This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/26/mormon-church-boy-scouts-gay-troop-leaders

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Mormon church to stay affiliated with Boy Scouts after gay leader decision Mormon church to stay affiliated with Boy Scouts after gay leader decision
(35 minutes later)
The Mormon church – the nation’s largest sponsor of Boy Scout units – is keeping its longtime affiliation with the organization despite its decision to allow gay troop leaders.The Mormon church – the nation’s largest sponsor of Boy Scout units – is keeping its longtime affiliation with the organization despite its decision to allow gay troop leaders.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the decision Wednesday in a news release. Church leaders decided to stay with the Boy Scouts after getting assurances they can appoint troop leaders according to their own religious and moral values.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the decision Wednesday in a news release. Church leaders decided to stay with the Boy Scouts after getting assurances they can appoint troop leaders according to their own religious and moral values.
The church “will appoint Scout leaders and volunteers who uphold and exemplify church doctrine, values, and standards,” Mormon leaders said in the statement. The church “will appoint Scout leaders and volunteers who uphold and exemplify church doctrine, values, and standards”, Mormon leaders said in the statement.
The decision comes as something of a surprise. Mormon leaders had said they were deeply troubled after the Boy Scouts announced on 28 July that it would lift its ban on gay adult leaders, while allowing church-sponsored Scout units to continue excluding gay adults.The decision comes as something of a surprise. Mormon leaders had said they were deeply troubled after the Boy Scouts announced on 28 July that it would lift its ban on gay adult leaders, while allowing church-sponsored Scout units to continue excluding gay adults.
As American culture accepts gays and lesbians, the Mormon religion is trying to strike a balance between adhering to its basic tenets and acknowledging cultural shifts in the world.As American culture accepts gays and lesbians, the Mormon religion is trying to strike a balance between adhering to its basic tenets and acknowledging cultural shifts in the world.
The church said it will continue evaluating and is open to alternatives to the Boy Scouts. More than half of the religion’s 15 million members live outside the United States. The church said it will continue evaluating the situation and is open to alternatives to the Boy Scouts. More than half of the religion’s 15 million members live outside the United States.
Mormon leaders have softened their tone about gays and lesbians in recent years. Church leaders were involved in legislation enacted in Utah in March that extended nondiscrimination protections to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. Mormon leaders have softened their tone on gay and lesbian people in recent years. Church leaders were involved in legislation enacted in Utah in March that extended nondiscrimination protections to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
But those leaders have also made it clear that the church still opposes gay marriage and believes homosexual activity is a sin.But those leaders have also made it clear that the church still opposes gay marriage and believes homosexual activity is a sin.
A number of rank-and-file Mormons are pushing the church to become more accepting and welcoming of LGBT members to avoid losing them from the religion or being shunned. Groups have formed to represent the movement, including a coalition of Mormon mothers whose children are gay and lesbian.A number of rank-and-file Mormons are pushing the church to become more accepting and welcoming of LGBT members to avoid losing them from the religion or being shunned. Groups have formed to represent the movement, including a coalition of Mormon mothers whose children are gay and lesbian.
The bond between the Scouts and Mormons goes back to the early 1900s and involved mutual values and principles. The bond between the Scouts and Mormons goes back to the early 1900s and has involved mutual values and principles.
As the religion’s membership swelled, Boy Scouts became a rite of passage for Mormon boys, with the church covering the cost of troops for congregations, known as wards, and strongly encouraging participation for boys. As the religion’s membership swelled, being Boy Scouts became a rite of passage for Mormon boys, with the church covering the cost of troops for congregations, known as wards, and strongly encouraging participation.
Some speculated the church would cut ties in 2013, when Boy Scouts decided to allow openly gay youth, but Mormon leaders chose to stick with the organization. Some speculated the church would cut ties in 2013, when the Boy Scouts decided to allow openly gay youth, but Mormon leaders chose to stick with the organization.
After the Mormons, the next largest sponsors of US Scout units are the United Methodist Church and the Roman Catholic Church. After the Mormons, the next-largest sponsors of US Scout units are the United Methodist Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
The Methodists’ General Commission on United Methodist Men has said decisions on whether or not to accept gay adult leaders would rest with individual churches. The Methodists’ General Commission on United Methodist Men has said decisions on whether to accept gay adult leaders would rest with individual churches.
Catholic bishop Robert Guglielmone of Charleston, South Carolina – who helps oversee Catholic scouting programs – said he and his colleagues were cautiously optimistic that ties with the Boy Scouts could be maintained even though the church is wary of accepting adult leaders who are open about being gay.Catholic bishop Robert Guglielmone of Charleston, South Carolina – who helps oversee Catholic scouting programs – said he and his colleagues were cautiously optimistic that ties with the Boy Scouts could be maintained even though the church is wary of accepting adult leaders who are open about being gay.