First Baptist Church is weighing a continued partnership with the Boy Scouts after a summer decision by the Boy Scouts of America’s national leadership to end a ban on gay scout leaders.
According to a USA Today report, in June, 57 of the organization’s 71-member board participated in a vote on the ban on gay adult leaders. Of those, only 12 opposed lifting the ban.
FBC currently sponsors Boy Scout Troop 3 and Cub Scout Pack 3. Pastor Shawn Parker said the church hasn’t yet changed its relationship with the Boy Scouts, but it might in the future.
“We’re evaluating that right now in light of their recent decisions that basically are taking the Boy Scouts in a bit of a different philosophical direction,” Parker said. “We’re evaluating it right now, but no decision has been made.”
Parker said feelings on the matter are mixed, but the decision will ultimately be up to the congregation.
FBC has sponsored Troop 3 since 1932.
Jeremy Whitmore, scout executive for the Pushmataha Area Council, said the 2013 membership change and recent decision on Scout adult leadership has had limited — if any — impact within the Council’s troops. He noted there are 1,064 members in the Pushmataha Area Council, which is higher than the same time last year.
“The conversation’s been pretty quiet,” Whitmore said. “There are a couple of organizations that are evaluating their continued partnership with Scouting. But at this point, there’s nothing to report.
“We’re hoping they do continue with us,” he added. “First Baptist Church is a great partner of ours. However, if they’re choosing to reevaluate, that’s obviously their prerogative.”
The Pushmataha Area Council covers 10 northeast Mississippi counties, including those of the Golden Triangle. He said three Scout troops and three Cub packs are active in Columbus.
In May 2013, the Boy Scouts of America lifted a ban on openly gay youth joining troops. Parker said FBC’s relationship with the Boy Scouts was uninterrupted after the decision.
“When they made the decision about allowing members in, we didn’t really react to that,” Parker said. “Their decision this summer is a bit of concern to us, so we are just evaluating what it means to us and how best we need to respond to that.”
Whitmore said the sponsoring organization for a troop has the final approval on any adult leadership.
He said council leadership will seek another organization to sponsor Troop 3, should FBC choose to part ways with the organization.
“We appreciate First Baptist Church’s longstanding partnership with Scouting,” Whitmore said. “However, if through their evaluation process, that (does) change, the Cub Scout pack and Boy Scout troop — we would look to get them to a new organization and make that transition as smooth as possible.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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