Family Life

01.29.13 | Sarah Harnisch

The Boy Scouts are considering doing an about face, and allowing gay scouts and leaders. Sing Oldham is with the Southern Baptist Convention. He says "they're really spelling their own death as being the kind of organization they have been historically." The Scouts National Board votes next week, and insiders say they believe it will pass and go into effect June 1st. It would drop the national ban on gay Scouts and leaders, but individual troops would still be able to decide whether they want to allow gays in. Oldham says "it sounds good on paper, but the whole scouting enterprise includes jamborees and large group gatherings, so that the national policy will trump local decisions whenever there's a gathering." He predicts a problem for the Scouts. He says "I do believe there will be attrition over time, as churches evaluate their long term relationship with the Scouts, and begin to look at other options as far as serving the needs and interests of boys." He predicts a mass exodus if this is approved.