British Girl Guides may scrap oath to God, Queen

LONDON (AFP) - The Girl Guides, Britain's largest voluntary organisation for girls which is part of a 10 million-strong global movement, is considering scrapping its oath to God and the queen, it emerged on Saturday.

The British group, which boasts half a million members, opened a consultation this week suggesting amendments to the pledge known as "The Promise", saying that increasing numbers of its members "struggle with the wording".

"It is not about changing what we are but rather about changing how we express what we are," said Jo Hobbs, Girlguiding UK's head of development. She said the Guides still "really value" their relationship to Queen Elizabeth II, who was herself a guide when she was a girl.

But Hobbs said: "We do hear from both girls and adults that they struggle with some of the language in The Promise, and if that is creating barriers it is clearly something we need to consider. For us, having one clear Promise that everyone can sign up to with clear language that expresses the organisation's values is a real benefit."