Another change in the BSA (updated 10/17/2017)
It was an expected change for the Boy Scouts of America, to begin allowing girls into its programs.
https://www.ksl.com/?sid=46125082&nid=157&title=in-historic-change-boy-scouts-to-let-girls-in-some-programs
Beginning in 2018 (coincidentally when the LDS Church will stop registering its older boys--14 and older--in Varsity and Venture units), the BSA will allow for girls in Cub Scouting, in all-girls dens. The Packs, at the option of the chartering organization, can have either single gender or have dens of both genders.
But despite what the BSA may claim, the primary reason for this change is financial. From the mentioned article on KSL:
Note that the Girl Scout officials have also suggested the financial angle as a motivation for the change.
I agree that the values of Scouting are applicable and valuable to young men and women. Personally, I don't really have a problem with girls being a part of Scouting, particularly in units comprised of the same gender.
However, this move is opening a can of worms. What happens when a man wants to lead a den of girls? Certainly there will be two-deep leadership, but there will inevitably be similar child abuse problems, only this time around it will involve little girls.
But logistics will likely win out. If the boys and girls units are working towards the same awards and ranks, why not pool resources? Why do they need to be separated into gender-based units? What if there are only a few girls who want to be a part of the program, but the chartered organization doesn't have the resources to establish a girls-only den (or patrol or whatever they work out for the older girls)? There will be plenty of organizations who will want to combine the boys and girls.
And, what about the admittance of transgender youth? And, what about youth claiming some alternate gender? How do these youth fit into a boy-only or girl-only unit? The BSA will likely make it so units can be mixed gender or gender-specific, dependent on what the chartered organization wants.
Will the Church adopt the girls dens? Not likely. I don't think it would be a bad idea. It might actually be good for the Primary children to all be involved with the same program, especially if they were meeting in smaller girls-only and boys-only dens. Undoubtedly there will be plenty who will clamor for and petition the Church to include cub dens for the girls.
But I see two problems.
First, is the inevitable change that will follow, where dens will probably become mixed gender. A lot of people don't have a problem with that. However, it doesn't lend itself well to preparing children to become young women and young men, and it isn't really helpful in further establishing the foundations for boys to become righteous priesthood holders, husbands, and fathers. And, it probably isn't very helpful for the girls in learning to become the daughters of God they should become if they are always meeting with the boys. Combined activities are good, but to always meet as a co-ed group is not helpful.
The second is a bigger challenge, and it follows the same reasoning the Church has pulled its older boys out of Scouting. This problem is the Church would prefer a program that it can use worldwide, and not just in the United States.
The primary motivation for the change is money. This is the underlying factor behind all the changes that have happened, and which will happen in the organization. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. The BSA needs money to operate the program. Businesses need to adapt their business models as needed to survive.
The problem is the financial is overshadowing the traditional values that Scouting promoted, and which are more in word now than in action. A key value that has been compromised is being morally straight.
And as the LGBTQ+ agenda continues to infiltrate, infect, and direct organizations like the BSA, those organizations will abandon traditional values and morality. When it becomes more of a liability to protect chartered organizations choosing to not allow gay leaders, then the BSA will prohibit organizations from making "biased" decisions and excluding capable and willing leaders. The BSA may allow for "exceptions" if the organization can "prove" how allowing a gay leader would be detrimental to promoting, encouraging, and developing the Scouting values and ideals in the youth.
Because the LGBTQ+ movement has had legal victories in promoting their agenda, it isn't likely morally opposed religious organizations will mount any kind of legal battle to "prove" how a gay leader would hurt the youth anymore than a straight leader might.
My guess is it will be about that time when the Church will completely withdraw their involvement with Scouting. It probably won't be an immediate, "we are out now," response. Most likely it will be similar to this year's move, and the Church will make the announcement and will discontinue registrations as of the first of the next year. Hopefully they will have a replacement program in place that can be rolled out. Because the desire for a worldwide program has already been announced on several occasions, it will look more like it was a planned move on the part of the Church, and not a direct reaction to the change in the BSA. But, I suspect this is at least a year or two out.
Here is the Church's response to the BSA's announcement:
"The Activity Days and Personal Progress programs of the church have long been in place to meet the needs of girls and young women in these age groups, and no change will be made in church programs. We recognize that the desire of the BSA is to expand their programs to serve more young people in the United States. The church, too, continues to look at ways to serve the needs of our youth worldwide."
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900002109/boy-scouts-of-america-plans-to-admit-girls.html
While some may say I'm reading too much into the statement, the final statement is the possible "out" for the Church, "The church, too, continues to look at ways to serve the needs of our youth worldwide."
---updated 10/17/2017
I found this interesting article called History Highlights of LDS Girls in Scouting
http://blog.utahscouts.org/lds-scouting/history-highlights-lds-girls-scouting/
https://www.ksl.com/?sid=46125082&nid=157&title=in-historic-change-boy-scouts-to-let-girls-in-some-programs
Beginning in 2018 (coincidentally when the LDS Church will stop registering its older boys--14 and older--in Varsity and Venture units), the BSA will allow for girls in Cub Scouting, in all-girls dens. The Packs, at the option of the chartering organization, can have either single gender or have dens of both genders.
