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Scout controversy hinges on Mormon status as Christians

In shopping around for a Cub Scout program for their two sons, ages 6 and 8, Jeremy and Jodi Stokes decided on the one at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, N.C.

The Stokes’, also of Matthews, weren’t members of the evangelical megachurch, but they had many friends who were. And unlike the Cub Scout pack at their own church, which doesn’t have a program for 6-year-old Tiger Scouts, Christ Covenant’s was big enough to accommodate both of their boys.

The couple even signed up to be Scout leaders — he would lead the Bears, she’d help with the Tigers — when they discovered the church needed more adult help. And when the Scouting officials at Christ Covenant found out Jeremy Stokes was an Eagle Scout, they were thrilled.

So why, in the end, did Christ Covenant reject the Stokes’ application to be Scout leaders?

Because they’re Mormons. And, therefore, not real Christians, church officials told the couple last month.

via Scout controversy hinges on Mormon status as Christians

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Kim Siever

Queer Mormon poet with radical political views. I have been married 27 years, and we have 6 children. Sunday school president. Served in the Utah Provo Mission.

4 thoughts on “Scout controversy hinges on Mormon status as Christians”

  1. This is a sad story but I think we should respect the Christ Covenant Church’s decision. They have reasons for what they did. You can’t be too careful with who works with your youth and I can respect their cautious approach and in the end the Stokes’ didn’t meet the criteria.

  2. This is a bit ironic, considering one in four boy scouts in the U.S. is LDS. That organization REALLY can’t afford to alienate LDS members. On the other hand, let’s be honest here. Parents from the Christ Covenant Church wouldn’t be allowed to be scout leaders in an LDS-sponsored troop either, because it’s a calling extended via LDS priesthood leaders!

  3. Nick, for a person to be in an LDS BSA unit, they only must be a member of good standing in the community. It’s very strange because the Bishop can issue it as a calling, but the scout leader can be from another religion. Look, Christ Covenant Church’s decision, if based on their charter organizational policy, is appropriate. The BSA charters its programs to organizations which have the right to accept certain aspects of the program and organize it around their own needs and aims. Typically, however, most Christian churches only rent the building to units that use their churches, so this action seems a bit odd, especially if they’re related to Presbyterianism, which has traditionally been very open in a non-denominational way.

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