholic	46,004,000	50,873,000	24.5%	+11%
Baptist	33,964,000	33,830,000	16.3%	0%
Methodist/Wesleyan	14,174,000	14,150,000	6.8%	0%
Lutheran	9,110,000	9,580,000	4.6%	+5%
Presbyterian	4,985,000	5,596,000	2.7%	+12%
Pentecostal/Charismatic	3,191,000	4,407,000	2.1%	+38%
Episcopalian/Anglican	3,042,000	3,451,000	1.7%	+13%
Judaism	3,137,000	2,831,000	1.3%	-10%
Latter-day Saints/Mormon	2,487,000	2,697,000	1.3%	+8%
Churches of Christ	1,769,000	2,593,000	1.2%	+47%
Congregational/ United Church of Christ	599,000	1,378,000	0.7%	+130%
Jehovah's Witnesses	1,381,000	1,331,000	0.6%	-4%
Assemblies of God	660,000	1,106,000	0.5%	+68%

The UCC seems to have increased dramatically in the last decade.

[RonF]

I was curious about that, too. Interestingly enough, the original version of the resolution contains references to these Scriptures: "We are commanded to love God with hearts, minds, and souls and to love our neighbors to ourselves (Matt. 2:37-39); to love one another, even as Jesus loved the disciples; and the quality of our love for one another is the identifying mark of faithful discipleship (John 14:34-35)." "St. Paul admonished the church in Rome to cease condemnation with the words: 'Who will be the accuser of God's chosen ones? It is God who pronounces acquittal; then who can condemn? It is Christ -- Christ who died, and more than that, was raised from the dead -- who is at God's right hand, and indeed pleads our cause.' (Romans 8:31-34)." I leave analysis of their theology to others. I thought you might be interested in theirs. The rest of their analysis is here.

[RonF]

They also have this to say: "Whereas, in the Gospel Jesus declares, "I was a stranger and you welcomed me .... Truly, I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of those who are members of my family, you did it to me," and as part of the Great Commandment Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt 25:35-40 and 22:39 NRSV), and Whereas, Paul wrote, "The body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ .... Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it" (1 Cor. 12:12 and 27), ..." Look here. These scriptural references, and the ones in my previous post, are from the original draft versions of two different resolutions presented to the Synod on this topic, that were later merged into the final approved version that appears in the link in my Post #1.

[RonF]

Don't forget that the BSA itself professes a disconnect between pederasty and homosexuality. And, if a unit follows BSA policy (especially with regards to Youth Protection), child molestation by adults of any orientation (and there's been plenty of this from heterosexuals, married men with kids) will be blocked.

The BSA's position is based on morality -- that avowed homosexuals present an inadequate moral example. That's what they're hanging their hat on.

[VOA]

I leave analysis of their theology to others.

A ten-year old who has stayed awake at half the Sunday School classes s/he attended
is likely a better scholar of The Bible than these folks at the UCC.

But it will be no suprise that they'll show just how loving and tolerant they really
are if anyone points out the truth: they've sailed right off the map.

However, I'm sure they'll feel great when they are told that they where prophesied
in The Bible thousands of years ago:

Isaiah 5:20
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

But, when push comes to shove, they'll be more than happy if their critics meet the
same sort of fate that Isaiah did.