The Boy Scouts of America this summer decided to formally
reiterate its ban against participation in Scouting by homosexual persons. It had been policy before, but various troops
and other organizations were able to turn a blind eye or deaf ear as needed.
The decision this summer forcibly called the hand of the whole organization. It
was a decision with which our family disagrees.
Much like the fact of “gays in the military,” homosexuals have
been participating in Scouting for ages, as youth participants and leaders (men
and women). Scouting is not an explicitly Christian organization but religious
values, and more directly conservative Christian values pervade Scouting
culture, abiding hand-in-hand with a strong patriotic value system. Though my
experience in Scouting was usually in the context of units that were more
conservative than my personal views, I managed to dodge the worst expressions
of such and focus on the traditional, core Scouting values and instructional
content. More recently I had been able to help my two older boys to do the
same. Earlier, in Richmond, we were
fortunate to be part of a unit that, while sponsored by a church, was not
overtly dogmatic in its leadership and focused more on the traditional content
of Scouting than on indoctrinating participants with (conservative) Christian
values. Our unit in Black Mountain was
sponsored by a conservative church and meetings opened with prayer (“…in Jesus’
name…”) as well as the Scout oath and promise.
After the decision was publicized this summer, I read
several stories online of Scouts who were severing their ties with the
organization, and in extreme cases, returning Scouting’s highest award, their
Eagle rank. Too, I read of plenty of
folks who heartily concurred with the decision. I had hoped we might be able to
sidestep the issue and let Scouting be for our boys about knots, campfires and
safety. But upon honest reflection we knew the core beliefs we wished to
instill in our boys were compromised by the decision and we needed to take a
stand in order to model and live out what we talk about at home.
So, no Scout meetings this fall. No popcorn sales. No merit badges nor beads. We’ll try to do some camping. I think what I’ll miss most is the “village”
of men and women (with some of whom I disagreed on important issues, but for
whom I was extremely thankful and respectful) helping to raise my boys. I feel
my job is to be a parent, loving, stern, didactic and strict. The boys, through
Scouting, got to meet and work with other men and women who could be their
pals. It was a pretty good set-up for us all. Truth be told we’re not missing
juggling meetings and other events. And
I don’t think it’s quite dawned on Eli and Briggs what we have done. So it’s probably hardest on me at the moment.
The decision is made, but we’re (maybe I’m) still wrestling with the fallout in
greater or lesser ways.
1 comment:
I remember parting with my denomination, the Southern Baptists, when their policies and educational resources became too fundamentalist for me. It was a difficult decision, as such partings always are.
Scouting once meant a lot to me, too. But life goes on, and other doors open.
I'll be thinking of you.
Post a Comment