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May 31st, 2013
04:19 PM ET
Baptists plan exodus from Boy ScoutsBy Daniel Burke, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor (CNN) - For Southern Baptist pastor Tim Reed, it was Scripture versus the Scouts. “God’s word explicitly says homosexuality is a choice, a sin,” said Reed, pastor of First Baptist Church of Gravel Ridge in Jacksonville, Arkansas. So when the Boy Scouts of America voted to lift its ban on openly gay youths on May 24, Reed said the church had no choice but to cut its charter with Troop 542. “It’s not a hate thing here,” Reed told CNN affiliate Fox 16. “It’s a moral stance we must take as a Southern Baptist church.” Southern Baptist leaders say Reed is not alone. Baptist churches sponsor nearly 4,000 Scout units representing more than 100,000 youths, according to the Boy Scouts of America. That number could drop precipitously. The Southern Baptist Convention, the country’s largest Protestant denomination, will soon urge its 45,000 congregations and 16 million members to cut ties with the Scouts, according to church leaders. The denomination will vote on nonbinding but influential resolutions during a convention June 11-12 in Houston. “There’s a 100% chance that there will be a resolution about disaffiliation at the convention,” said Richard Land, the outgoing head of the Southern Baptists’ Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, “and a 100% chance that 99% of people will vote for it.” “Southern Baptists are going to be leaving the Boy Scouts en masse,” Land continued. Roger “Sing” Oldham, a spokesman for the Southern Baptist Convention, emphasized that local congregations make their own decision on the Scouts. But he, too, said he expects Baptist delegates, which the church calls “messengers,” to voice their disagreement with the BSA's decision to allow gay youths. “With this policy change, the Boy Scouts’ values are contradictory to the basic values of our local churches,” Oldham said. Several religious groups with strong Scouting ties support the new policy. “We have heard from both those who support the amended policy and those who would have preferred it would not have changed,” said BSA spokesman Deron Smith. Faith-based organizations charter more than 70% of Scout chapters, providing meeting space and leadership, according to the BSA. “There have been some organizations that have decided not to renew their charters with Scouting," said Smith, "but we can’t quantify the impact of the amended policy." The National Jewish Committee on Scouting, the United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church, the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which sponsors more Scout units than any other faith, all endorsed the change. The National Catholic Committee on Scouting, which is run with oversight from a bishop, said Thursday that allowing gay youths in the Scouts does not conflict with church teaching. Each bishop will decide whether or not to allow churches in his diocese to charter Scout units, the committee added. “We ask that Catholic Scouters and chartered organization heads not rush to judgment,” said Edward Martin, chairman of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. But the Rev. Derek Lappe, pastor of the Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Bremerton, Washington, has already made up his mind. “I do not feel that it is possible for us to live out, and to teach, the authentic truth about human sexuality within the confines of the Boy Scout’s new policy,” said Lappe. The priest told CNN affiliate FOX16 that his parish will part ways with the Scouts and develop its own programs. There may soon be an alternative to the Scouts for social conservatives like Lappe. John Stemberger, founder of On My Honor, a group that opposed the Scouts’ change in policy, plans to convene conservatives in Louisville, Kentucky, in June to consider forming a new Scout-like group, which could be up and running by the end of 2013. “Churches and Scoutmasters are looking for leadership and direction,” said Stemberg, an attorney in Orlando, Florida. A number of conservative religious denominations already sponsor their own groups. For instance, the Southern Baptists have the Royal Ambassadors, an explicitly Christian program founded in 1908 for boys in first through sixth grade. (A similar group called Challengers equips older boys in “mission education.”) The name comes from the New Testament, in which the Apostle Paul tells Christians to be “ambassadors for Christ.” The estimated 31,000 Royal Ambassadors pledge “ to become a well-informed, responsible follower of Christ; to have a Christlike concern for all people; to learn how to carry the message of Christ around the world; to work with others in sharing Christ; and to keep myself clean and healthy in mind and body." While not as outdoorsy as the Boy Scouts, Ambassadors do camp and play sports, said Land, who was a member of the group during the 1950s. But instead of merit badges for archery and bird study, young Ambassadors earn patches for memorizing Bible verses and mission work. Southern Baptists said they are preparing for a surge of interest in the Royal Ambassadors at their upcoming convention in Houston. “We really have an opportunity here to strengthen our RA programs,” the Rev. Ernest Easley, chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, said in a sermon last Sunday, “and to get the boys in a program where they’re going to be protected, where there’s a high moral standard and where they will have an opportunity to learn about camping, missions, evangelism in the local church.” soundoff (10,821 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 Next » |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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So a gay boy gets to be in a tent with several attractive straight boys. Why not let the straight guys have a girl or two in the tent. This is discrimination against straight people. Give the straight boys a shot at love.
