DAYTON, IN – The Dayton United Methodist Church located in Dayton, IN announced this past Sunday that they were officially severing all ties with the Boy Scouts of America. As reported in the Lafayette Journal and Courier newspaper, the church’s administrative council voted unanimously on June 11, 2013 not to renew the charter for Cub Scout Pack 3316.
Rev. Mike Dominick, Sr. Pastor of Dayton United Methodist Church
In a statement read by the Rev. Mike Dominick on Sunday, June 16, the decision to end ties with the Boy Scouts of America was due to the recent decision by the Boy Scouts to open their membership to homosexuals. “The issue, for us, is biblical faithfulness,” the statement said. “We disagree with the direction being taken by the Boy Scouts of America.”
The statement by the church goes on to quote the official positions on homosexuality maintained in the United Methodist Book of Discipline: “…that all persons of any sexual orientation are persons of sacred worth and that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.” “We love all people,” the council reiterated, “but we do not endorse all lifestyles.”
According to Larry Coppock, National Director of Scouting Ministries at the General Commission on United Methodist Men (which has the responsibility for promoting and coordinating scouting ministries in the United Methodist Church) the action by the Dayton church is the first of its kind within the UMC.
Bishop Michael J. Coyner, who oversees the Indiana Episcopal Area, did not respond directly to the announcement, but pointed questions toward his earlier released statement on the Boy Scouts of America decision “The decision by the Boys Scouts of America to welcome all boys as Scouts without regard to their own perceived sexual orientation brings the BSA into alignment with the Social Principles of our United Methodist Church where we encourage all of our churches to be in ministry to and with all persons. I trust that our many congregations who sponsor Scout troops will continue to do so, because I believe Scouting ministries are an excellent way for us to be in ministry to boys and girls.”
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Rev. Scott Mann, Sr. Pastor, Christ United Methodist Church, Lafayette, IN
The Rev. Scott Mann, Sr. Pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in neighboring Lafayette, IN, worried about how the decision of the Dayton UMC would affect perceptions of United Methodists in the area. “The perception among some that we’ve heard from is that this decision says that United Methodists don’t really care about kids,” said Rev. Mann. “We certainly don’t want what it means to be United Methodist defined over this issue.”
Dayton is a suburb of Lafayette, Indiana, the home of Purdue University.
“We have been receiving phone calls from people associated with the Dayton UMC and the cub scout troop in tears,” said Rev. Mann. “They are telling our staff how devastated they are by the decision.”
Christ UMC has reached out to the Boy Scouts of America and said that they would welcome Pack 3316 in their church. According to a report at jconline.com Cub Scout Pack 3316 has found a new home at the Memorial Presbyterian Church in Dayton.
“We are happy they have found a home,” said Rev. Mann, “but we want folks in Lafayette to know that all are welcome here at Christ UMC.”
