Christian church doesn’t allow LDS parents to become Cub Scout leaders

A big hubbub has been made this week because a Mormon couple was not allowed to become Cub Scout leaders at a pack sponsored by a North Carolina Presbyterian church. Christ Covenant Church, which is about 10 miles from Charlotte, said the couple’s two boys (ages 6 and 8) could continue attending but the parents would not be able to become leaders.

“I can’t believe they had the audacity to say, ‘You can’t be leaders, but we want your boys,” the mother told an Associated Press journalist. “Are you kidding me? Do you really think I’d let my boys go there now?”

Hmmm. I’m sure this wasn’t the only question raised by this very passionate mother, so let me predict a few more she might raise and provide answers that make rational sense:

Question:  Aren’t Mormons Christian?

Let’s let several Mormons answer this question:

William O. Nelson, director of the LDS Church’s Melchizedek’s Priesthood Department: “Some who write anti-Mormon pamphlets insist that the Latter-day Saint concept of Deity is contrary to what is recognized as traditional Christian doctrine. In this way they are quite correct.”

BYU professor Robert Millett: “If an acceptance of the doctrine of the Trinity makes one a Christian, then of course Latter-day Saints are not Christians, for they believe the doctrine of the Trinity as expressed in modern Protestant and Catholic theology is the product of the reconciliation of Christian theology with Greek philosophy.”

15^th church president Gordon Hinckley: “As a church we have critics, many of them. They say we do not believe in the traditional Christ of Christianity. There is some substance to what they say.”

So, in essence, Mormons want to be called Christian while denying the very essence of what defines Christianity, i.e. the doctrine of the nature of God (Trinity) and Jesus.

Question: Isn’t denying this family the right to become leaders illegal?

The Cub Scout pack is run by the church, and thus it should be allowed to make an important decision such as this. As the Associated Press article points out, the church “is within its rights to deny the (family) leadership positions.”

Question: Isn’t this decision immoral?

The boys were allowed to stay in the pack, as they should have been. However, the parents desired a position that would have involved authority over these children, many of whom were certainly children of the church’s members. In response, the parents made the decision to withdraw their children, even though the kids apparently enjoyed the activities. Is it just me, or does pulling them out because the parents didn’t get their way sound just a bit selfish?

There is an option. If this couple is so intent on being leaders with the Scouts, by all means they ought to have their local ward or stake center host a pack next year. Then this Mormon couple could fulfill their dream. But to demand that a local church cave in to their demands (after the many resources this church no doubt invested into the program) and then become angry about the situation is silly.

A final point with an illustration. Being new to our Utah neighborhood, our youngest daughter was recently invited by some nice LDS neighbors to a weekly craft group that takes place at a near-by house. We were specifically told that the group is not affiliated with the LDS Church, and while the leader is true-blue Mormon, no overt theology (i.e. Mormon doctrine) would be taught during the projects. It was all about being creative and having fun with other neighborhood kids.

Imagine my surprise when my daughter came home last week and explained how the leader was teaching the craft lesson from the LDS Standard Works. At one point, the leader exclaimed, “Isn’t it wonderful how someday all of us will be gods? You all believe that, don’t you, children?” My daughter was the only one not raising her hand.

I have a choice. I can allow my child to continue attending, perhaps after talking to the leader and voicing my concerns.  Or I could decide not to allow her to attend, maybe even trying to start my own group. But for me to demand that I ought to be allowed to lead the group is not even an option. If it is, then maybe I ought to see if the local LDS seminary (a one-hour daily church school for high school students) could use some volunteer help. After all, I have 17 years of Bible teaching experience aimed at that very age group and even own a teaching credential. I wonder how my offer would be received.