Family Life

02.07.13 | Sarah Harnisch

The move by the Boy Scouts of America to delay a decision on the organization's ban on gay members and leaders is keeping local councils in limbo. The Longhouse Council, which represents the scouts in Cayuga, Onondaga, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Lewis counties, released a statement that kept in line with the national response citing the complexity of the issue while claiming the organization needed more time to review it's membership policy. The proposed change in policy would allow local scouting councils, like the longhouse council, to make decisions on membership for themselves. Some say the boy scouts fear a Departure of Conservative sponsors if they change the current admission standards. Many churches and Christian groups may also decide to abandon scouting if homosexuals are allowed to become members.