Re: "Policy changes" by LDS Units
Rex Goode (rexg@IMS.COM)
Thu, 15 Sep 1994 08:15:57 PDT
John E. Pannell writes:
> I have some questions about this, which I ask without any hidden agenda or
> intent.
I hesitate to answer, because I don't want this to develop into a session
bashing my religion or church. I know this is not the intent of the question,
but non of us can control the direction this might take. I'll take the risk
since the question was asked respectfully. (Thanks, John.)
> Why does the LDS differ in these policy areas?
LDS men are ordained to the LDS priesthood at the age of 12. We believe
in lay ministry and all worthy men may be ordained. The purpose of
Scouting in the LDS Church is as a training tool for our priesthood.
Since this priesthood starts at 12, full Scouting in earnest starts at
12. The eleven-year-olds are called Blazers. They are a patrol of their
own. All children (3-11) in the Church fall under the auspices of the Primary
organization. The 11-year-olds are part of a different church organization
that the 12-18. From 12-18, youth are in either the Young Men or Young
Women organization. 11 year olds may camp, but they are to do so separately
from the main troop, since they are really part of the Primary.
It should be the goal of the Blazers and the leaders to achieve First
Class before their 12th birthday.
> By what authority do they do this? Is this an option to any chartered
> organization or does the "special relationship" between the BSA and the
> LDS's allow this? I might be blind in this regard, but I never hear of a
> Lutheran or Roman Catholic sponsored unit implementing their own _major_
> changes to BSA policy. (Yes, some churches forbid basketball at BSA
> meetings, but that is _minor_ *g*)
The sponsoring institution "owns" the troop. Our policies are not contrary
to BSA. Blazers are still Scouts, are still in a patrol, are still part
of the troop, but are supervised by a separate sub-organization. The
president of the Primary organization is an automatic member of the troop
committee. She is there to insure that the troop program meets the needs
of the Blazers.
I believe there is a lot of flexibility for any other church to tailor
the program meet their needs.
> Scouting is an integral part in the youth ministry of the LDS church, or so
> I have been led to believe. Does this church have a similar "arrangement"
> with the GSUSA? Do they have similar working arrangements with other youth
> groups (eg. 4-H, Campfire...)? Have they ever tried forming their own
> national youth organization? (Some of the more cynical here might say "yes"
> to this: "It's called the BSA!" *g* -- That's NOT what I meant!)
No, we do not have a similar arrangement with GSUSA. For our Young Women,
we have two programs called Personal Progress and Campcraft. These programs
have many of the elements of Scouting with a special emphasis on issues
peculiar to Mormon youth.
I doubt if the church has tried to form its own national organization.
They don't need to. We like BSA. We've had a great relationship.
There is a program that the church uses in other countries called
Aaronic Priesthood Scouting which I've heard is more similar to BSA
than to Scouting in other lands.
There are lots of nay-sayers in the Mormon church among local leaders,
which explains why so many of us LDS Scouters have problems. While the
upper echelons of church leadership are committed to BSA, many local
leaders are not so committed. As Ryan Keil would point out, though,
most LDS troops function beautifully.
I hope this answers your questions.
--
Rex Goode -- I used to be a buffalo...
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| God forgive me for seeking vengeance, | Rex Goode |
| but my course is set. | Integrated Measurement Systems |
| -- Charlton Heston as Ben Hur | Beaverton, Oregon (503) 626-7117 |
| | rexg@ims.com |
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