At least some of us in Scouting circles have been aware that discussions about admitting girls to the program have been occurring for some time and that these discussions became quite serious earlier this year. The BSA now has plenty of experience with its Venturing, Sea Scouts, Exploring, and Stem Scouts programs, which offer mixed sex environments for various age groups.
There has been a lot of internal and external pressure to admit girls to Scouting. Some who have loved what Scouting does for boys have wanted that same experience for their girls. The first lawsuits attempting to force the BSA to open the ranks of Scouting to girls were filed decades ago. But some opined that when the BSA opened Scouting to "transgender boys" earlier this year (see CSMonitor article, my 5/12/17 post, my 5/20/17 post) admission of girls to the program couldn't be far off. After all, how could the organization argue successfully in court that it would admit biological girls who feel like they are boys but not other biological girls?
While research is all over the place on the value of single-sex youth programs, Scouting and Cub Scouts operate with a very deep tradition of being only for boys. Many supporters believe that youth need opportunities to spend time in environments with peers of the same sex. The BSA announcement makes it sound like the organization is trying to honor this desire while also making it possible for girls to participate in the program.
Cub Scout dens, which are the smallest Cub Scout unit, will operate as single-sex organizations. Each pack, which is the next larger Cub Scout unit, may host only boy dens, only girl dens, or both boy and girl dens.
One of my first thoughts was whether Cub dens and packs sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would take on girls who now attend the Church's Activity Days program. Although I found no official announcement on the Church's Newsroom site, KSL reports that Church spokesman Eric Hawkins says that Activity Days programs will continue to operate as usual.
Hawkins goes on to say, "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."
Read into that what you will, but the Church has made no bones about the fact that it would like to develop a young men's activity program that is more uniform worldwide, and that Scouting is incapable of filling that role. So it sounds like the Church will eventually get out of Scouting completely. But who knows when? Next year? 20 years from now? That's not clear.
Suffice it to say that for now, LDS-sponsored Cub Scout units will continue to admit only boys in their youth ranks, regardless of what non-LDS Cub Scout units do.
Starting in 2019 the BSA will "deliver a Scouting program for older girls that will enable them to advance and earn the highest rank of Eagle Scout." The press release doesn't provide many clues as to what that program might look like. But the Family Scout Fact Sheet and the Family Scouting FAQ make it sound as if the Scouting program for girls will be parallel to, but separate from Boy Scouts.
The BSA has previously said clearly that sponsoring organizations will continue have broad control over who may join the Scouting units they sponsor. So until the Church implements a different program, LDS-sponsored Scouting units will continue to be male-only organizations.
More than a few people are upset that the BSA has made so many shifts in expanding membership in recent years. First gay youth, then gay adults, then transgender boys, then girls. Some say that this has weakened support for BSA programs among its traditional base. It is possible, however, that the BSA is working to stem an increasing tide of membership losses and struggling to remain relevant in a changing world.
While the Church has traditionally had a very strong say in BSA policies, I suspect that the fact that it will ultimately leave Scouting can't help but diminish its influence with the organization. Each of these two organizations must pursue the paths that make the most sense to them. That may mean continued divergence.
And while I feel that I and many others have benefited greatly from the close association of the LDS Church and the BSA, this divergence does not have to be a bad thing for either organization. I am certain that the Lord is fully capable of using this situation to advance His cause.
3 comments:
A well written thoughtful summary, Scott. Thanks for being a voice of reason. I have been troubled by these changes, but I recognize that is part of my grieving process over changes I cannot control. Not sure how I found your blog, but glad I did. I will always remember my time in scouting both as a boy and as an adult very fondly. I hope it lasts a while longer.
Michael, thanks for your comment. The BSA still offers great programs that are capable of doing good in many lives. It's just that society has changed a lot over the years and the Church's scope has become much more international. Both the Church and the BSA have responded to these changes in ways that each organization feels are appropriate to its particular mission. The result is that BSA programs, as strong as they are, align less well with the Church's needs than once was the case. I anticipate that this divergence will continue.
But let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. The Church has scaled back on Varsity Scouts and Venturing. But for now it is continuing to sponsor Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. While those programs will likely be dropped at some point, it's not clear whether that point will be sooner or later. In the meantime, the boys involved in these programs deserve dedicated leaders and quality opportunities.
I am also looking at the BSA changes from a different angle. I am a chapter adviser for the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's national honor society. Unless the BSA's new girl's program develops its own honor society, it is probable that the OA will begin welcoming qualified girls into its ranks in 2019. As an adviser, I need to be prepared to handle those changes.
One more thought that crossed my mind was whether my junior high aged daughter would be interested in joining a community troop when the new girl's program comes online. If so, she might have just enough time to join her four older brothers as an Eagle Scout before aging out of the program. But I'm not sure she's really interested in that.
It’s taken me 24 hours, but I can see the appeal of a program for girls and young women that is based on the Scout Oath and Law. At the same time, I believe it needs to be developed specifically with girls needs in mind, and so I think there will be differences in program. Given finite resources, I worry that developing and running a girls program along side the boys program will split the focus and dilute the effectiveness of the end product.
I don’t think my high school aged daughter would be interested though. In fact, for all the requests that National May have gotten, I am skeptical that they will get many takers on this for the first few years, but that’s just a gut feel. If those girls who are interested are few and far between it will be hard to build momentum for the program.
I have been a scoutmaster in 3 LDS wards. I have also been a Unit Commissioner (as Stake YM Pres. member) and I have served on Wood Badge staff twice. I am a recipient of both the Arrow of Light and the Eagle Scout. One could say, I am invested.
I agree that the way this is organized initially allows the church to continue use of the program, probably up to 2-3 years. I wonder if the church might be able to license some of the program elements for its private use going forward, or if a clean break is inevitable. I think that quorum identity and priesthood growth is critical in the churches young men’s program, and I trust spiritual growth will not be sacrificed for Scouting. Rather, they can continue hand in hand while they compliment each other.
Currently, as an Assistant SM and with my son in Scouts, this is just noise. We will see in the near future the impacts and the resulting decisions. Until then, I remain committed to the boys and the program.
Back to Gilwell!!!
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