You failed to make a good point
I can't wait for the boys to come over to earn some merit badge time with old uncle handy
"I can't wait for the boys to come over to earn some merit badge time with old uncle handy"
Sociologists and psychologists hold that some of the emotionality in prejudice stems from subconscious attitudes that cause a person to ward off feelings of inadequacy by projecting them onto a target group. That's right folks homophobic people like this are just insecure and immature.
Why do these churches owe the Boy scouts anything anyway? They can do whatever they want with their money. Let those dirty little pan handlers beg for money some other way
I believe God's word. The Boy Scouts have lost respect and have turned another direction.....the irony is that the Organization's name is appropriate for their new direction.....the 'boy scouts'...Now, it can suffice for their advertising....the place to come an scout for boys...I am thankful for the wisdom of these religious leaders, and tired of the whining, harassment, name-calling, and crazy disillusions of our damnation to Hell because we don't support the prancing Gay boys.
Your comment lacks wisdom. It reeks of bigotry, intolerance, and ignorance.
You actually believe merely other peoples word. God never spoke orr wrote anything in English
" damnation to Hell because we don't support the prancing Gay boys"
James
The scriptures actually say nothing about homosexuality as a psychosexual orientation. Our understandings of sexual orientation are distinctly modern ones that were not present in the minds of Scripture writers. A few passages of Scripture (seven at the most) object to certain types of same-sex expressions or acts. The particular acts in question, however, are sexual expressions which are exploitative, oppressive, commercialized, or offensive to ancient purity rituals. There is no Scriptural guidance for same-sex relationships which are loving and mutually respecting. Guidelines for these relationships should come from the same general Scriptural norms that apply to heterosexual relationships.
refresh my memory on what the crusades were about again jesus lover
Must be rough being you, so fearful and hateful all the time. Did you take your blood pressure meds today?
As if..... there were never gay scouts and gay scouts' leaders who did brilliant jobs raising and educating your straight ignorant child. It's just that now, gays don't want to live a hidden life and the straight people all of the sudden realized there are others in the world, too (without them even knowing about it). So, what makes the knowing now so bad? And, why are "straight" people so afraid of?
Americans are so dumb! It's unbelievable that in this era you still think like a caveman!
I was wondering what that whooping and hollering by the gays on the corner of Pine and 9th st, Philadelphia, a few days ago was all about. Now I know. These guys were so deliriously happy they were salivating.
OK guys, go for it! The American Boy Scouts are yours.
What would be my responsibilities, as a good citizen, if I see gays, dragging a young boy scout into their apartment? Calling the cops is worthless in Philadelphia since their political correctness training requires almost "sacred cow" treatment of gays.
gays dragging a boy scout into their apartment? yeah, that's happening.
and i always thought it was the gays that were melodramatic.
@snowboarder
Ever heard of a fellow by the name of Captain Ernst Rohm? You might want to read about him and his Storm Battalion's recreational activities.
The Baptist Church is making the wrong decision. How can you be Christian and so self-righteous and judgmental? What happened to forgiveness? What happened to "love thy neighbor"? I agree with EdR. Their decision makes it sound like the churches members are not sinners. We know that's not the case. We all sin and make mistakes. Come on Baptists! What are you doing?
