Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention at their annual gathering Wednesday overwhelmingly backed a resolution calling for the removal of Boy Scouts of America leaders who approved a policy shift allowing the participation of openly gay Scouts, expressing concern that this may be the first step toward "future approval of homosexual leaders" in the BSA.
"Keep sex and politics out of Scouting."
A different kind of "jamboree" awaits the 1,400 delegates arriving Wednesday at the Boy Scouts of America's national conference in Grapevine, Texas.
Signs of waning evangelical power in the nation's culture wars and in Republican policy — and some unexpected challenges for GOP candidates — loom as the 103-year-old Boy Scouts of America gears up for a definitive vote this week on whether to welcome openly gay youths into the organization's ranks.
More than a century ago, a small group of civic leaders founded the Boy Scouts of America to teach young men leadership, character and American values. For more than 100 years, its traditions have stood strong.
The early verdicts are in and the Boy Scouts of America's proposed new membership policy pleases no one.
The Boy Scouts are one of the great jewels of American culture. The success of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is a result in no small part of the organization's commitment to a set of ideas and principles that have guided the program for more than 100 years.
The Boy Scouts of America's plan to drop its ban on gay Scouts but to continue to bar homosexual Scout leaders and employees has advocates on both sides of the issue unhappy.
A draft resolution for a proposed membership policy, to be released by Boy Scouts of America officials publicly by Monday, will be voted on by some 1,400 delegates of the BSA National Council at a three-day meeting in Grapevine, Texas, starting May 22.
