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March 30, 2001/Nisan 6, 5761, Vol. 53, No.26
Valley scouting stays above national rift
BARRY COHEN
Community Editor
A national rift between the Boy Scouts of America and the Joint Commission of Social Action of the Reform Jewish movement has had little apparent impact in the Valley.
The U.S. Supreme Court on June 28 upheld the Boy Scouts of America's right to use sexual orientation as a basis for excluding members and leaders - in particular New Jersey scoutmaster James Dale, who is gay. Since BSA is a private group, the court reasoned that under the First Amendment's freedom of association provision, it could refuse to admit members who violate the organization's "expressive message."
Reacting to the decision, BSA said in a statement, "We believe an avowed homosexual is not a role model for the values espoused in the Scout Oath and Law."
The BSA oath states: "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law ... to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."
On Jan. 5, the Joint Commission on Social Action, representing Reform Judaism's Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, issued a memorandum in response to the Supreme Court's decision. It stated, in part, "The UAHC and the CCAR have been strong voices in the fight to end all discrimination based on sexual orientation ..."
In its memorandum, the commission recommended that congregations withdraw sponsoring or housing scout troops, and that parents withdraw their children from "non-Reform affiliated troops."
The commission also called for troops to publicly amend their local charters to be open to all members, regardless of sexual orientation; to withdraw financial support of the BSA; and to renounce personal ties with the BSA.
Jewish scoutmasters in the Valley said they are largely disregarding the BSA policy and the Reform movement's response.
"In terms of being a Jewish scoutmaster of a Jewish-sponsored troop, other than create a small amount of anxiety in my unit, (the national controversy) has had no effect," said Bob Bohanske, scoutmaster of Troop 30, sponsored by Temple Chai, a Phoenix synagogue. He said the anxiety stems from the commission's response, which he characterized as "a fairly irresponsible series of statements."
Bohanske - who has been involved in scouting for 30 years - disagreed with recommendations to withdraw his troop from the national organization or for him to return a Shofar Award he received for national Jewish scouting service.
Currently, Troop 30 has 60 scouts. About 25 percent of the troop's scouts are Jewish, he added.
"I believe the Boy Scouts has an objective that is very good for boys - to organize, plan and physically develop," said Ed Carroll, co-chairman of the Jewish Committee on Scouting of the Grand Canyon Council, East Valley, which includes Mesa, Chandler and Tempe.
He said he "personally disagrees" with the BSA's decision to exclude membership based on sexual orientation but "cannot fault their position as a private organization."
Carroll, who has 28 years of experience in scouting, was not aware of any local troop making an active, organized effort against the BSA, nor does he know of any Jewish scouts withdrawing membership.
Parents have acknowledged that "scouting provides a unique experience that they want their boys to have," said David Zinder, co-chairman of the Jewish Committee on Scouting of the Grand Canyon Council, West Valley.
Overall, Jewish participation in scouting is low. Carroll and Zinder said in the East Valley and West Valley, no more than 1 percent of Boy Scouts are Jewish.
Yet, troop 30 is growing and is heavily involved with the Social Action Committee at Temple Chai, said Bohanske.
Troop 30 won troop of the year honors in 2000 for the Four Peaks region, said Bohanske.
Sexuality or sexual issues should be discussed between a boy and his parents or his religious leader, he maintained. "It is not my position, nor any leader's position to discuss sexuality."
Zinder said scouting does not offer special anti-prejudice programming but that "without preaching, we believe all are equal, and we treat them that way."
"Change happens from within," he said, adding that only by remaining in the organization can leaders act effectively to oppose intolerance.
Bohanske said the same Supreme Court decision that upheld the BSA policy on gays and lesbians allows Jewish religious schools to refuse to hire Messianic Jewish teachers or to remove instructors who proselytize Messianic Judaism in the classroom.
Sharon Samber of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency contributed to this story.
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