It's easy. The word "christian" is synonymous with "self-righteous and judgmental". There. Solved it for you.
the numbers will be offset, what they lose in religious bigots they will gain in forward thinking secularists.
pretty much reflects the change in the nation.
maybe scouting will be cool again.
budgie, remember ...
Jesus warned,
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matthew 7:13
Amen.
No they won't gain the secularists. At least not the ones that feel it is wrong to require a belief in god.
There are many ways in but no one wants to take mine.
Amen.
The bible is a book of compiled stories written by people the way they saw the world 2,000 years ago . Today we see the world differently . One word you will never find in the bible is pneumatics . You need words like that in the 21'st century . If you don't know what it is . You could not drive your car without it . That is how far behind the writings of the bible are . Try the new bible by doing a search of how stuff works . From a former altar boy ! It could save your life some day !
woody, how long are you going to stay in denial? Jesus had Holy Men scribe His truth (the Bible) about life and the hereafter and that we need to rid ourselves of sin in order to dwell with Him for eternity.
The men who wrote the bible were no more "holy" than you or I. Believing in this nonsense will only lead you into delusion and evil. Put the stupid bible down and start using your OWN mind and heart. To hell with religion.
"God's in his Heaven–All's right with the world!" (1841)
Sad day this is when Boy Scouts go against the lineage of the founder's father who was a high priest in the Church of England.
The Church of England, founded by Henry VII because he wanted to live in sin without worrying about the Pope telling him he was going to hell. The CoE was founded in, and wallows in, sin.
Imagine if it was news to learn one thing from a boy scout merit badge book everyday instead of all this its ok to jam my weiner in another man all the time. We get it, your all gay now can we get back to work?
"ok to jam my weiner in another man all the time."
Sociologists and psychologists hold that some of the emotionality in prejudice stems from subconscious attitudes that cause a person to ward off feelings of inadequacy by projecting them onto a target group. That's right folks homophobic people like this are just insecure and immature.
spot,
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:8
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
Proverbs 14:12
Amen
HS, you're so lame. Your quoting the bible is akin to PolPot quoting the Declaration of Independence.
Babbling again, The real Tom?
Straight people will never make it to Heaven with all of this hate in their heart. God probably prefers gay people. Why else did he make them so kind?
God loves everyone. Only those that call themselves "believers" or "Followers" seem to hate so much.
But instead of jumping on my previous post, you probably could have seen that was my point.
Hate? Bigotry? I suppose you would give keys to the car of an intoxicated person to drive home after heavy drinking?
Its not a "hate thing".. its just an ignorant, arrogant, hypocritical, shallow minded, perversion of religion thing.
EdR, it's neither. It's a SALTY Christian "thing". Thank you Jesus.
HS, what is this "salty" nonsense? You're not making the slightest bit of sense.
1.) ....no other gods before me.
2.) ....no images.
3.) Don't take teh lord's name in vein.
4.) ...remember the sabbath.
5.) ...honor your parents
6.) ...shall not murder.
7.) ....shall not commit adultery
8.) ....shall not steal.
9.) ....shall not bear false witness
10.) ... don't covet your neighbor's things (wife, house, ox, etc.)
Sorry, those are God's laws. All the the ones about hating people who are different are religions laws and God didn't create religion.
...or, if you love Jesus, Mary Magdalene was a sinner, yet Jesus did not discriminate against her, or any other "sinners", in fact he welcomed them.
Now those claiming to follow his teachings do the opposite and claim to be all about Jesus. *shrug*
JEFF Real inteligent comeback. And your reading comprehension sucks too. Where did I ever say he is "My God"? I am pointing out the faults with those who believe this crap. So before jumping on me, try to get at least a basic clue first.
Jesus did welcome sinners . But from there they saw the need for change in their lives .
1 John 2:15 -17
15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Amen.
The boy scouts these days are in training to pack people into trains like jews we don't need em.
Time for the "OUTING" from Scouting as our Families have taken all our kids, grandkids, nephews & cousins out of Scouting...the 61% vote made their decision and now we made our decision. The corporate sponsors of Scouting applied thier political pressures to the National Council and now we apply ours...GOODBYE Scouting!
