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In response to Thursday's vote by Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to allow homosexual youth to become members of its organization, the Assemblies of God has expressed its displeasure and posted a statement concerning the decision.

The Assemblies of God statement, crafted by its leadership, points out that due to a 2000 ruling by the Supreme Court, the Boys Scouts had every legal right to reject efforts by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) lobbies to make this change.

". . . we are pleased that the organization [BSA] will retain its policy regarding adult leaders, and applaud the organization for standing firm on that issue," the statement reads. "However, today's vote to allow homosexual youth members negates BSA's ability to legally defend its position regarding leadership..."

The statement goes on to say, "We agree with the BSA that we need to demonstrate compassion and welcome those who are struggling with sexuality issues, but not in a way that condones such behavior, which is what the new BSA policy does."

Expressing that until yesterday's decision, the Church and BSA shared a common mission of preparing young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes, the statement explains that "homosexual conduct is not morally straight" nor is promoting homosexual conduct.

"While we agree that youths who experience confusion or same-sex attraction need to be welcomed, in our churches they are confronted with this biblical teaching and will be counseled and prayed with that God will help them to align their lives in conformity to that teaching," the statement reads.

To read the entire official AG statement on the BSA decision, click here.

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Girls magazine covers the "need to knows"

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 - 3:31 PM CST

Peristeria is a free, online quarterly magazine for teen girls.

Role models, dating, coping with loss, fashion, etiquette, self-image, bullies, health - all from a Christian perspective - makes the national Girls Ministries free quarterly online magazine, Peristeria, not only popular with Christian teen girls, but with their parents as well.

"Teen girls have questions," states Katie Mattiuzzo, creator and editor of Peristeria. "Peristeria offers answers to those questions - and to questions that some girls don't realize they should be asking."

Mattiuzzo says that today's teen girls are hit with a barrage of "popular" messages from magazines, television and the Internet that may be politically correct, but have little to do with being a secure, godly young woman.

"The focus of Peristeria is to provide teens with commonsense, biblically-aligned responses to some of their most pressing questions, but allow them to have some fun as well," Mattiuzzo says. "The goal is to help teens develop into well-rounded, informed, secure, Spirit-filled young women who influence their culture positively rather than allowing culture to influence them negatively."

Candy Tolbert, director of National Girls Ministries, says the response to Peristeria, which premiered in fall 2011, has been overwhelmingly positive as both teens and parents have expressed their love for the magazine.

"We've also heard from leaders in Teen Girl Ministries who regularly use the magazine articles for discussion points and opening up conversations with their girls," Tolbert says. "It really is a wonderful magazine for teen girls, filled with advice you can trust."

To view and download the latest edition - as well as past editions - of the 36-page Peristeria magazine for free, click here.

Authors: Dan Van Veen

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