KAYSVILLE — A Utah man who served on a Boy Scouts of America executive board resigned late last month, citing the organization’s recent policy change that removes a restriction on membership based on sexual orientation.
Pastor Neal Humphrey of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Kaysville resigned from the BSA’s Trapper Trails Council on May 29, according to a report by the Standard-Examiner.
Humphrey declined FOX 13 News’ request for comment.
In a statement sent to FOX 13 News, Scout Executive Allen Endicott of the Trapper Trails Council said the organization respects Humphrey’s decision.
Read Endicott’s entire statement:
“We respect Rev. Humphrey’s decision. We also respect the deeply held religious beliefs of all of our members. We’re finding that when people read the new policy they see it is reflective of the beliefs of most of Scouting’s major religious chartered organizations. This policy reaffirms that doing ones ‘duty to God’ is absolutely firm and one of the fundamental principles of Scouting and states that sexual conduct by any Scout, heterosexual or homosexual, is contrary to the virtues of Scouting. Further, it states that while no youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of stating their sexual orientation alone, Scouting expects appropriate behavior from all members. While people have different opinions about this policy, we can all agree that youth are better off when they are in Scouting.”