But despite what the BSA may claim, the primary reason for this change is financial. From the mentioned article on KSL:
"The Girl Scouts of the USA criticized the initiative, saying it strained the century-old bond between the two organizations. Girl Scout officials have suggested the BSA's move was driven partly by financial problems and a need to boost revenue.The "century-old bond" included an understanding that the BSA would not be seeking to recruit girls into its programs and directly compete with the Girl Scouts of the United States ofAmerica.
"In August, the president of the Girl Scouts accused the Boy Scouts of seeking to covertly recruit girls into their programs while disparaging the Girl Scouts' operations.
"'I formally request that your organization stay focused on serving the 90 percent of American boys not currently participating in Boy Scouts ... and not consider expanding to recruit girls,' wrote GSUSA President Kathy Hopinkah Hannan in a letter to the BSA's president, AT&T Chairman Randall Stephenson."
Note that the Girl Scout officials have also suggested the financial angle as a motivation for the change.
I agree that the values of Scouting are applicable and valuable to young men and women. Personally, I don't really have a problem with girls being a part of Scouting, particularly in units comprised of the same gender.
However, this move is opening a can of worms. What happens when a man wants to lead a den of girls? Certainly there will be two-deep leadership, but there will inevitably be similar child abuse problems, only this time around it will involve little girls.
But logistics will likely win out. If the boys and girls units are working towards the same awards and ranks, why not pool resources? Why do they need to be separated into gender-based units? What if there are only a few girls who want to be a part of the program, but the chartered organization doesn't have the resources to establish a girls-only den (or patrol or whatever they work out for the older girls)? There will be plenty of organizations who will want to combine the boys and girls.
And, what about the admittance of transgender youth? And, what about youth claiming some alternate gender? How do these youth fit into a boy-only or girl-only unit? The BSA will likely make it so units can be mixed gender or gender-specific, dependent on what the chartered organization wants.
Will the Church adopt the girls dens? Not likely. I don't think it would be a bad idea. It might actually be good for the Primary children to all be involved with the same program, especially if they were meeting in smaller girls-only and boys-only dens. Undoubtedly there will be plenty who will clamor for and petition the Church to include cub dens for the girls.
But I see two problems.
First, is the inevitable change that will follow, where dens will probably become mixed gender. A lot of people don't have a problem with that. However, it doesn't lend itself well to preparing children to become young women and young men, and it isn't really helpful in further establishing the foundations for boys to become righteous priesthood holders, husbands, and fathers. And, it probably isn't very helpful for the girls in learning to become the daughters of God they should become if they are always meeting with the boys. Combined activities are good, but to always meet as a co-ed group is not helpful.
The second is a bigger challenge, and it follows the same reasoning the Church has pulled its older boys out of Scouting. This problem is the Church would prefer a program that it can use worldwide, and not just in the United States.
The primary motivation for the change is money. This is the underlying factor behind all the changes that have happened, and which will happen in the organization. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. The BSA needs money to operate the program. Businesses need to adapt their business models as needed to survive.
The problem is the financial is overshadowing the traditional values that Scouting promoted, and which are more in word now than in action. A key value that has been compromised is being morally straight.
And as the LGBTQ+ agenda continues to infiltrate, infect, and direct organizations like the BSA, those organizations will abandon traditional values and morality. When it becomes more of a liability to protect chartered organizations choosing to not allow gay leaders, then the BSA will prohibit organizations from making "biased" decisions and excluding capable and willing leaders. The BSA may allow for "exceptions" if the organization can "prove" how allowing a gay leader would be detrimental to promoting, encouraging, and developing the Scouting values and ideals in the youth.
Because the LGBTQ+ movement has had legal victories in promoting their agenda, it isn't likely morally opposed religious organizations will mount any kind of legal battle to "prove" how a gay leader would hurt the youth anymore than a straight leader might.
My guess is it will be about that time when the Church will completely withdraw their involvement with Scouting. It probably won't be an immediate, "we are out now," response. Most likely it will be similar to this year's move, and the Church will make the announcement and will discontinue registrations as of the first of the next year. Hopefully they will have a replacement program in place that can be rolled out. Because the desire for a worldwide program has already been announced on several occasions, it will look more like it was a planned move on the part of the Church, and not a direct reaction to the change in the BSA. But, I suspect this is at least a year or two out.
Here is the Church's response to the BSA's announcement:
"The Activity Days and Personal Progress programs of the church have long been in place to meet the needs of girls and young women in these age groups, and no change will be made in church programs. We recognize that the desire of the BSA is to expand their programs to serve more young people in the United States. The church, too, continues to look at ways to serve the needs of our youth worldwide."
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900002109/boy-scouts-of-america-plans-to-admit-girls.html
While some may say I'm reading too much into the statement, the final statement is the possible "out" for the Church, "The church, too, continues to look at ways to serve the needs of our youth worldwide."
---updated 10/17/2017
I found this interesting article called History Highlights of LDS Girls in Scouting
http://blog.utahscouts.org/lds-scouting/history-highlights-lds-girls-scouting/
Comments
Post a Comment