BSA Values and Membership Policy Overview March 4, 2013

1. BSA Values and Membership Policy Overview March 4, 2013

2. Why are we here today? • Everyone loves Scouting and has its best interest in mind. • The BSA is engaged in a discussion about core values and the best membership standards policy. We want to: • Provide channels that give everyone an opportunity to be heard • Receive feedback from the field • Educate Scouting’s members • Review core values • Identify members’ concerns • The children of this nation need us.

3. How we got here…

4. Boy Scouts of America v. Dale Boy Scouts of America v. Dale (2000) In the Dale case, the Boy Scouts contended that being forced to accept gay members would contradict the Scout Oath and Law. The Boy Scouts asserted that it "teach[es] that homosexual conduct is not morally straight," and that it does "not want to promote homosexual conduct as a legitimate form of behavior,“… The court ruled that as a private membership organization, the BSA has the first amendment right to associate with those who share its beliefs.

5. What are the BSA’s Membership Requirements? Membership Requirements The applicant must possess the moral, educational, and emotional qualities that the Boy Scouts of America deems necessary to afford positive leadership to youth. The applicant must also be the correct age, subscribe to the precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principle, and abide by the Scout Oath or Promise, and the Scout Law.  While the BSA does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers, or members, we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the BSA.

6. Duty to God Article IX. Policies And Definitions (Policies)—Charter And Bylaws Clause 1. The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. … …No matter what the religious faith of the members may be, this fundamental need of good citizenship should be kept before them. The Boy Scouts of America, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but it is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training.

7. Duty to God • It is the position of the Boy Scouts of America that the ideals and principles of “Duty to God” and “reverence” set forth in the Scout Oath and Law are central to teaching young people to make better choices over their lifetimes. • We know that in some cases, Scouting’s membership policy on gay leaders causes volunteers and chartered organizations, which oversee and deliver the program, to act in conflict with their missions, principles or religious beliefs.

8. Background on this Discussion • Scouting has always relied on its chartered organizations to accept membership and select leaders consistent with their organization’s mission, principles or religious beliefs. • Out of respect for the diverse beliefs of our chartered organizations BSA leadership began the discussion about the removal of the national membership restriction on those who are open or avowed homosexuals. • The BSA’s leadership began an internal conversation about the membership standards with councils, volunteers, and chartered organizations. This information became external resulting in an outpouring of feedback from inside and outside the Scouting movement.

9. Membership Standards Review Process Goal To develop and execute a comprehensive plan leading to a vote at the National Annual Meeting by the national voting members while minimizing any disruption in the delivery of the Scouting mission.

10. Six-Phase Process

11. Study Groups Study Group Purpose: To lead both facilitation of dialogue with assigned stakeholders as well as provide ongoing support to meet stakeholder needs throughout all phases.

12. Listening Goals in the Listening Phase: • Provide a channel where every voice can be heard • Receive feedback from the field • Educate Scouting’s members • Review core values • Identify members’ concerns

13. Feedback and Information Through the process the BSA will collect information for the officers, in order to draft a resolution to put before National Voting Members. Depending on the audience, the BSA will use a variety of avenues to gather information and data including Voice of the Scout, face-to-face meetings and facilitated groups. There will also be a mechanism communicating the potential results - both pro and con - for both maintaining the current policy and for a potential policy change. The committee’s recommendations will inform the officers’ work on a resolution regarding membership standards. The voting members of the National Council will take action on the resolution at the National Annual Meeting in May 2013.

14. Going Forward America needs Scouting, and our policies must be based on what is in the best interest of our nation’s children. While Scouting engages its audiences in this important discussion, it will work to create an environment where people who may disagree on a variety of topics can still work together to achieve life-changing benefits to youth through its program. Going forward, everyone within the Scouting family must work to stay focused on that which unites us - reaching and serving young people to help them grow into good, strong citizens.

15. Closing Comments • Membership Standards Review web pagePublic facing web site. www.bsamembershipstandards.org. This site includes: • Current policy • Membership Standards Review Background • Process Summary • Frequently Asked Questions