US: No large defections follow Boy Scouts policy change to allow gay members
Following the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) change of policy to allow gay youth members, Christian alternatives seem hopeful to scoop up defections, however no large number of troops have severed their ties of yet.
The lifting of the ban officially took place on 1 January 2014.
The Royal Rangers programme, which is over 50 years old, previously only served the Assemblies of God church, but now serves other denominations as well.
Before the BSA’s change of policy, the Royal Rangers had an estimated 125,000 members across the US, and provides a “Christ centred” alternative to the BSA.
A second organisation established this year in the face of the lifting of the BSA’s ban on gay members,
Its Board chairman John Stemberger said Trail Life’s founders voiced unfounded concerns that the new policy would lead to openly gay scouts abusing younger boys.
The BSA’s policy strictly bans “any sexual conduct” or gay advocacy.
Despite these alternatives to the BSA, mass defections have not so far become apparent.
Remaining optimistic, the BSA said that less than 2% of its troops made the decision to cut ties.