DUTY TO GOD Handbook Interfaith Religious Recognition Committee Grand Canyon Council, Inc.- Arizona Boy Scouts of America 2969 N. Greenfield Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85016 8 November 1999 - David C. Gironda, Sr. (602) 944-9323; gironda@qwest.net The Third Edition, February 2001 (Draft) Cavalier Printing, Phoenix, AZ - (602) 249-3389 EXCERPTS FOR COURSE MATERIALS Copying permitted for all registered BSA members
F O R E W A R D & U P W A R D Duty to GOD is a fundamental part of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) as well as a unifying part of the Boy Scout movement, worldwide. The Religious experience of young Scouts was a concern for the Founder, Lord Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, who had a firm commitment to Duty to GOD in Scouting. Several of his timeless quotes are recited in this Handbook, as they are still relevant to the same values found in Scouting today. The process of having sponsors for Scout units evolved into organizations that join with BSA in charter agreements. Religious institutions were quick to recognize that the Scout programs were based on solid values, consistent with their teachings, and they supported Scouting. But in faithfulness to the BSA teachings of brotherhood, the training for youth in Scouting must be conducted in a manner which is Anonsectarian.@ That term is sometimes misunderstood to mean that Scouting cannot include anything Religious in our programs. To the contrary, BSA requires that Scouting experiences are inclusive and considerate of the religions of all the members of the chartering organizations. Scouts are asked to do their best, to do their Duty to GOD, and to be Reverent. The purpose of this Handbook is to assist the Scout youth and adult leaders in those objectives. Previous published references to Duty to GOD and training information for the Chaplain Aide position were limited in their content. Likewise, there are limited references to the needed association between the Chaplain Aide, Chartered Organization Representative and the Chaplain positions. This Handbook was written in order to supplement and unify the previously available information. You may have already noticed that the word GOD or anything relating to HIM are written in all capital letters, as used in any form or tense in this publication. We understand that in at least one religion, any mention of GOD is always capitalized in reverence of HIS holy name, held above all other names. In respect of that custom, and to emphasize the same reverence in this text, we say Amen! Any mention of GOD as written in this text, for all Faiths shall denote the divine presence they may know as JEHOVAH, ALLAH, YAHWEH, CHRIST, GREAT SPIRIT, or other names. Likewise for brevity, the word AWorship place@ will be used to denote all houses of worship such as Church, Synagogue, Temple, Mosque, Congregation, Stake Center, or any other places of worship, except when quotes are cited. This Handbook includes a compilation of portions from official Scout publications, guides and prayer books of several Religious chartered organizations and BSA Council Interfaith/Relationships committees. All of the known sources are referenced as numbered in the text, and as described in the Sources bibliography at the end. iii
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S A. Duty to GOD in Scouting 1 B. Chaplain Aide Position 4 C. Unit Chaplain / Executive Officer 13 D. Chartered Organization Representative 17 E. Religious Emblem Advisor 21 F. Camp Chaplain 23 G. AScouts= Own@ Service & Play-Acting 26 H. District / Council Services 28 I. Scout Sunday / Sabbath Service 29 J. Summer Camp Services & Activities 30 K. Interfaith Committees 31 L. Life After Scouting 35 A D D E N D A 0. Glossary of Terms 36 P. Religious Emblems 37 Q. Interfaith Prayers 39 R. Interfaith Hymns / Songs 46 S. Sources 49 iv
4. C H A R T E R E D O R G A N I Z A T I O N R E P R E S E N T A T I V E The Chartered Organization Representative (COR) is like the position of a manager for a business. A Unit=s Executive Officer (EO) is in charge of the sponsoring organization, and the COR runs the business of the Troop for him as an agent of the organization. The COR is a voting member of the Scout Council corporation, as well as of its local District Committee. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is a unique youth service program available for use by community organizations. Each sponsoring organization receives a Charter (license) to operate the BSA program for the benefit of their youth. Since the chartered organization owns and operates the Scouting program, they are a Charter Partner, not simply a sponsor. It is the COR who represents this partnership at both levels. As a member of the chartered organization, the COR is appointed by the EO and serves at the EO=s discretion. All adult leaders and committee members must be approved by the EO, unless such approval is delegated in writing by the EO to the COR. Religious chartered Scouting should be considered by its COR to be like a two-edged sword. On one edge is the Boy Scouts of America, sharp in its training of skills and leadership. On the other edge is the Religious chartered organization, trying to cut a path to see that their beliefs and values get through to their youth. The metal in between is the Chartered Organizational Representative, that holds the edges together to make a balanced, totally effective instrument. The opportunity for job training is provided at the District or Council levels, for general COR training. For Religious chartered CORs, training may also be available from National committees of the chartering Faith. Religious training is conducted by certain Faiths during Relationships Week each summer at the Philmont Scout Ranch=s Volunteer Training Center, near Cimarron, New Mexico. Courses may also be conducted at annual or biennial National conferences of the Faiths. Much of what is taught at the sessions involve faith-specific beliefs and practices. Like the other positions in Scouting, the COR is also required to provide nonsectarian participation for Scouts. For other training within a specific Religion, please contact your Faith=s local or National committees, or the Interfaith committee of your local Council. Only nonsectarian considerations of COR=s role will be addressed in this handbook. Duties of the Charter Organization Representative are defined along with other adult Leader positions by BSA in the Troop Committee Guidebook, as follows: -17-
