Boy Scouts Lifts Ban on Gay Scout Leaders

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

God, wonder if my church will still charter my troop. Hope so???

The policy the BSA adopted allows for religious groups chartering troops to consider whether the adult leadership meets their own religious standards. They pretty much had to if they were going to keep some of the troops sponsored by conservative churches.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The second issue is one of institutional capability. The two organizations are separate but unequal. BSA has a disproportionate amount of money, assets, and political capital whereas the GSA does not, and suffers for it. Conversely, the GSA is much better at dealing with the social reality of a changing America wrt LBGT and non-Christian scouts, whereas the BSA, despite recent movements, is still rampantly homophobic and Christian. Merging the organizations helps correct for the unique issues of each while creating greater opportunities for all scouts.

The fact that the two are unequal is actually an argument against a merger. It may also be well and good in theory, but in practice such mergers rarely go well. The Unitarian Universalist merger is a prime example. I am not a Unitarian dammit! I'm a Universalist who is a member of a UU church.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Let me say it again: Scouting does not exclude women. If you were to insist on a mixed-gender group, there even is Venturing. If that does not satisfy you still, there are a whole bevy of breakaway and Scouting-like groups for you to choose from. Perhaps the Unitarian Universalist scouts, whatever they are called, might suit you.

As for the religious requirement, the development of spirituality is part of Scouting's mission, as laid out by Baden-Powell. It is part of its purpose. To take that out would be to change the nature of Scouting.

There's the Unitarian Universalist Scouting Organization, but it's not a breakaway group. It exists to administer the UU's religious award for the BSA and to encourage and assist UU congregations in sponsoring troops.