PCUSA begins dissociating from Presbyterian Scouts
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, May 24, 2001
The staff of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has begun dissociating the denomination from the Boy Scouts of America because of the Scouts’ policy prohibiting homosexual leaders.
In a letter to leaders of the National Association of Presbyterian Scouters, Gina Yeager of the Congregational Ministries Division said a funding request had been denied because Boy Scouts are “in conflict with the basic theological foundations of the Presbyterian Youth Connection.”
The Presbyterian Lay Committee received a copy of the letter from a Presbyterian who asked not to be identified.
Specifically, Yeager, associate for youth ministry in the Congregational Ministries Division, said the youth ministry is “inclusive” in sexual orientation, but that the Boy Scouts are not.
In June 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld on a 5-4 vote the policy of the Boy Scouts of America prohibiting homosexual troop leaders. That policy was challenged by homosexual activists and still is under fire, including opposition from one of the most aggressive lobbies within the Presbyterian Church: More Light Presbyterians.
Ironically, the Boy Scout policy on homosexual leadership essentially is the same as the Book of Order policy for officers in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Church officers are required to maintain fidelity in marriage and chastity in singleness.
But Yeager told the Presbyterian Scout leaders that “our office and budget are based upon the 5 Intentions of Presbyterian youth ministry. Among these 5 Intentions is the idea that Presbyterian youth ministry is inclusive – meaning, it can discriminate against no young person.”
She also told the Scout leaders that, although the Congregational Ministries Division will pay for a Scout novelty item to be handed out at the National Jamboree, “we will not be including the PYC logo. We feel there is too strong a discrepancy between the Scouts’ position and where we must land as the National youth ministry office.”
Yeager said the Congregational Ministries Division soon will review its covenant with the National Association of Presbyterian Scouters.
The question of the covenant was on the agenda of the last meeting of the General Assembly Council, but the council took no action. The council will meet June 4-8 in Louisville before the national General Assembly on June 9-16.
Yeager’s contention about homosexual Boy Scouts – as opposed to troop leaders – addresses an issue that was not included in the Supreme Court case, although she cites that case. “As you know there is a great concern about issues arising from the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the Boy Scouts of America and homosexual Scouts,” she said.
The policy on homosexual Boy Scouts is less defined than the policy for leaders.
“The Boy Scouts in America went to the Supreme Court to assure groups like the church that it could continue to do what BSA does in setting leadership requirements, yet suddenly, because they are concerned about the rights of homosexual Scouts, they are discussing a premature review of the NAPS covenant,” said the Scout leader who asked to remain unidentified.
The current issue is a far cry from the response of former Moderator Marj Carpenter when she was honored at a Presbyterian Boy Scout event in 1998. She told the boys, “Thank you all. I love kids. I love you, Scouts. God bless you young Scouts. Hang in there.”
They did – all the way to the Supreme Court. Now, some Presbyterian national employees are making them pay for that victory.