Charter Organization Representative (COR) - Duties: 4. Is a member of the chartered organization 5. Serves as head of AScouting department@ in the organization 6. Secures a troop committee chairperson and encourages training D. Maintains a close liaison with the troop committee chairperson 5. Helps recruit other adult leaders 6. Serves as liaison between your troop and your organization 7. Assists with unit rechartering 8. Encourages service to the organization 9. Is active and involved member of the district committee (Source #11) A. Is a member of the chartered organization BSA requires COR membership within the chartered organization. The COR must be a citizen of the United States. For Religious chartered Units, the COR is the only leadership position (other than Chaplain) that must be a member of that Faith=s community. The Troop Committee members as well as the Scoutmaster and other adult leaders are not required by BSA to be members of the chartering Faith. B. Serves as head of AScouting department@ in the organization A ministry of your Church is how the Scouting program should be considered, with you in control of the AScouting department@ within your Church=s youth ministries. The COR is the department head who directs the programs and administers to the provisions of the Charter agreement. As such, the COR should be the same person for all the types of Scout Units chartered by the same organization. This is not always adhered to, particularly between Cub Packs and Scout Troops, but there is merit in having one primary administrator for all of your Scouting programs. C. Secures a troop committee chairperson and encourages training Troop (Pack,etc.) Committee Chairperson appointments are the responsibility of the COR, and not for the Scoutmaster to appoint. Leadership is the most important factor in the success of a Scout Unit. A Chairperson should be someone who can recruit others, delegate responsibilities, and motivate committee members to work together. The COR should encourage or even require training for key positions. Your District and Council have regularly scheduled training courses available. Also, monthly District Roundtables supplement and update this training on an on-going basis. Training courses of your Faith=s national or local committees should also be attended when available, as well as Interfaith sessions within your Council. -18-
D. Maintains a close liaison with the troop committee chairperson The COR should regard the Chairpersons of the Scout Units with respect and trust. A COR should always be kept informed of what is going on in the Units. The COR should be careful not to take over the Chairperson=s responsibilities, or bypass the Chairperson without consulting them. On the other side, the Chairperson should contact the COR on a regular basis, notify them of Committee meetings, and inform the COR immediately if a major problem occurs. Good communication is essential. E. Helps recruit other adult leaders Within your Faith community a COR will meet members of the congregation who may have a business skill or other resource that would be helpful to have on the Troop Committee or to be Scout Leaders. As the Scouting department head, you should be active in the recruitment of your department staff. Parents of the Scouts in your units are usually the most obvious sources from your Faith community. All persons working with youth must be screened carefully by your organization. Remember that the adult Scout Leader=s attitude must be nonsectarian. The COR should appoint the best, most qualified person he can find to be the Scoutmaster. That best person may very well be a Scout=s parent or someone else of another Faith. The COR needs to also fulfill the BSA policy that his organization gives attention to the Religious life of each and every Scout. That need is filled by the Unit Chaplain and Chaplain Aide positions, whose duties are to serve the spiritual needs of all Scouts. Therefore, it is not reasonable to have a practice of appointing only Scoutmasters that are of the same Faith, and then fail to have a Chaplain and/or Chaplain Aide, or to be completely without an active Religious program to serve any of the Scout youth in your Units. F. Serves as liaison between your troop and your organization Maintaining adherence to the Charter is the COR=s responsibility. This includes upholding the basic principles which require that nonsectarian training is included for all members, and attention is given by the organization to the Religious element in a Scout=s life. Some Religions utilize Scouting as a major part of their youth ministry. Their programs for Duty to GOD are extensively developed as an essential part of the Scouting experience they provide. It is highly commendable to find that Scouting is held in such high esteem by those Faiths. The COR should be cautious, however, that their programs are not exclusionary. Any boy who wants to be a Scout should not be refused membership or forced out of Scouting, just because his Religious beliefs are not the same as the chartered organization=s Faith. If local Units do not include his Faith, or if other Units are -19-
