On February 11, the Girl Guide movement announced that Christian members of the Girl Guides will be allowed to mention God before they take the organisation’s new pledge in a compromise backed by the Church of England’s Synod
Members of the movement will be now be able to add a line to the start of the new promise specifically mentioning God.
37th Newcastle Guides
This followed the news that a unit of Girl Guides, who had been told to adopt the new pledge which omits God or face being axed from the organisation, have won a reprieve.
The 37th Newcastle Guide Unit, which meets at Jesmond Parish Church, were warned that they had to comply and start using the new promise which sees members swear to be true to themselves and develop their beliefs rather than love their God. The group received a letter from the Girl Guide’s chief commissioner in the North East saying their membership to the organisation would end on December 31 last year unless they complied. However, Guide leader Glynis Mackie, who has led the troupe for more than 25 years, was told last month that the threat has now been lifted.
Mrs Mackie, who works as a solicitor, was delighted at the news, she said: ‘It’s fantastic that we have won our battle. They were trying to force us out with no process and only three weeks’ notice. The girls were really upset.’
She also criticised the new promise saying: ‘Instead of becoming more inclusive, it is excluding people who do believe.’
