The Youth Office recently received a letter from the Chair of the Religious Relationships Committee of the BSA. This letter states that the Religion in Life curriculum which is currently being used by Unitarian Universalist boys in scout troops to earn their Religion in Life award "does not adhere to Scouting policies and is inappropriate for distribution to Scouting youth." The letter states that youth may not be awarded the emblem or wear the emblem on a Scout uniform.

The UUA is not formally affiliated with the BSA. Individual UU congregations may charter scout troops if they wish. The BSA encourages individual denominations to develop Religious Awards Programs to acquaint a Scout with the traditions of his own particular faith. Since 1981 the Boy Scouts have recognized the UUA's Love and Help award for Cub Scouts, the Religion in Life Award for Boy Scouts, and the Religion and Youth Award Nomination for adult leaders.

Historically the UUA has taken issue with several BSA positions. Some UUs have trouble with the religious language in the Scout Oath, Law and Charter. " On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout law" (from the Scout Oath). "A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the belief of others" (from the Scout Law, Twelfth Point). The BSA requires its members to have a "belief in God". Our religion is non-creedal. We do not demand any explicit belief statements from any of our members. While many of our members choose to use the word God to express their ultimate reality, some of our members do not chose to state a "belief in God" and we honor their choice. For youth in particular, we feel it is important to encourage the freedom of belief, so that beliefs which are espoused come from a sincere personal commitment. We would never demand that youth state any particular beliefs but would encourage them to have integrity in those beliefs which they embrace as their own.

UUs also take issue with the BSA's position on homosexuality. In a position statement from 1991 the BSA states "We believe that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the requirements in the Scout Oath that a Scout be morally straight and in the Scout Law that a Scout be clean in word and deed and that homosexuals do not provide a desirable role model for Scouts. Because of these beliefs, the BSA does not accept homosexuals as members or as leaders, whether in volunteer or professional capacities." The UUA has opposed discrimination against the GBLT people since 1970. In the last three decades, our membership has passed many resolutions affirming the rights of all people, including our ministers, to be considered equally for leadership roles. The BSA policy is in conflict with our UUA's social witness and causes conflict for many of who want to be true to both organizations.

In 1993 we revised the Religion in Life curriculum to better reflect our Association's ongoing concern regarding the homophobic and discriminatory attitudes of the national leadership of the BSA. This revision evidently was never "approved" by the BSA. In light of the recent letter from the BSA, the UUA is developing an organizational response to the BSA's newest assault.

So, in short, the UUA will continue to distribute the Religious Emblem and Award to our youth who want to earn their badges despite the BSA's condemnation of our curriculum. We urge youth involved in scouting to work toward making the organization inclusive of all people. We urge scout leaders and UU churches that work with the local troops to consider seriously the possibility of building coalitions with other organizations who share our concern with the Boy Scouts policies of discrimination.

For further information about the UUA and the BSA click here.