unreasonably distant, the COR must see to it that their program is adjusted to allow the Scout to participate fairly. Remember the Golden Rule, ADo unto others as you would have them do unto you@ and apply it to any Scout that is different from the others. Consider this; if a Scout of your Faith lived somewhere that only had Troops available which were not of your Faith, you wouldn=t want the boy to be denied all the rewarding experiences Scouting has to offer. Of course, those experiences should also include a Religious element provided by the Scout=s family at home and by those among the Scout=s Faith community, organization or group. G. Assists with unit rechartering Normal procedures should be followed for renewing a charter at the end of each year. For Religious chartered organizations, the COR should see that the Chaplain is invited along with the others to the annual charter review meeting. Religious emblems and Unit awards should be a part of the Quality Unit commitment goals for the next year. The charter presentation ceremony should be a part of or follow a Church service, appropriately as part of the next Scout Sunday/Sabbath ceremony. H. Encourages service to the organization Your Chaplain Aide should be coordinating with the Chaplain and other ministry leaders for service projects needed by your Church, and needed by the Scouts in order to advance. Some encouragement may be needed to be exerted by the COR, to see that those tasks are approved and scheduled by the Church leaders, and that they are reasonable expectations for the Scouts to perform. As COR you should pass on ideas for service projects to the Unit committee and help wherever needed. I. Is active and involved member of the district committee Local District Committee involvement is encouraged. Contact with the District and the Council will inform the COR of all the facilities, activities, services and programs they have available for your organization. Just as your Committee Chairperson assists in the Adownhill@ running of your Scout Units, a Unit Commissioner should be available from your District to assist in the Auphill@ side of Scouting services. Participation in a District committee should enhance your understanding of how the whole package comes together to serve the youth of your Religious organization. The COR is a voting member not only of the District Committee, but also of the Council Corporation, so they should be active enough to vote on issues that affect not only the Scouts of his Faith, but all Scouts in the local program. (Source #13 - excerpts) -20-
5. R E L I G I O U S E M B L E M A D V I S O R A Religious Emblem Advisor is not an official BSA position, but is provided to serve Scouts under the auspices of their chartering Faith. Not all Religious emblem programs require an Advisor. Many of the Cub Scout emblems are supervised by their parents. Boy Scout emblems usually require a Counselor, Mentor, Moderator or other titled Advisor provided by their own Faith community. Advisors are usually someone involved with youth ministry, a parent or member of the Troop Committee. Certain BSA requirements must be adhered to by these Advisors. These include attendance and certification in the BSA Youth Protection Training program, and the A2- deep@ rule that requires a minimum of two adults and a minimum of two youth Scouts at all sessions or in the same room at meetings. The only exception to the 2-deep rule is if only one youth is working on an emblem, then he could have one of his parents in attendance. All Advisors must be members in good standing or screened by their Faith=s chartered organization, including volunteer parents of their Scouts. Specific Faiths may also have their own additional requirements. The opportunity for job training is usually provided by committees of the chartering Faith. Courses may be conducted by a local Faith=s Scouting committee, and by certain Faiths during Relationships Week each summer at the Philmont Scout Ranch-Volunteer Training Center, near Cimarron, New Mexico. Courses may be also conducted at annual or biennial National conferences of some Faiths that charter Scouting. Most of what is taught at these sessions will involve faith-specific beliefs and practices, applied to their Faith=s Religious training for Scouts. However, they are also required to provide nonsectarian participation for Scouts not of their Faith. For training within a specific Religion, please contact your Faith=s local or National committees, or your Council=s Interfaith or Relationships committees. It is only the common, nonsectarian portion of Religious Emblem Advisor=s role, similar regardless of one=s Faith, that this handbook will subsequently address. Duties of the Religious Emblem Advisor have not been defined by BSA, since they are chartered organization positions. For this Handbook, duties are as follows: A. Become knowledgeable in advising the Religious emblems of your Faith B. Tell about the steps needed to earn Religious emblems C. Advise Scouts while working from Religious emblem manuals D. Provide Scouts the opportunities required to complete all tasks E. Process and forward completed applications properly and promptly -21-
A. Become knowledgeable in advising the Religious emblems of your Faith Attending Training Courses is the best way to know what specifically is expected by your Faith, for you to provide effective counseling for Religious emblems. Some Faiths require training, but others may not have training sessions available for Advisors, particularly in remote areas. Obtain Advisor and Scout manuals, and try to find someone who has experience as an Advisor for that particular Religious emblem. If no previous Advisors are available, contact your Council Interfaith or Relationships committees. Also talk with a Chaplain, a young Leader or Scout who has received the emblem, and who can tell you about the program and manuals. B. Tell about the steps needed to earn Religious emblems Scouts should be informed about what is required before they start working on the Religious emblems. Parents, Scoutmaster and the Chaplain Aide should also be informed that the Scout will be working on the emblem, and what their roles are. Most Scout level emblems are more difficult than obtaining a merit badge, and must be diligently worked on over several months. Strong commitments are needed by all of those involved, particularly the Advisor. C. Advise Scouts while working from Religious emblem manuals Do manuals step-by-step with the Scouts, in