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June 12th, 2013
02:32 PM ET
Big Baptist group urges ouster of Boy Scout execsBy Daniel Burke, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor (CNN) - The Southern Baptist Convention, the country's second largest church, said Boy Scout executives who pushed to allow openly gay Scouts without properly consulting members should be ousted from office. In a resolution approved Wednesday at their annual meeting, Southern Baptist leaders stopped short of urging churches to cut ties with local troops in protest of the Scouting change, but didn't encourage them to stay, either. Either way, the historic decision to allow gay Scouts could "complicate basic understandings of male friendships, needlessly politicize human sexuality, and heighten sexual tensions within the Boy Scouts,” the Baptist resolution says. The Boy Scouts of America initially planned to lift its longtime ban on openly gay youth without canvassing members, Southern Baptists charged in a resolution that passed overwhelmingly. The executives behind that plan should be removed, the Baptists said. With 16 million members in some 45,000 congregations, the Southern Baptist Convention is the country’s largest Protestant denomination. Baptists as a whole, including several smaller denominations, sponsor about 4,000 Scouting units representing 100,000 youths. “We have a deep respect for the Southern Baptist Convention and its churches that use Scouting in their youth ministries,” said Deron Smith, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America. “Scouting’s youth member policy is not about the BSA condoning homosexuality, or forcing its chartered organizations to do the same.” After BSA leaders floated the idea of allowing gay youths in January, more than 60% of the BSA's 1,400-member national council approved the change in May. It takes effect Jan. 1. The BSA will continue to prohibit any sexual conduct - heterosexual or homosexual - among its youth. The ban on openly gay leaders continues as well. Membership in Boy Scouts has declined nearly 20% since 1999. About 2.7 million young people now participate nationwide. Boy Scouts to allow gay youths to join Smith said opening membership to gay youth “allows Scouting to be more compassionate in its response to a young person who expresses a same-sex attraction.” Faith-based organizations charter more than 70% of Scout chapters, providing meeting space and leadership, according to the BSA. Several of the largest religious sponsors, including the Mormon church, the United Methodist Church and the Roman Catholic Church, have indicated that they do not plan to disaffiliate from the BSA. Still, many conservative congregations, particularly Southern Baptists, have pledged to cut ties with local troops, and some pastors on Wednesday called on the entire denomination to do likewise. “We should stand firmly and keep ourselves from having to revisit this issue in future years,” Pastor Mike Janz of First Baptist Church of Rosamond, California, said Wednesday at the Baptist meeting. Janz’s proposal to urge all Southern Baptists to disaffiliate from the Scouts was handily defeated Wednesday. Still, some top Southern Baptist leaders predict that congregations will leave the Scouts "en masse." Baptists plan exodus from Boy Scouts Pastor Charlie Dale of Indian Springs First Baptist Church in Alabama said churches and Scouts should help, not bar, boys who believe they are gay. “Such a boy needs love,” Dale said. “So let’s bring him in and show him what biblical manhood and real love is about.” Affiliating with Scout troops also provides an avenue for evangelism, said Pastor David Uth of Orlando. “We are very happy to partner (with Scouts) because it gives us access to more families and more boys to share the life-saving gospel of Jesus Christ.” Russell Moore, the new head of the SBC’s powerful Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, called Uth’s approach “wise and gospel-focused.” “This isn’t Disney redux, as some media predicted,” Moore tweeted. The Southern Baptists' resolution encourages churches to consider the denomination's homegrown Scouting alternative, the Royal Ambassadors, a Christian group dedicated to developing "godly young men." Meanwhile, liberal churches pledged to sponsor troops disowned by conservative congregations. For every host organization that has decided to sever ties with their troop, eight to 10 new ones have invited the Boy Scouts into their community, according to Jeff Fulcher, spokesman for the Atlanta Area Council of the BSA. "This membership issue is a sensitive issue with a lot of people in our community,” Fulcher said. “Some can't continue supporting the scouting programs. But the vast majority of the Scouts in our organization still want to continue scouting, and we've had a wide variety of churches, places of worship and civic organizations reaching out to us because they want scouting programs in their neighborhoods.” One such church is the One World Spiritual Center in Marietta, Georgia, where the community extended an invitation to Boys Scout troops soon to lose their meeting place. The Rev. Stephanie Seigh, head of the One World, said the church decided invite the Scouts after learning that Southern Baptists nearby refused to continue hosting their troops. “We teach our children that God is in everyone and everything. We don't discriminate," Seigh told CNN. CNN's Mayra Cuevas contributed to this report.
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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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Let me understand this – US "Christians" want "freedom of religion". Sounds more they want to be religious police, judge, jury and executioners.
They want freedom of religion...as long it's just theirs.
Ecclesiastes 1:1-2
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity.
Amen.
