Two Eagle Scout Ministers Say, Lift the Ban on Gay Scouts

Call­ing Chris­tians and churches to con­tinue, if not expand, their sup­port for the Boy Scouts of Amer­ica should it lift the ban on gay scouts. Two min­is­ters argue that their expe­ri­ences and oaths as Eagle Scouts are entirely con­sis­tent with—and will be deep­ened by—this pro­posed pol­icy change. This let­ter will be shared with the BSA Exec­u­tive Board as a wit­ness to our sup­port­ive organizing.

Dear Friends in Churches that Spon­sor Scout Troops:

We write in response to the recent news that the Exec­u­tive Board of the Boy Scouts of Amer­ica is poised to lift the national ban on gay scouts. We, as Eagle Scouts, stand in sup­port of this change in policy.

We know that this change will be dis­turb­ing to some, even though troops will remain able to make their own poli­cies on this mat­ter locally.

We write to urge your con­gre­ga­tions and your troops to con­tinue with Scout­ing (as Girl Scout spon­sors have gen­er­ally done), and encour­age you to con­sider wel­com­ing all respon­si­ble scouts and adult vol­un­teers into the pro­grams you sponsor.