the order prescribed. Usually there are alternative readings and tasks for them to do. Advise them as they work on the manuals. See that they attend meeting sessions, and that they stay on a schedule. D. Provide Scouts the opportunities required to complete all tasks Resources for tasks and abilities will differ from Scout to Scout, so make sure the alternate tasks and service projects they choose are feasible for them to finish. If outings are required, such as attending retreats or visiting a shrine, get with other Advisors from different Units to plan for these events as a group. E. Process and forward completed applications properly and promptly When completed with all requirements and signatures, the application and fee should be forwarded immediately. Most emblem medals with ribbons have to come from National sources, such as from Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.) in St. Louis, or from a Faith=s National committees out-of-state. It may take longer than the next Court of Honor to receive them. Some Religions have annual Council-wide award ceremonies, so check with your Faith or Council Interfaith committee. -22-
8. D I S T R I C T/ C O U N C I L S E R V I C E S Large Assemblies of Scouts at District Camporees (Council Jamborees or Interfaith Retreats) may require more pre-planning and coordination than a Scouts= Own service (see the previous Section.) Scouts can still help plan, conduct, and participate in the service. But instead as individuals or by patrols, at these larger gatherings it is more inclusive if the various parts of the service are conducted by representatives of the Units (or Districts) represented. Prayers should always be said at the opening and closing of such an event, but the opportunity for a unified prayer service should never be avoided at such an opportune gathering of Scouts and Scouters. Program booklets or handout pages are helpful at such large gatherings, so that everyone is literally Aon the same page@. Also, the impromptu assignments to various Units then become rather clear for them to follow. Using Prayers and Songs such as provided later within this handbook, a sample service outline could include: A. Call to Worship: A short opening prayer, or a Torah presentation if available. B. Opening Song: America the Beautiful, God Bless America, etc. C. Responsive Reading: Scout Oath Prayer or Scout Law Prayer, etc. D. Reflection or Discussion: by a Chaplain, Guest or Official who will be present E. Prayer for our Country: (see Interfaith Prayers to follow) F. Thoughts from Lord Robert Baden-Powell: (any previous or other excerpts) G. A Scouter=s Prayer: for all Leaders to come forward to recite H. Benediction / Closing Prayer: (see Interfaith Prayers to follow) I. Closing Song: On My Honor, Scout Vespers, etc. Play-acting activities might be coordinated if there is enough time, so you may consider making it a part of the service, or performed before or after the prayer service. Remember Lord Baden-Powell=s advice that these events be Acheery and varied@ and that the Speaker=s address is one which Agrips the boys, and in which they may laugh or applaud as the spirit moves them.@ Having the boys help put the program together will provide insight from their perspective, and be more effective. The youth are also capable of planning and presenting their own Scout Retreats, or as we prefer to call them AScout Encounters@ that are meaningful for them. A young eaglet will never fly, if it never gets the opportunity to flap his own wings! -28-
9. S C O U T S U N D A Y / S A B B A T H February the 8th of each year is the Boy Scouts of America=s anniversary of its founding on February 8, 1910. The week in which the anniversary falls is always National Boy Scout Week. The Sunday at the beginning of the week is Scout Sunday, the Saturday either before or at the end of that week may be the Scout Sabbath. Scout Sunday/Sabbath ceremonies are held in chartered organizations= Churches and Synagogues historically on those days. Religious chartered Units should prepare for and attend ceremonies of their own during a scheduled service on the Scout Sunday/Sabbath. Most Churches will allow this during a regular worship service. The Troop Chaplain Aide should coordinate this with the Unit Chaplain, along with their Cub Pack. Other youth organizations have their own Scout week, but it may be easier for them to join with the Boy Scouts in our ceremony, so they might be invited as well. Announce Scout Services several weeks before, so that Scouts in other Units that are members of your Faith community are also invited to attend. This can be done in bulletins, announcement during services, and posters in your Church. Make plans for saving front rows for Scouts, and possibly hosting a reception afterwards. At the Service all Scouts and Scouters should be in full uniform, and should wear all Religious emblem medals they have received. A flag ceremony could precede or be part of the opening procession of Scouts and ministers, depending on what is customary for your Church and acceptable to the attending clergyman. Music ministry should be planned beforehand, with appropriate National or Scouting familiar hymns. Religious Emblems should be acknowledged at some point, usually after a homily, for Scouts who received Religious emblems, as well as Unit awards. Then those that have just recently completed the emblems may have the medals, knots or knot devices awarded by attending clergyman or Chaplain. Eagle Scouts and Scouts who earned all the emblems should have special recognition, as well as all the service projects the Scouts have performed for your Faith community since the last Scout week service. Interfaith Services may also be held in your Council on Scout Sunday or Sabbath, usually in the afternoon as a separate service. For that service all Scouts who have earned emblems over the past year should be sent personal invitations, and each in attendance recognized with others who earned the Religious emblems. In our Council, we give a special Interfaith patch to each attending recipient, with a blue border for Cub emblems and a red border for Scout Religious emblems received. -29-
