Bonham -- In what seems to be another example of national and regional politics creating deep local division, one Bonham church has banned Cub Scouts from continuing to meet at the church.
Apparently, there has never been an issue with Scouts meeting at First Baptist Church in Bonham, but rather this decision was most likely made in response to Boy Scouts of America's decision not to discriminate based on sexual orientation.
Cub Scouts are aged 6-11 and Scout policy mandates zero tolerance for sexual activity of any kind as it does not have a place in Scouting.
An ad hoc committee assembled to advise the church in this matter had voted to allow Cub Scout meetings to continue at First Baptist Church in Bonham. However, in a vote that some parishioners feel was under publicized within the church prior to the event, the congregation voted 24-20 on Sunday, October 13 to overrule the committee's recommendation.
The church's popular pastor for the past 14 years had recently resigned, but there has been no indication that this divisive issue was a factor in his resignation.
Cub Scout Pack 54 has been told they will be allowed to meet at First Baptist Church in Bonham until December when the new policy takes effect, but the den plans to make the switch now to another local church that has offered the Scouts a meeting place.