You're watching...
Brandon Vogt and Robert Jeffress debate how the faith community is responding to this question
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
-- back with spirited debate but the boy scouts of America this week but up until later.
A decision about whether or another change its life long policy of not allowing gay men to be leaders the delay has rallied both camps in this highly charged controversy.
And it is a topic for today's think panel joining me from Orlando Florida is -- bond.
Author of the church and -- new media and doctor Robert -- is the senior pastor at first Dallas the first Baptist Dallas welcoming about.
Thank you -- you Lauren I was gonna both.
Give you the same question and lay it out because I think that's the -- best -- and -- I wanna start with you so why why show today.
Change your policy.
Well I actually don't think they shut I think changing the policy would present to extremely problematic issues.
First we need to recognize that the Boy Scouts were founded on Judeo Christian principles.
If we look back to 1907.
The founder serve dates and Powell famously exclaimed that scouting is nothing less than apply to christianity.
And we will look at the -- oath we see references to my duty to god and the desire to live -- morally straight life.
And so changing this policy would undermine the very identity of the Boy Scouts.
The second big problem I see is that 70%.
Of the boy scout groups are supported by religious organizations.
And so if we change the policy in a way that would.
Present problems for these organizations millions of the parents would pull their children Al thousands of churches would withdraw their support.
And the boy scouting group and movement as we know it would be severely undermined and so for both of these reasons I think change in the pie.
The homosexuals as if they were you know it's one of statement or something like that and I'm using an exaggeration but -- But basically saying that homosexuality will be part of conundrum up apart about a litmus.
Laundry list of -- of sexual sense.
Do you you thing that's allowing gay members would harm the Boy Scouts at all.
-- I think it would alarm and let me be very clear I've not changed my position on homosexuality.
At all.
It's a distortion of God's plan for sexuality just like adultery -- premarital sex or umbilical divorce art.
But I think this would bring great harm to the Boy Scouts first ball is Brandon pointed out.
It violates their own -- being morally straight you know morally straight implies a universal moral standard.
And both christianity -- and as well as as -- -- all of those religions condemn homosexuality.
Just like they do adultery.
But I want to go ahead and hit the politically incorrect out topic here in this issue and go and point out what I think is obvious to so many people.
It was in October just a few months ago that the Boy Scouts released 12100.
Secret files.
Contain it counts of child abuse by scoutmaster.
And I am not suggesting that all that all or even most homosexuals -- had a files.
But the sad fact is in almost each of these cases every -- expert who abused a boy was homosexual.
And I believe that if they expand.
The allowance of gays as scout masters into the Boy Scouts you're going to see the Boy Scouts become even more of a safe haven for ped files and that's going to be the destruction of the -- -- -- -- Let me let me read a few quotes here on -- -- religious divide over the boy scouts' policy first of all this is from the founder the Liberty Counsel this is -- stay where he says for years the boy scouts of America organization has been under relentless assault by radical LG BT organizations including -- case.
At the United States Supreme Court.
And this other.
Quote is from the general secretary United Methodist Church this is Sam.
Gilbert hanky says basically this proposed change -- -- -- and national membership requirement -- with sexual orientation and allows these decisions.
Be made at a local level consistent with charter organizations.
I'm perspectives.
The right where I was -- -- liberties of for all persons regardless of sexual orientation so.
And ran and and and and and doctor Jeffers.
Why would that be -- why not just a while the Boy Scouts those groups who want to allow gay members and allow them and and those who do not.
Not allow them and -- -- go ahead.
I think it's a well intentioned move but I think it's still deeply flawed if such a proposal was taken -- some groups would allow it and some others wouldn't.
And it would present a wealth of confusion for the young boys which is the morally straight -- It also creates problems in that a lot of boy scout events are nationally collected you -- Big conference season.
And celebrations and so when all the groups come together again you'll see this dichotomy of some -- openly homosexual leaders and members and others not.
And so I think it'll create more confusion in damage -- if the policy was just left does it is.
Yet you know that it -- -- why do you think that a lot of the a lot of the end of the boy scouts of it leaders are actually afraid to do it up and I want to bring up an add.
That the family research council placed in the national newspaper.
Basically saying -- boy scouts of America.
You know show your courage stand up -- -- and timeless tradition.
And it basically is saying that the boy scouts of America should not bend to political -- or financial pressure but.
Could they avoid that you've got -- UPS they're big companies like that pulling out their support.
Other boy scouts of America because of this controversy because they do now locking members doctor -- Well I think first of all they are reluctant -- -- keep this policy in place just for the reason you mentioned.
Here in Dallas we have a Randall Stephenson and CEO of AT&T who is -- Board member of the boy scout you have others who are feeling the pressure to be more inclusive.
I was having lunch a couple of weeks ago when our governor Governor Perry and we were talking about this issue.
Governor Perry is you know is former eagle scout he's written a book on scouting but he indicated much of the pressure on the national board.
Is coming from religious groups.
That are probably just to be kind are small in number for example the episcopalian church that is has embraced -- nice and I think a lot of boy scout.
National board members are taking that they are listening to the majority of Christians on this but act as my denomination to southern -- -- convention.
Which is the largest Protestant denomination in the world has come out soundly against this I used -- pastor.
Two different churches that had boy scout troops associated with it.
And I can tell you if I -- -- -- That had a boy scout troop associated when my church and this policy went through I would ended immediately.
Not only for spiritual and religious reasons but for legal reason I would be afraid of the lawsuits that could come from child abuse cases.
Hi I wanna give you thank you to both have read about I -- author of the church in the media and -- Robert -- assessing a pastor at.
First Baptist now so I think you very much on this issue we're probably gonna have you back.
-- -- talking about this again because at least we did was just an accurate in making a decision in the next few weeks.
Or maybe a couple of -- we don't know yet they they suspended the decision this week at least so both sides in a rally around.
You know their positions and put forth -- -- thank you -- Thank you line.