As the moral values & honor of Scouting has changed in a manner that we no longer approve, hence, our involvement in Scouting is no longer our way of life.
We choose to excerise our freedom of association by not associating with Scouting anymore..and our money goes with us too. God save America.
Pay taxes, then you can call it "your money". Gays are allowed in the military, want to ban all veterans too?
"We choose to excerise our freedom of association by not associating with Scouting anymore..and our money goes with us too. God save America."
You would be a good candidate for the Taliban or the K K K.
There are plenty of skinhead groups around. I think that is more what you are looking for.
Boycott the Boy Scouts! Don't stand for this blasphemy.
@mindlike, blasphemy. a truly victimless crime.
That's right! God forbid your child meet someone who is a little bit different than them, and actually love that person (you know, kind of like Christ taught). I guess it would be uncomfortable at the dinner table for dad to have to explain to his child why he has hate for his friend at Boy Scouts.
...and from these replies, one can see the intolerance of the gays when other people choose not to agree with them...the gay message is a rainbow until you disagree, then their message is "I hate you!"...
How ignorant of you thinking that now all of the sudden gay people want to be scouts and scouts' leaders. They have been since the beginning of scouts organizations. They did a wonderful job raising and educating straight children (and gay ones). It's just that you didn't know about it. So, why all of the sudden did it become a problem? Oh, right. You just realized there are other people in the world, besides yourself.
I was wondering what that whooping and hollering by the gays on on the corner of Pine and 9th st, Philadelphia, a few days ago was all about. Now I know. These guys were so deliriously happy they were salivating.
OK guys, go for it! The American Boy Scouts are yours.
What would be my responsibilities, as a good citizen, if I see a gay drag a young boy scout into his apartment? Calling the cops if worthless in Philadelphia since their political correctness training requires almost "sacred cow" treatment of gay.
Shame on you.
What are you so afraid of? Gays have always been around. This didn't happen overnight. It's just that now they are tired of living a hidden life. And, now because of this "coming out" all of the sudden the "straight" people go ballistic because it's disturbs their rose garden....... Wake up and smell the coffee! Grow up and start dealing with the fact that there's more to the world than we want to see!
first off, I am a christian. I do not agree with the gay choice and lifestyle it is a sin. However, so is stealing, extra marital affairs, lieing, drunkenness and so on. I doubt any of the Southern Baptist would disassociate themselves with a group that drank beer excessively or cheated on their income taxes. It is their choice however, to associate with whomever they want. They just tend to be the most vocal in how they deal with the situation. This certainly doesn't represent the christian body as a whole.
It isn't a friggin' "lifestyle" and it isn't a "choice." Educate yourself.
" I do not agree with the gay choice"
Erik
Being gay is not a choice science, in fact, is actually not in dispute on this matter.
All major medical professional organizations concur that sexual orientation is not a choice and cannot be changed, from gay to straight or otherwise. The American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and European Psychological, Psychiatric, and Medical Associations all agree with this, as does the World Health Organization and the medical organizations of Japan, China, and most recently, Thailand. Furthermore, attempts to change one's sexual orientation can be psychologically damaging, and cause great inner turmoil and depression, especially for Christian gays and lesbians.
Reparative therapy, also called conversion therapy or reorientation therapy, "counsels" LGBT persons to pray fervently and study Bible verses, often utilizing 12-step techniques that are used to treat sexual addictions or trauma. Such Christian councilors are pathologizing homosexuality, which is not a pathology but is a sexual orientation. Psychologically, that's very dangerous territory to tread on. All of the above-mentioned medical professional organizations, in addition to the American and European Counseling Associations, stand strongly opposed to any form of reparative therapy.
In my home country, Norway, reparative therapy is officially considered to be ethical malpractice. But there are many countries that do not regulate the practice, and many others that remain largely silent and even passively supportive of it (such as the Philippines). Groups that operate such "therapy" in the Philippines are the Evangelical Bagong Pag-asa, and the Catholic Courage Philippines.