10. S U M M E R C A M P S E R V I C E S A N D A C T I V I T I E S Church Services should be provided by the Scout Camp on Saturdays and/or Sundays unless the campers are not required to be there on those days. Many Scout Camps have Chapels available for services on the premises, but too often there are no scheduled weekly services provided for the attending Faiths. Camp Chaplains seem to be coming a rarity except at the best of Camps. Duty to GOD at Camp is rather low on the wish lists of Scouts who are intent on earning all their merit badges, and sadly for their Scouters as well. But by now, after reading the previous Sections, the reader is hopefully impressed with the role that Duty to GOD should be playing in their entire Scouting program, especially at Summer Camp. Camp administrators should have their Chaplaincy positions high on their priority list. With a Camp Chaplain or even better with more than one, the participants are assured that the Religious element in Scouting is being served for the entire camp. A Camp Chaplain is required to be trained in nonsectarian service to Scouts of all Faiths. While he may not conduct prayer services for another Faith unless asked to do so, he will let others know when their own Chaplain may be coming, or when there is a prayer meeting planned by other campers and/or staff. For his own Faith, daily services should be made available, whether or not he is always able to attend. Without a Camp Chaplain a Faith=s attenders should fill the gap as best they can. Perhaps a Church is in the area having services that could be attended, or may have a clergyman or lay minister who could be invited for a Camp service, and invited to dinner too! Perhaps one of the Scouters is also a Deacon or holds another position in your Church. When a Chaplain is not available for Sunday or Sabbath services, there should be someone present who could conduct at least a prayer service. Interfaith Activities with or without a Chaplain should still be part of the program. Using the suggestions of Lord Baden-Powell as described in the AScouts= Own@ Section of this Handbook, an Interfaith gathering can be organized. This may be scheduled before morning assembly or after evening meals, or anytime that serves those interested. As an alternate to a prayer meeting, a discussion session can be planned to relate things such as what each person is doing in their duty to GOD, what they do to earn Religious emblems, what they hold sacred in their own Faith, how their Faith community relates with Scouting, as well as with current world or national events. Play-Acting could be part of some of these sessions, at other events or during campfires planned to have an Interfaith theme. Any Interfaith activity should allow for a mix of different Faiths to participate as they choose, mindful not to offend others, and remembering that AIt is your duty to respect and defend others= rights to their religious beliefs even when they differ from your own.@ -30-
11. I N T E R F A I T H C O M M I T T E E S A Religious Relationships Committee of some type, such as an Interfaith advisory committee, should be active at the BSA Council level. Most Councils have a Relationships Committee that deal with ScoutReach, Learning-for-Life, Urban Emphasis and/or Minority Relations, but they do not always include an Interfaith Committee. In providing for the programs for Duty to GOD in Scouting, an Interfaith Committee, or at least an Interfaith coordinator, should be established. If such a committee or position is not provided, the Duty to GOD portion of Scouting is not being adequately administered by that Council, as directed by BSA National. Nevertheless, Religious Relationships Committees are not as common as they should be everywhere. The BSA Foundations for Growth resource manual directs that: AThe religious relationships committee provides cooperating religious bodies the opportunity to carry out a ministry to children, youth and families through the methods of Scouting. The local Council must take the initiative in starting the organization process. This initial assistance is necessary also because in the religious field there is a diversity of organization, and a special cause or appeal is needed to bring churches and synagogues together for a particular task.@ (Source #16) Religious units= leaders are often members of their own Faith=s committees on Scouting, and can assist in the formation of a Council Interfaith committee. Also, many communities today have Interfaith coalitions and/or ecumenical councils that have brought various Faiths together in a spirit of cooperation. Since those Faiths are also Chartering Organizations, a Council can benefit greatly from contact with such groups. It is the Council=s responsibility to foster and cooperate with the establishment and continuation of an Interfaith committee, as an active advisory group serving the entire Council service area. Every effort should be made to include representation from all the Faiths that Charter units within a Council. The opportunity for job training of members of Religious committees is provided by National committees of their chartering Faiths. Training is conducted during Relationships Week every summer at the Philmont Scout Ranch -Volunteer Training Center, near Cimarron, New Mexico. Courses may be conducted at annual or biennial National conferences of major Faiths. Much of what is taught at those sessions involve faith-specific beliefs and practices, applied to their Faith=s Religious training for Scouts. They are required, and are hopefully instructed in those sessions, to also provide nonsectarian participation for Scouts not of their Faith. This section will address only the nonsectarian portion, for a Council level Interfaith Committee. Formal training is our next goal, after this Handbook is widely circulated, to write and establish a National training course for Interfaith Relationships, providing standardized training for all Council=s Interfaith relations committee members. -31-
