From the resolution:
WHEREAS, Many Southern Baptist churches sponsor Boy Scout troops
and many Southern Baptists are involved in Scouting; and
WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message states that "Christians
should oppose . . . all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery,
homosexuality, and pornography," and Southern Baptists consistently
have expressed their opposition to the normalization of homosexual
behavior in American culture through more than a dozen resolutions
over the past thirty years; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention
meeting in Houston, Texas, June 11–12, 2013, express our continued
opposition to and disappointment in the decision of the Boy Scouts of
America to change its membership policy; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we express our gratitude for the thousands of individuals
within the Scouting family and the culture at large who expressed
their opposition to the BSA executive leadership's intent to change its
membership and leadership policies in regard to homosexuality, leading
to the compromise recommendation it presented to the BSA National
Council; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we affirm the right of all families and churches
prayerfully to assess their continued relationship with the BSA, expressing
our support for those churches and families that as a matter of conscience
can no longer be part of the Scouting family; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage churches and families that remain in the Boy Scouts to seek to impact as many boys as possible with the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ, to work toward the reversal of this new membership policy, and to advocate against any future change in leadership and membership policy that normalizes sexual conduct opposed to the biblical standard;
RESOLVED, That we encourage churches that choose to sever ties
with the Boy Scouts not to abandon their ministry to boys but consider
expanding their Royal Ambassadors ministry, a distinctively Southern
Baptist missions organization to develop godly young men; and be
it finally
RESOLVED, That we declare our love in Christ for all young
people regardless of their perceived sexual orientation, praying that
God will bring all youth into a saving knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Comment from Russ Moore, anathema to mod/libs here and new head of our ERLC:
Moore emphasized that Southern Baptist churches are not saying that the Boy Scouts should exclude boys with same-sex attractions. "That was never the case before. We're not saying that should be the case going forward," Moore said.
"What we're saying is that the Boy Scouts previously had an understanding of sexuality that was geared toward expression in marriage," Moore continued. "That has changed, and that is a momentous change. This isn't an organization like any other community organization. It's an organization that says, 'We're teaching and training boys what it means to be men and what it means to live virtuous lives.'
"Once you take sexuality and the expression of sexuality and politicize it in the way the Boy Scouts have done, you change the nature of that moral education in a way that Southern Baptists, most of us, have grave concerns about."
The SBC action on Boy Scouts was rather moderate and was in keeping with our view of Biblical morality. It was neither harsh nor incendiary, was a proper expression of concern for all boys and their moral formation, was cozignant and respectful of the autonomy of local churches in the matter, and expressed sincere concern for the ministry to and moral formation of boys.
Those who have a more liberal and less Biblical view of the immorality of homosexual behavior may certainly find fault with any SBC action on the subject.
