Salute BSA's courage | The Salt Lake Tribune

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A Presbyterian pastor in Fruit Heights has recently been in the news for resigning from the board of the Trapper Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America, citing his disagreement with the Scout policy change to no longer ban gay Scouts.

Wasatch Presbyterian Church is home to Boy Scout Troop 38, and we are so proud of the BSA's National Council for voting to change a rule we have long found to be, frankly, unChristian.

While the pastor in question has every right to join or resign from any board, he does not speak for our denomination. Most Presbyterians are very clear about not putting up walls to keep out any of God's children from wonderful institutions like the Boy Scouts.

In fact, we have trouble understanding why the BSA didn't also welcome gay leaders to serve in Scouting, since surely thousands of gay Scouts have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout over Scouting's 103-year history.

Still, we at Wasatch Presbyterian rejoice that the Boy Scouts have taken such a life-affirming step. Scouting has always been about building character in young men and modeling leadership. We salute them for their courage.

Rev. Scott Dalgarno Pastor, Wasatch Presbyterian Church

Salt Lake City