The LDS Church will continue its longstanding association with the Boy Scouts of America, even though the two organizations have agreed to disagree about gay leaders.
The BSA now allows them, but has offered Mormons the right to select their own troop leaders “according to their own religious and moral values,” according to the Associated Press.
Mormon Church announces it will stay in Boy Scouts, despite concern about end to ban on gay leaders http://t.co/YTfD4rQmsB
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 26, 2015
I was pleasantly surprised by this news, given the much-publicized public opinion poll from last week showing that a majority of active Mormons in Utah favored severing ties with the BSA — and the fact that the Church confirmed to the Salt Lake Tribune that it was investigating the possibility of inaugurating its own international program for boys to replace Scouting.
Three cheers for the Church for being willing to compromise. Other than “guilt by association,” there was no reason not to, since the BSA was already making accommodations to allow Mormon troops to select their own local leaders.
The Boy Scouting program has been an important part of Mormon life for more than a century, and it’s good to see that this relationship will continue.
Now if we could just implement an equally amazing and well-funded program for Mormon girls . . .
READ: Mormon Church Sticking with Boy Scouts