The scientific evidence of the innateness of homosexuality, bisexuality, and transgenderism is overwhelming, and more peer-reviewed studies which bolster this fact are being added all the time. Science has long regarded sexual orientation – and that's all sexual orientations, including heterosexuality – as a phenotype. Simply put, a phenotype is an observable set of properties that varies among individuals and is deeply rooted in biology. For the scientific community, the role of genetics in sexuality is about as "disputable" as the role of evolution in biology.
On the second point, that there is no conclusion that there is a "gay gene," they are right. No so-called gay gene has been found, and it's highly unlikely that one ever will. This is where conservative Christians and Muslims quickly say "See, I told you so! There's no gay gene, so being gay is a choice!"
Take this interesting paragraph I found on an Evangelical website: "The attempt to prove that homosexuality is determined biologically has been dealt a knockout punch. An American Psychological Association publication includes an admission that there's no homosexual "gene" – meaning it's not likely that homosexuals are 'born that way.'"
But that's not at all what it means, and it seems Evangelicals are plucking out stand-alone phrases from scientific reports and removing them from their context. This is known in academia as the fallacy of suppressed evidence. Interestingly, this is also what they have a habit of doing with verses from the Bible.
This idea of sexuality being a choice is such a bizarre notion to me as a man of science. Many of these reparative "therapists" are basing this concept on a random Bible verse or two. When you hold those up against the mountain of scientific research that has been conducted, peer-reviewed, and then peer-reviewed again, it absolutely holds no water. A person's sexuality – whether heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual – is a very deep biological piece of who that person is as an individual.
The fact that a so-called "gay gene" has not been discovered does not mean that homosexuality is not genetic in its causation. This is understandably something that can seem a bit strange to those who have not been educated in fields of science and advanced biology, and it is also why people who are not scientists ought not try to explain the processes in simple black-and-white terms. There is no gay gene, but there is also no "height gene" or "skin tone gene" or "left-handed gene." These, like sexuality, have a heritable aspect, but no one dominant gene is responsible for them.
Many genes, working in sync, contribute to the phenotype and therefore do have a role in sexual orientation. In many animal model systems, for example, the precise genes involved in sexual partner selection have been identified, and their neuro-biochemical pathways have been worked out in great detail. A great number of these mechanisms have been preserved evolutionarily in humans, just as they are for every other behavioral trait we know (including heterosexuality).
Furthermore, there are many biologic traits which are not specifically genetic but are biologic nonetheless. These traits are rooted in hormonal influences, contributed especially during the early stages of fetal development. This too is indisputable and based on extensive peer-reviewed research the world over. Such prenatal hormonal influences are not genetic per se, but are inborn, natural, and biologic nevertheless.
"lifestyle it is a sin"
James
The scriptures actually say nothing about homosexuality as a psychosexual orientation. Our understandings of sexual orientation are distinctly modern ones that were not present in the minds of Scripture writers. A few passages of Scripture (seven at the most) object to certain types of same-sex expressions or acts. The particular acts in question, however, are sexual expressions which are exploitative, oppressive, commercialized, or offensive to ancient purity rituals. There is no Scriptural guidance for same-sex relationships which are loving and mutually respecting. Guidelines for these relationships should come from the same general Scriptural norms that apply to heterosexual relationships.
+
Jesus warned,
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matthew 7:13
Amen.
There are many ways in but no one wants to take mine.
Amen.
What a cowardly statement, of course some of them CHOOSE that lifestyle, they can't all be just helpless victims of biology, I speak from personal experience and resent that I just can't help myself excuse
Heaven Sent, you can go to hell. Please go right now. They're waiting for you.
I'm pretty sure where the conservatives and Baptists are going right now is a place where Jesus would not want to be. Regardless of what they think the bible says, they've got it wrong.
What does Jesus say about being gay? Find that quote in the bible any place? People are born gay. You do not wake up one day & say"Gee,I think I will be gay now! I think some so called Christians are the most hateful people & not very loving!
More bedroom monitors on the way????
Hey Gone...............no sh-it............they (advertisers) have tech to be able to select commercials for you on the sounds a
new tv could receive from your bedroom.