Boy Scout sponsor excited about possible opportunity for gay scouts


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Updated: 1/28 10:13 pm | Published: 1/28 9:57 pm
Reported by: Brian Carlson

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - The Christ United Methodist Church in Millcreek tells ABC 4 they will accept gay scouts if the Boy Scouts of America gives them a chance to choose who can join.

Scout camps, merit badges and Jamborees, all might soon be available to people who are gay.

"The national board is considering changing the membership standards," said Kay Godfrey, Spokesperson, Great Salt Lake Council, Boy Scouts of America.

A representative from the Great Salt Lake Council of the Boy Scouts of America tells ABC4 the national board is considering allowing local scouting sponsors to now decide who gets to be a scout. In Utah, that means the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and a handful of community groups and other churches.

"Come next Wednesday there might be a real different change, a real unique change to scouting," said Godfrey.

"We think it's wonderful," said Pastor Jean Schwien, Christ United Methodist Church.

Pastor Jean Schwien of the Christ United Methodist Church in Millcreek said that change couldn't come soon enough. Schwien told ABC 4 Reporter Brian Carlson her congregation already sponsors a Boy Scout troop. If the national board lets them decide who can join she said they would welcome gay scouts with open arms.

"We're specifically open to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people. So this would keep the troop in harmony with our congregation, with the gay members of our congregation, that they could feel welcome in the Boy Scouts," said Schwien.

ABC 4 is told the National Boy Scouts of America Executive Board will vote on the membership change resolution on Wednesday, February 6th.

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Follow Brian Carlson on Twitter:@tv_briancarlson

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Dennis - 1/29/2013 2:15 PM
0 Votes
@learjet45: One might logically wonder about the "morals" of BSA's grossly overpaid national leaders who would keep secret it's vast files on child sexual abuse among scout leaders that are currently causing them so much embarrassment (and no doubt further litigation). But that aside, please tell us where, in all the words of CHRIST, did HE ever once condemn homosexuality? I am referring, of course, to the red text in your bible exemplifying the "words of CHRIST," HIMSELF, not what he was "reported" to have said as mere hearsay. I also have to wonder if you would be so adamant in your scripturally unprovable view if one of your own children or grandchildren were born homosexual. Would you be so quick to judge them, as well? But while you're pondering that question, let me leave you with one more: How is it that ONLY heterosexual parents ever give birth to homosexual offspring? I think your Christ well knew the answer to that, which is why you will never be able to find anything in HIS WORDS (the red text in your bible) to show that HE ever once condemned them. Or, you could simply ask the heterosexual parents or grandparents of a homosexual child or grandchild and thereby learn a very profound lesson based on their personal experience. And if the bible is believed to be the "word of God," I wonder how HE overlooked explaining all that. But I suppose that's because it was largely written by heterosexual Jewish men who didn't have any more understanding about homosexuality than you appear to. And since your Christ didn't subscribe to THEIR ignorant and corrupted views (as taught in THEIR churches, which HE had nothing to do with), I suppose that's just one more reason they nailed him to a tree and left him to die there. But since I'm sure you don't believe any of that, let me invite you to prove me wrong by first quoting to us chapter and verse from "the words of CHRIST" where HE, HIMSELF, even once, condemned homosexuality in ANY OF "his teachings." :) :)

learjet45 - 1/29/2013 10:43 AM
0 Votes
The Boy Scout code, (when I was a scout 50 years ago), is a MORAL CODE. Anyone one who tries to infest it with a non-moral homosexual life style, will kill or murder the code of honor. In short, any religious entity that wears the name of CHRIST, truly is deceived and does not follow CHRIST and his teachings, shame themselves and CHRIST. MY ADVICE IS SIMPLY THIS, IF A RELIGION BACKS HOMOSEXUALITY, THEN YOU MIGHT AS WELL CLOSE YOUR CHURCH DOWN, BECAUSE IT IS NOT A CHURCH OF CHRIST.

circledot - 1/29/2013 7:51 AM
0 Votes
Does anyone remember 7-UP Gold in 1988? 7-UP used to have the slogan..."Caffeine, never had it, never will" They botched that Ad campaign, and people who may have been "comforted" by this ad campaign wondered, "ok" so what the hehk? If Boy Scouts flip-flops now, I think the effect will effectively kill the brand. They think they have problems now, just wait till they burn the candle at both ends.
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