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North Carolina Megachurch Cuts Ties With Boy Scouts Over Transgender Policy

Members of the Boys Scouts of America prepare to march in a gay pride parade in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 2, 2013. Both Mormons and members of the Boy Scouts marched with members of LGBT community and their supporters as part of the Utah Pride Festival.
Members of the Boys Scouts of America prepare to march in a gay pride parade in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 2, 2013. Both Mormons and members of the Boy Scouts marched with members of LGBT community and their supporters as part of the Utah Pride Festival. | (Photo: Reuters/Jim Urquhart)
Boy Scouts of America troop members attend a Memorial Day weekend commemorative event in Los Angeles, California, in this May 25, 2013, file photo.
Boy Scouts of America troop members attend a Memorial Day weekend commemorative event in Los Angeles, California, in this May 25, 2013, file photo. | (Photo: Reuters/Jonathan Alcorn/Files)
The statue of a scout stands in the entrance to Boy Scouts of America headquarters in Irving, Texas, February 5, 2013.
The statue of a scout stands in the entrance to Boy Scouts of America headquarters in Irving, Texas, February 5, 2013. | (Photo: REUTERS/Tim Sharp)
Boy Scouts defy council orders by marching in uniform at the Utah Pride Parade in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 2, 2013.
Boy Scouts defy council orders by marching in uniform at the Utah Pride Parade in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 2, 2013. | (Photo: Screenshot/Fox 13 News)
A statue titled 'Trail to Manhood' stands outside the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas, in this file photo taken May 22, 2013.
A statue titled "Trail to Manhood" stands outside the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas, in this file photo taken May 22, 2013. | (Photo: REUTERS/Michael Prengler/Files)
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A multi-site megachurch based in North Carolina has decided to sever its ties with the Boy Scouts of America over the youth group's new transgender policy.

Manna Church of Fayetteville is planning to stop sponsoring Boy Scout Troop 957 sometime this summer, according to local media outlet WNCN CBS North Carolina.

"Church officials at Manna Church have been very tight-lipped about this decision. However, a Cub Scout leader told CBS North Carolina that Manna Church participation with Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts would end this coming summer," reported WNCN.

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A spokesperson for Manna Church told The Christian Post on Wednesday they had no further comment at this time.

Last month, the Boy Scouts of America announced they were going to allow girls who self-identified as boys to become members of their organization.

Manna Church campus in Fayetteville, North Carolina, seen in this undated photo.
Manna Church campus in Fayetteville, North Carolina, seen in this undated photo. | (Photo: Screengrab/YouTube/CBS North Carolina)

"For more than 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America, along with schools, youth sports and other youth organizations, have ultimately deferred to the information on an individual's birth certificate to determine eligibility for our single-gender programs," stated the Scouts.

"However, that approach is no longer sufficient as communities and state laws are interpreting gender identity differently, and these laws vary widely from state to state."

As with the Scouts' recent decisions on allowing openly gay members and scout leaders, the move did provide exemptions for religious groups opposed to transgenderism.

In a statement emailed to CP, Effie Delimarkos, director of communications for the Boy Scouts of America, stressed this point of religious exemption for the church-sponsored troops.

"Our religious chartered organizations continue to have the right to make decisions based on religious beliefs and we will work with families to find local scouting units that are the best fit for their children," stated Delimarkos.

"If a religious organization declines to accept a youth or adult application based on their religious beliefs, we ask that they please notify their local council so that a unit open to accepting the individual can be offered as an option."

Another spokesman for the BSA told CP that the youth organization was unaware of any other churches that had decided to sever ties since the announcement of the new transgender policy.

"Over the past few weeks, a variety of religious institutions, including The United Methodist Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Union for Reform Judaism, Catholic Committee on Scouting, and the Association of Baptist Scouters, have shared letters of support acknowledging this decision does not impact how their organizations deliver Scouting," explained the spokesman.

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