GOOSE CREEK, S.C.–In a recent article by the Post & Courier, Scoutmaster Brian Odgers confirmed to the paper that Peace Presbyterian Church in Goose Creek was severing ties with the Boy Scouts of America.
“It is what it is,” he told the paper. “As far as our relationship with the (Peace) church, we thought everything was working well.”
Troop 716 had been meeting at the church, which is located in the Crowfield Subdivision, on Monday nights.
On the troop’s website it lists the Boy Scouts mission that of “preparing young people of Goose Creek to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law, and being a community service based organization.”
After the Boy Scouts of America voted to end its ban on gay scouts last year, many church congregations across the country began to end their affiliations with the organization. Peace Presbyterian Church in Goose Creek is one of them. The church’s charter, which is $40 a year, ends on February 28. Church leaders have decided to not renew it.
Terry Bowden originally started the troop at the church. Recently, he was invited as a guest on The Bryan Crabtree Show; however, he politely declined.
“Bryan, I am flattered by the invitation, but ‘no, thank you.’ I’m really mystified by how our church’s decision got on anybody’s radar screen,” the show’s host read over the air.
In the e-mail Bowden went on to clarify the recent Post & Courier article. The initial report stated that the church had kicked out approximately 30 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. Bowden told Bryan Crabtree that this was simply not true.
“We did not kick out the scouts. We told them they could stay until they found another place to meet. And if they had any boys on the verge of becoming an Eagle Scout, they could stay until that goal was accomplished,” said Bowden in the e-mail.
Bowden also stressed that the church was not in any way upset with the local troop.
“We always had a great relationship with the troop. Our concern is the direction of the national body, not the local troop,“ said Bowden. “As I said to the newspaper, we were not upset by the recent BSA decision to allow openly gay boys into the troop. However, we were concerned that in a few years they would allow actively gay individuals to become leaders.”
While the Boy Scouts of America now allows gay scouts in the organization, it still excludes openly gay adults from leadership roles.
“Our church made a decision to not allow practicing homosexuals to become church elders because we believe the Bible speaks against it. Since the position of eldership is one of leadership we felt this extended to the scouts as well,” Bowden stated.
Bowden also stated that the church was also concerned about the potential for liability as another reason to sever its ties with the organization.
“If and when we refused to have a gay leader in the troop, it was our understanding that any potential lawsuit would be directed at the church—not the local scout troop. Consequently, we made the decision now rather than later to part ways with the Boy Scouts of America,” Bowden stated.
While the church is parting ways with the Boy Scouts, Bowden stated that it plans to build troop with Trail Life USA in the future.
“Trail Life has a stronger Christian emphasis to its program,” stated Bowden.
The Bryan Crabtree Show airs from 8-10 a.m. on WQSC 1340 and 950 AM. You can visit the show’s website by clicking here. You can also catch Rocky D on the same airwaves from 3-6 p.m.
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