Wiki says the boy scouts (secular organization rather than religious) currently has 2.7 million youth members that focus on developing citizenship, character, and self-reliance. The Baptists claim 100,000 of those members – that's a .1 million of that 2.7 million. It sounds to me like those jealous, greedy Baptist leaders would love to ruin Scouting for everyone unless they can cull those they deem "unacceptable" and the select "acceptable" boy scout members to themselves in religious madrasah. Freakishly Hitleresque
As for the molesting issue, I know a disturbing number of people who were molested as kids, and all but one were molested by a *straight* person of the opposite gender, most of those being family friends (ick) or family members themselves (double ick!) Don't try to pretend it's a gay thing.
Now, Jim, don't confuse them with facts. Facts make their heads hurt.
Jim, if it's double ick! why are you supporting it?
@heaven sent Maybe you should be Heaven sent to get some comprehension skills.He said ic to child molestation.You weren't in line when the big guy passed out the brains were you ?Oldy but a goody!
The fires of hades burn especially hot for these intolerant religious groups.
Tell that little mantra to Jesus, he would have sided with the SBC.
devin is quite the "mind-reader of God"
we were warned of such types
Devin – The mythology says Jesus was a gentle man, who never married, had a creative profession, and spent all of his time hanging around with a bunch of men. Nothing gay about that...
Just cause you are gay doesn't mean you're a pedo. Another strike against religion being oppressive. In less than one generation, religion could take a big hit in numbers. Seems like a close minded bunch of old greys now. You know any 20 year olds into religion? I don't.
Then you must live in a cave.
Quite a few young people that I know are into religion.
And just because one is a pedo doesn't mean they're a child molester. Get some education!
These people are so nasty and mean-spirited. Things like this are all the proof you need that if we didn't have the First Amendment protecting us, these people would try to have us living in a society that would be like a Christianized Iran.
Keep praying to the 'sky monkey' you prejudiced biased Baptist freaks. Get real! You are the ones who should be in the closet!!
jumb o d u m b oo
j
There have been gays in scouts for as long as there have been scouts, same with every other organization. What difference does it make? It's not contagious, and gays generally don't breed so it's not likely for the percentages to change much going forward.
The truth................no god(s) needed.
Chalking Up a Marine Blooming Alga: Genome Fills a Gap in the Tree of Life
June 12, 2013 — To World War II soldiers, "The White Cliffs of Dover" was a morale-boosting song that lifted spirits in dark times. To geographers,
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130612133050.htm
Tax the church. They like to tell people how to vote, they are like a private club telling people you can not be a part of us. So they not church anymore. Tax them. Tax them like any other club.
OR yank their faith !
Imagine No Religion 3: Peter Boghossian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orW1AstN7AI
Hey guess what, Southern Baptists? There have been gay scouts and leaders in the Boy Scouts since its creation. Sorry to break that to you!
Yeah...they don't seem to get that. They think this means gays will come flocking in from all over and fondle their kids, the same way they think that if marriage equality occurs, everyone will suddenly start marrying the same sex like crazy.
Melanie,
Could you bring about and show us the data backing up your scripted stance?
STFU, lionly.
sam,
A we bit testy are we? Asking for data is a reasonableness for digging up the true facts instead of believing by shear ignorance.
No data is necessary lionlylamb. If you've been alive long enough, and have been paying attention, then you'd know that we're talking about identifying a trend here that lies somewhere between the obvious, and common sense.
Lion – Proof of gay scouts in the past? Does the name George Takei ring any bells? That's just the one that I know of as fact.
The Boy Scouts of America can do without the Southern Baptist Convention FAR better than the SBC can do without the BSA. God only knows what lunacy advises the SBC leadership to reject the Scouts; WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!
My guess is they were thinking they didn't like the idea of boys who are s e x u a l l y attracted to other boys, sleeping and bathing together. What is it about this concept that makes it so outrageous that you can't comprehend it?
"THINKING"? You, sir, give the SBC too much credit.
Time will tell won't it? Your hopefulness is revealing,,,
But Devin these boys you fear, sleeping and bathing with other boys, have been there since the inception of scouting.
How's it going so far?
"sleeping and bathing together"
I was unaware there was a nude group bathing policy at the Boy Scouts. I was also unaware that the sleeping arangements on cmaping trips were such that you slept in other boys sleeping bags. Since this must be the case as you seem to indicate I will be sure and not send my son to the Boy Scouts either.
Now if this is not the case and no one is forced to get naked with each other or sleep in the same bag, then what is the big deal? Are you so insecure that you think having your children in the same room with a gay person might make them gay? Or is it that you just don't want your children to think of gays as regular normal people just like everyone else?
Oooh look at the crazy Christians scream and holler because people are starting to ignore their pretend sky friends.
Kind of reminds me of the idiots in a Gay Pride parade, except with clothes on. Awful lot of screaming and hollering going on at that event too. Keep your perversions at home and no one would care or take issue.
@MeThinks
You're totally right, how dare people have parades, lets just get rid of all parades huh? That way no one will get offended right? Screw the Thanksgiving Parade, how does that make the Native Americans feel?
here's the difference The Gay Pride parade is a celebration of love and fun. If you don't like, you need not participate. The same goes here with BSA and the Baptists, except they're taking it a step further by using their hate to try and destroy and organization because the organization won't share their hate.