Statement of Purpose of the Religious relationships committee (Interfaith Committee) is to expand the opportunities for children, youth, adults and families within the community to experience GOD=s love and grace (HIS influence working within you.) To accomplish this purpose, the committee functions to: 1. Cooperate with Council in its effort to fulfill Scouting s belief that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to GOD. 2. Interpret and promote the Scouting program in churches and synagogues as a resource for their ministries with children, youth, adults, and families. 3. Interpret and promote the Religious emblems study program as the local churches=, synagogues=, and mosques= program of intentional and intensive Religious education for the individual member. 4. Provide worship experiences and Chaplain services in Council camps, outdoor experiences, and other events. (Source #16) Cooperation, Interpretation and Promotion are the apparent operative words in the functions or duties of the Interfaith Committee. Certainly, as a Council advisory committee, there is a need to cooperate with a Council=s executive, administrative, and field services departments, to fulfill the requirements for Duty to GOD in all Districts serviced by your local Council. The Interfaith Committee serves as an intermediary between the various Church communities and your Scout Council. To interpret means Ato understand, explain the meaning and convey the significance of@ programs for specific Faiths in Scouting. With this understanding on both sides, you can then promote their activities, Religious emblems, and educational programs in a unified effort. An example would be to coordinate with your Council to have an Interfaith booth at Scout-o-Ramas, Camporees and other events, where members from various Faiths could answer Scouts= and parents= questions, and promote sales of Religious emblem manuals for all Faiths. Other activities will be discussed later. Provisions for worship services and Religious experiences, in addition to Chaplain services, is an important function of the Interfaith Committee. Interfaith Religious activities for outdoor experiences and other events have been discussed in the previous sections. However, the provision for Chaplain services in Council camps may have logistical problems that need to be addressed. Camps are often at remote locations, far from most of the Churches that charter the attending Scout units. It may be difficult to secure a Camp Chaplain for the few weeks that camp is in session, but every effort should be made to do so. If the Council administrators retain the responsibility to staff a camp with a Chaplain, then they should make every reasonable effort, and explore every suggestion by the Interfaith Committee, to see that a Chaplain is employed to the same degree that other positions are filled. A camp cook or medic for just a few weeks may also be hard to find, but somehow are always employed. Equal persistence should be given to the Chaplaincy position. -32-
Steps in Organizing a Committee for Religious relationships are suggested by BSA National, summarized briefly as follows: 1. Confer with local executive director of Council of Churches, chairman of Board of Rabbis, and heads of other Religious and interdenominational organizations (Ecumenical Councils, Interfaith Coalitions, etc.) to help start a committee. 2. Ask the organizing group (participants) to invite clergy and laity who might serve on the committee to a breakfast or luncheon. The Council President and Relationships Chairman should also be present and play key roles. 3. Be sure to follow up with all Religious leaders on the plan recommended by the committee. It is suggested that the committee be made up of clergy or lay-persons from the Religious organizations, to be recommended by the Scout Executive. When his recommendations are made, get top-caliber clergyman or lay-person to serve as chairman. Secure a geographical representative group, laity that can attend when clergy are available. Get his selection of Council staff to work with the committee. Appoint standing committees for Relationships, Religious Emblems Program, and Chaplaincy. Plan and execute specific projects, survey which Faiths charter Scouting, the potential for others, then promote Scout Sunday/Sabbath ceremonies, Chaplaincy at summer camp, and religious emblems program. (Source #16) A more helpful approach would be to first contact Scout leaders of participating Faiths within your Council that may be, or may know, members of their Faith=s national committees on Scouting, or are active Religious emblem Advisors. Ask that they provide a representative to the Interfaith committee from their Faith. While the suggestions enumerated above may work, most Church leaders today are very busy and may feel they do not have enough knowledge of Scouting to help start a Council advisory committee. By involving active Scouters, the benefits of a cooperative promotion for Religious emblems, and Duty to GOD activities on a unified basis, are more readily comprehended. They may also serve as the best sources to recommend clergy to serve as Chaplains for their specific Faith, ones they have participating in their Scouting programs. However, attendance by clergy is usually limited, and likely will not serve as the nucleus of an active Interfaith committee. For most successful Interfaith committees, active Scouters are usually willing to serve, and most realize the benefits to their Scout youth and Religious programs. Duties and Activities of Committee - Interfaith Chairman - Overall coordinator, works closely with Council staff advisor and the Subcommittee Vice-chairmen, Chairpersons of various Faith committees; responsible to oversee that objectives are met for Religious programs in Scouting, that Council and Districts are advised of dates of Religious observances so not to conflict with planned activities; liaison between Faith groups and BSA groups to resolve issues, advise on policies, channel spiritual resources of Faiths to reach their Scouting members and families; plans & conducts meetings, at least quarterly. -33-
