For the Boy Scouts of America — recently renamed Scouting America — the past 12 years have been challenging. Opening its programs to gay people and later to girls angered some critics. Its 2020 bankruptcy declaration triggered disputes over compensation for thousands of men claiming they were sexually abused as scouts.
While the 115-year-old organization now serves far fewer youths than at its peak decades ago, it seems to be stabilizing with a slight uptick in membership last year. One key reason: The loyalty of major religious denominations that still view scouting’s mission as uniquely valuable and welcome its continued commitment to reverence and prayer.