See the difference? One group promotes love, the other promotes hate. Which side do you want to be on?
MeThinks....... you doth protest too much.
There have been Gay boy scouts and scoutmasters since the BSA was formed, just because they are now going to be acknowledged you protest, perhaps your protestation (Protestants) are to hide your own phobias and fears
Exactly, MeThinks! Keep your perverted bible nonsense out of the public eye.
Baloney. You people have been condemning people who don't goose step to your religious fantasies since time immortal. Get real, MeThinks.
@MeThinks: Or you could just NOT ATTEND a pride celebration or turn off your TV. No one's forcing anything down your throat (as the regressives as so fond of - Freudianly - saying.
Wow, again, way to "practice what you preach" Southern Baptists...discriminating against gay children. Hope you are able to hold your head up, when you meet your lord and have to explain your hatred and discrimination in his name.
The problem is they do not care what the rest of the planet thinks. They are completely and totally brainwashed.
I think the saddest part is that these people will never really face true justice. I would love to believe that if an afterlife existed, they would have to go before their god and try to explain why they used so much of their time on earth to make other peoples lives so miserable, but in reality they'll die and that'll be it and they'll go out believing what they did was completely right.
I believe God teaches us to condemn the sin not the sinner.
So, I understand you do not support the lifestyle, but God teaches us all to accept all, even those who sin.
I am very live and let live and believe the LGBT group should have all the rights others enjoy.
Most of Jesus' inner crcle were sinners and the downtrodden and he loved them all
F... the church, They are such creeps.
Go swallow a fistful of pills
Ty, you're such a good Christian.
Please do not pick and choose what you want to believe from the bible ok.
MATTHEW 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Jesus endorses the ma-ss mur-der, ra-pe, slav-ery, tort-ure and inc-est written about in the Old Testament.
From book of hindu Mithra ism,, pagan savior ism, inducted by hindu Magi s, crook fortune tellers to hind fool humanity in to hindu Mithra ism, pagan savior ism with new labeled, Christianity, savior ism.
F your bible and the pack of demented rules that are no longer valid except for when you need to sacrafice a virgin.
@ Lou, What Matthew is referring to there is the Ten Commandments and the revelations of the Prophets (The Dispora and the Apocalypse for instance), not the sins that society were committing. In other words, Jesus is going to make sure the Ten Commandments are followed, not ignored, so people will stop their sinning ways. Get yourself a good Bible Commentary like Matthew Henry and you will be able to find out what the Bible verses are actually saying.
@ Islam
Shut up Mohammad you're posts are like ear wax candies from Harry potter.
Good decision. 999 straight scouts on one side and maybe maybe one gay scout on the other side.
No doubt about it. They'll be sorry when someone elses kid gets molested. That's the problem w/ pc administrator tools.
The Baptists should just disband.
Pathetic religion.
.
Hate is as hate does (stupid, too). Let the haters form their own group. The Boy Scouts will be much better without them.
Issues in the Garden
Genesis 1:31 God was pleased with his creation.
Genesis 6:5-6 God was not pleased with his creation.
Which raises the question, how can an omnipotent, omniscient God create something he’s not pleased with?
Genesis 2:3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
An omnipotent being required…rest?
Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
God placed temptation in the direct path of his two naïve children and allowed them to be tempted by the serpent (Genesis 3: 1-7), resulting in a single mistake that would contaminate hundreds of billions with a sin nature worthy of eternal torture?
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, ’You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?"
A talking snake. Enough said.
The Bible, like most religious texts, is written in an allegorical and poetic style. You can disagree all you like, but try actually understanding what you are criticizing.
From hindu Greek Torah, known as old testament to hind fool humanity, reject of son of blessed Mary, propagated on his name to hind fool humanity in to hindu Mithra ism, racist savior ism, Christianity, religion of hindu Vatican, before new label.
@Rod
I think you are missing the point here.
If you really believe it's allegorical, fine the talking snake can become allegory, but where in the Genesis story does it say that it's allegorical and not literal?
Next, do you believe in god? If so, (and like Lou pointed out) how can an omnipotent god get tired? How can a perfect god create something imperfect? If man didn't know the difference between good and bad before eating the fruit, why would a god expect them to act "good"? Finally, why would god punish generation after generation for a single wrong act done by our great great (etc....) grandparents?
What Lou is clearly disagreeing with is not just the allegory or poetry, but the dogma itself. You can attempt to apologize for various parts the bible, brush aside some dogma and then try the ad hominem attack of accusing the questioner of ignorance of the text but you still need to actually address these questions.
you have no idea what you are talking about ,
idiot!!!
Lou, God loves all His creation but He's not pleased with unbelievers that have no eyes to see or ears to hear His truth, are too lazy to read His letter (the Bible) He wrote to ALL.
The Bible was written by men, not an invisible creature who loves us, yet burns us alive if we don't believe in him.
After all, which one sounds more plausible?