More Light Presbyterians Applauds the Decision of the General Assembly Council to Review Scouting Relationship

http://www.mlp.org/news/bspr.html

MORE LIGHT PRESBYTERIANS MEDIA RELEASE
June 6, 2001
Contact: Bill Moss, 415-864-0477, whmoss@yahoo.com
Mitzi Henderson, 650-854-2598, mitzigh@aol.com
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MLP APPLAUDS GAC DECISION TO REVIEW SCOUTING RELATIONSHIP

More Light Presbyterians applauds the decision of the General Assembly Council to review the covenant between the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the National Association of Presbyterian Scouters (NAPS).

Consistent with the Presbyterian Church policy established in 1978, the youth ministry of the Presbyterian Church is open to all young people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. However, the Boy Scouts of America discriminates against gay youth in its programs, and was recently bolstered by a Supreme Court decision affirming its right to do so. The National Association of Presbyterian Scouters has supported the BSA's position to date.

Rev. Gene Huff, a member of the MLP Board of Directors and an Eagle Scout who returned his badge over the BSA's discriminatory policy, said, "The National Youth Ministry Office and the GAC have modeled integrity for the denomination
on this issue. They committed to be inclusive, and are now taking that commitment seriously by exploring how it affects their relationship with the NAPS."

In a March statement, More Light Presbyterians issued a guidance document for its member congregations that are similarly struggling with the issue of congregation-sponsored Boy Scout troops. The document advises the churches to consider two options. They can explain the congregation's policy of inclusion and invite the troop to join the congregation in protest of BSA
discrimination. Or, they can encourage the troop to disaffiliate from the BSA and affiliate with a different youth organization that does not discriminate, such as Campfire Boys and Girls or the YMCA. "Remaining in scouting without advocating change means colluding with the discrimination of the BSA. Inclusive faith communities can not in good conscience do that," the statement
says.

The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church has officially encouraged the BSA to allow membership to youth and adult leaders irrespective of their sexual orientation, and has asked churches which host scout units to open a dialogue with unit leaders, scouts and their parents regarding discrimination against scouts and leaders on the basis of sexual orientation. Both the Unitarian Universalists and the United Church of Christ have raised concerns about the irreconcilable differences in the values of the BSA and the congregations that offer sponsorship. Reformed Jewish leaders have urged parents to withdraw their children from Boy Scout troops and packs and encourage synagogues to end their sponsorship because of the exclusion of gays.

More Light Presbyterians is a group of individual members and congregations of the Presbyterian Church (USA) who work for the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith in the life, work and ministry of the PC(USA).