bsa_logoPlease read this press release from the American Family Association (AFA) and respond to ARP News Update at arpeditor@arpsynod.org. So many ARP men are in leadership roles with the Boy Scouts and a large number of our boys are members, with troops historically meeting at our churches. Please share your thoughts concerning this astonishing defeat.

TUPELO, MS—It was an astounding defeat today for the Boy Scouts of America as the resolution passed overturning the long-standing policy that the Boy Scouts of America has held prohibiting open homosexuals from the membership rolls of the organization. The ban was lifted by a vote of 61 percent of the members of the Boy Scouts’ National Council.

This defeat changes the face of scouting forever, to the detriment of the BSA and Americans across the nation.

American Family Association delivered a quarter of a million petitions to the BSA National Headquarters yesterday afternoon that supported keeping the BSA policy in tact to not allow homosexual boys to join the organization. Thesepetitions were ignored by the Boy Scouts National Council.

AFA President Tim Wildmon says, “The leadership of the Boy Scouts of America has failed the young men it represents. AFA decries the decision today and is deeply saddened that Randall Stephenson, CEO of ATT and executive board member of the Boy Scouts of America, and other members of the BSA board, have overthrown the time-honored values of this century-old organization. The Boy Scout oath begins with, ‘On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God…,’ and Mr. Stephenson and others who were pushing hard for the resolution to change BSA policy have done everything possible to sabotage the very principles upon which BSA was built. It is an abomination that he and others are in direct opposition to the core values of the Boy Scouts. It is a sad day for America. This is another influential American institution for good that has been sacrificed at the altar of political correctness. Hundreds of thousands of Scouts will leave the organization.”

The entire Boy Scouts’ Oath reads:

“On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”

Tim Wildmon adds, “‘Morally straight’ now includes boys who are sexually attracted to boys.”