Secretary (Corresponding/Advisor) - Local Council staff member, responsible for working with and guiding the Interfaith Chairman, meeting regularly to keep current on progress and discuss ideas, suggestions and plans; works with Vice-chairmen to assure they receive help and guidance they need for their subcommittees. (As a Council staff member, the Advisor can have notices printed and distributed and/or mailed to committee members for meetings, notices to District Executives, Commissioners and Roundtable newsletter editors, as well as any other staff approvals needed for events and/or Council facilities= reservations.) Additional Committee Officers - While not specified by BSA, standing committees usually should include a Recording Secretary (minutes), Treasurer, Associate/Past Chairman, as well as the three Vice-chairmen of the subcommittees. It is also good to have at least two Boy Scout youth members serving on the committee, as well as liaisons for other local youth organizations on an Interfaith level. Relationships Subcommittee activities include: A) Coordination of a Chartered Organization (CO) survey to determine numbers of units, youth members and adult leaders for each Faith in your Council, given to representatives of each Faith for their membership drives; B) Organization of (new) units from the results of the CO survey, working with the Faith=s churches and District=s membership persons to see that new units are formed; C) Maintain good working relations; D) Search and Exchange information sessions on how Scouting supports Religious education, how Council supports COs, how COs help Scouting, how they help finance Scouting with sustained membership efforts; E) Help promote Scout Sabbath/Sunday services. Chaplaincy Subcommittee activities include: A) Resident Chaplains for the full camp season, the Council providing room and board, or other alternatives; B) Religious services for other events, camporees or related activities upon request; C) Chapels at Summer Camp, planned for boys of all Faiths with Interfaith cooperation and approval of the Council camping committee; D) Financial support of the Chaplain provided by Religious groups, financing of Chapel construction and maintenance. Religious Emblems Subcommittee activities include: A) Program promotion to get information on Religious emblems to all Religious leaders and unit leaders, share ways of promoting emblem programs; B) Activity displays to be used at District and Council functions, manned by committee members; C) Publicity of accomplishments by Scouts earning Religious emblems, Interfaith activities, planned and coordinated by the committee. Other possible activities could include outreach programs for remote Districts outside of your main service area, such as the Scout-o-Rama display and manual sales mentioned earlier; a Council-wide Interfaith Recognition Service on Scout Sabbath/ Sunday afternoon; an Interfaith Encounter weekend campout program every few years; annual Ten Commandment Hikes planned to visit different Churches, a person at each explains one of the Commandments, and then explains the Church; Emblem Advisor and Chaplain Aide training courses, and COR/Chaplain conferences. (Source #16) -34-
12. L I F E A F T E R S C O U T I N G When Scouts grow up after having been a member for a few years, or for more than a decade, what of Scouting will they carry with them? Certainly, they should be different than if they had not been involved in Scouting, not likely to have had the extent of outdoor experiences, leadership training, their own diversity of merit badge interests, with their own unique, personalized growth in body, mind and Spirit. Hopefully, they have been led to realize a commitment for Duty to GOD in their life, as well as for their Country and themselves, that will carry on into adult life. Will they have an advantage in the workplace, in family living, with their ultimate vocation in life? A vocation in life is often misunderstood by youth to mean what their career or job title will be, like when you go to Avocational school@ to learn a trade. Rather than an occupational direction, a vocation means what your calling or station in life will eventually become as an adult, either 1) a single person, 2) a married man, or 3) a clergyman. Most youth think of the second alternative as their future life, after exhausting all the benefits of the first alternative, as our society readily portrays in the various media. But youth are not often advised about considering the calling of the third kind; the call to work in the service of GOD within their own Faith. In presenting this Handbook, our efforts have been pointless if some advice is not given on the choices of vocations in life after Scouting, schooling and growing up. A Scout has declared from the Oath forward that he will do his best in doing his Duty to GOD and Country, to obey the Scout Law which includes being AReverent.@ These concepts may not be found in a youth=s life outside of Scouting. Once again, our Founder Lord Baden- Powell has offered timeless advice: AThe Promise that a Scout makes on joining has as its first point: >To do my duty to GOD.= Note that it does not say >To be loyal to GOD= since this would merely be a state of mind, but (instead) to do something, which is the positive, active attitude... Therefore, we put into his activities the practice of Good Turns in his daily life as a foundation of future goodwill and helpfulness to others. The religious basis (for) this is common to all (Faiths) and... interfere with the form of none. The boy can then realize better that part of his Duty to GOD is to take care of and develop as a sacred trust, those talents with which GOD has equipped him for his passage through this life; the body... to be used in GOD=s service; the mind with its wonderful reasoning, memory and appreciation which place him above the animal world; and the soul, that bit of GOD which is within him, namely Love, which can be developed and made stronger by continual expression and practice. Thus we teach him that to do his Duty to GOD means, not merely to lean on HIS kindness, but to do GOD=s will by practicing love towards one=s neighbour.@ (Source #3) Older-aged Scouts should be counseled about what a calling means in their own Faith, for they should be able to make sense of how Duty to GOD relates to their own purpose in life, and the vocation only they can choose to follow. Hopefully, in whatever vocation they pursue, they will come back to help in the Scouting program for others. -35-
