Deferred Boy Scout decision forces churches to make choice of their own

From Houston-

Today, the Boy Scouts of America were set to make a decision in Irving, TX, the organization’s headquarters, regarding their controversial membership policy that bans gays and lesbians from Scouting and leadership. They deferred that decision until their annual meeting in May, no doubt in response to the raging controversy surrounding the issue.

Activists on both sides have been outspoken about the contentious decision, with religious organizations being at the center of the dispute.

The Boy Scouts of America has 2.7 million members nationwide. More than 70% of troops are affiliated with church or religious groups.

Ross Murray, Director of Religion, Faith and Values at GLAAD said that churches and the general public must, no matter their religious or political stance on this matter, remember that, “troops are often partnered with congregations, but are not a direct ministry of that congregation; it is just an affiliation.”

Murray clarified that the resolution that the Boy Scouts of America were considering is akin to others passed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which removed an over-arching ban or barrier, but, as Murray said, “leaves the decision up to the local entity, troop and congregation – what is going to be best for their particular context.”

More here-

http://blog.chron.com/sacredduty/2013/02/deferred-boy-scout-ban-decision-still-forces-churches-to-make-one-of-their-own/