Takeaways from AP’s report about the importance of faith-based support for Scouting America
NEW YORK AP For the Boy Scouts of America in recent months renamed Scouting America the past years have been challenging Opening its programs to gay people and later to girls angered various critics Its bankruptcy declaration triggered disputes over compensation for thousands of men claiming they were sexually abused as scouts While the -year-old organization now serves far fewer youths than at its peak decades ago it seems to be stabilizing with a slight uptick in membership last year One key reason The loyalty of major religious denominations that still view scouting s mission as uniquely valuable and welcome its continued commitment to reverence and prayer Here s a look at the role those faith groups play A diversity of faiths in scouting According to Scouting America s latest information faith-based organizations account for of the nearly units operated by chartered organizations The Catholic Church and its affiliates are No overseeing units serving more than of the roughly million boys and girls now working in scouting Other major sponsors include the United Methodists the Episcopal Church and various Lutheran and Presbyterian denominations Nearly units serving more than scouts are sponsored by Muslim Jewish and Buddhist organizations Roger Krone Scouting America s president and CEO took the post in as the organization emerged from bankruptcy proceedings He appreciates the diversity of the faith groups engaged in scouting It really speaks to the alignment of the mission vision and values that our organization has and what those organizations have he notified The Associated Press It s character evolution it s spiritual enhancement it s region system Specific changes but not to Scout Oath and Scout Law The Boy Scouts lifted a ban on openly gay youth members in and began accepting girls in strategies that Krone depicted as a message of welcome to any family considering scouting One step the organization will not take Krone stated is abandoning the religious credo at the core of its mission The famed Scout Oath begins On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God while the Scout Law s concluding message is Be reverent toward God Be faithful in your religious duties Respect the belief of others Krone acknowledged that various nonreligious families while admiring aspects of scouting might be uncomfortable with the Duty to God pledge He encourages them to try scouting nonetheless Specific faith groups broke away After the decision to admit gay youth specific disgruntled conservatives formed a new group Trail Life USA which created its own ranks badges and uniforms It now suggests youth members participating in church-run units aligned with biblical Christian principles The biggest blow came at the start of when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints then the Boy Scouts largest faith-based partner withdrew more than scouts in favor of new programs of its own Krone announced plenty of Latter-day Saints families remain fond of Boy Scout activities and now place their children in units unaffiliated with their church As for Trail Life Krone acknowledged that its conservative Christian outlook has strong appeal for specific families But our venture will prepare you better for life he commented Once you get out of high school you need to learn to get along with others in the world as it is at present outside of the surroundings that you grew up in COVID and bankruptcy took a toll The loss of plenty of units affiliated with the Latter-day Saints and conservative Christian churches was part of a broader shrinkage experienced by the Boy Scouts which served more than million boys in the s The pandemic and the bankruptcy process were major factors as membership dwindled In all more than people filed suggests alleging they were sexually abused as scouts Leading faith-based sponsors of scout units including Catholic dioceses and Methodist churches contributed to a billion reorganization plan that took effect in allowing the Boy Scouts to keep operating while compensating abuse survivors For those who stayed scouting is indispensable Steven Scheid director of the United Methodists Center for Scouting Ministries sees specific upsides for scouting after its previous difficulties He cited rigorous child-protection policies that he views as effective in curtailing sex abuse The lessons we can gain out of the mistakes of the past can make a better stronger district a safer one he declared Back in the United Methodists accounted for almost youth members in the Boy Scouts The figure now is While Christian churches account for the vast majority of Scouting America s faith-based units there are more than scouts in Muslim-sponsored units and about in Jewish-affiliated units Muslims in America are searching for their identity and there s nothing more American than scouting revealed Rashid Abdullah executive director of the National Association of Muslim Americans on Scouting It s aligning perfectly with the values of our faith Abdullah is also a lead organizer of scout units chartered to the Islamic Center of Northern Virginia Trust and the father of three sons who like himself made Eagle Scout Another Eagle Scout of long standing is Ricky Mason a bankruptcy attorney who helped negotiate the reorganization plan and who next year will become the second Jewish chair of the Scouts National Executive Committee Mason depicts scouting as a way for the U S Jewish region to remain connected with American society amid concerns that antisemitism is increasing Associated Press religion coverage receives patronage through the AP s collaboration with The Conversation US with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc The AP is solely responsible for this content Source
