Michael Nazir-Ali, formerly Bishop of Rochester, said they should follow the example of ‘rogue’ leaders who are defying their national HQ’s controversial orders.
From next month youngsters will instead promise to ‘be true to myself and develop my beliefs’ after it was decreed the old promise could discourage new members from joining.
However, a group of Guide leaders in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, are resisting adopting the new promise, saying the organisation has ‘God at its core’.
Bishop Nazir-Ali said: ‘If there are others like this group – indeed I would hope that there are many others like it – why should they not be allowed to continue to have a reference to God? If these people really believe in diversity they would allow them to do that. Why should they face expulsion from the Girl Guides movement which is rooted in the Christian faith?’
Warning the row could lead to a split in the Guides as a whole, he added: ‘Ultimately if there is not going to be any diversity permitted, these people may need to group together in a way that they can support one another.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2400651/The-Girl-Guides-Bishop-backs-Guide-leaders-refuse-drop-promise-God-favour-non-religious-alternative.html#ixzz2cmkSZHwE
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