Q. I N T E R F A I T H P R A Y E R S PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (with "GOD Bless Our Flag" added back at end) I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. GOD BLESS OUR FLAG. CALLS TO WORSHIP Eternal GOD, open our lips that our mouths may speak of YOUR Glory. THE SHEMA: These words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart; She-ma, Isra-el, A-do-nai, E-lo-he-nu, A-do-nai E-had. Hear O Israel, the LORD our GOD, The LORD is one.- from Deuteronomy AL-FATIHAH: Praise be to ALLAH, LORD of the worlds, the BENEVOLENT, the MERCIFUL, OWNER of the day of judgement, YOU alone we worship; YOU alone we ask for help, show us the straight path. - from The Koran THE BLESSED: Blessed is the spot, and the house, and the place, and the city, and the heart, and the mountain, and the refuge, and the cave, and the valley, and the land, and the sea, and the island, and the meadow where mention of GOD has been made and HIS praise is glorified. - from Baha>I Writings BEGINNING THE DAY: O GREAT SPIRIT! Watch over us as we begin this day. Protect us as we live in YOUR care. Give us bounty and hold us from harm. We are YOUR children and wish only to please YOU. We hold our Mother Earth close to our hearts and wish for her goodness. We thank you for YOUR love that is within us. - Native American SERVICE OF THE HEART: May the time be not too distant O GOD, when all your children will understand that they are brothers and sisters so that, one in spirit and one in fellowship, they may be forever united before you. Then shall your kingdom be established on earth, and the word of your prophet shall be fulfilled: "The LORD will reign forever and ever." -from the Jewish Torah (Source #6) Q-1 VARIATIONS ON THE GOLDEN RULE >Do to others as you would have them do to you= Faith groups differ in their concepts of the deity, other beliefs and practices. But there is near unanimity of opinion among the world=s various religions on how one person should treat another. Almost all religions have passages in their holy texts which promote the AEthic of Reciprocity@ commonly known in North America as AThe Golden Rule.@ - Fr. Don Titmus Blessed are those who prefer others before themselves. - Baha=i Faith This is the sum of duty: Do not do to others which would cause you pain if done to you. - Brahmanism Hurt not others in ways that you would you yourself would find hurtful. - Buddhism Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. - Confucianism One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself. -Hinduism No one of you is a believer until you desire for another that which you desire for yourself. - Islam In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self. - Jainism What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the law. - Judaism The Great Law of Peace: Respect for all life is the foundation of life. -Native American The law imprinted on the hearts of all men is to love each other as they love themselves. - Roman Pagan Religion The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form. - Shinto Be not estranged from another for GOD dwells in every heart. - Sikhism Human nature is good only when it does not do unto another whatever is not good for its own self. - Zoroastnanism.
INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS & PRAYERS If I can do some good today, If I can serve along life=s way, If I can something helpful say, LORD, show me how. If I can right a human wrong. If I can help to make one strong. If I can cheer with smile or song. LORD, show me how. If I can aid one in distress. If I can make a burden less. If I can spread more happiness. LORD, show me how. -unknown The statement of the (Scout) Oath and the adjectives that make up the Law cover any possible description of a well adjusted human; and, if a whole nation ever reached halfway for these goals, it would be approaching Utopia. The concept of honor and description of courage are vital ideas, almost lost by the wayside in this age of expediency and behavior analysis. Here is a mixture of common sense and high ideals for every citizen, not just every Scout. GOD bless Scouting. - Hugh Downs, from Scout Oath in Action (Source #7) O LORD GOD, make my religion to be my love, my deepest love, my delight, the love of my life. Let me never be content with giving YOU less than my whole heart; and that, with no motive which is not pure, no mind which is not joyful. Make all my days a looking up and going forth to greet and meet that majesty of love which has visited and redeemed YOUR people - the love that would save us and is, the glory of YOUR glory, with no limits, forever. - Eric Milner-White (1884-1964) (Source #17) TWO SHIPS One ship drives East and another West. With the selfsame winds that blow. >Tis the set of the sails and not the gales Which tells us the way to go. Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate As we voyage along through life. >Tis the set of the Soul that decides its goal And not the calm or the strife. WESLEY=S RULE Do all the good you can, by all the means you can; In all the ways you can, At all the time you can; In all the places you can, To all the people you can. PRAYER FOR OUR COUNTRY Our GOD and GOD of our ancestors, we ask YOUR blessing upon our country, upon the leaders of our nation, and on all who exercise rightful authority in our community. Unite the inhabitants of our country, whatever their origin and creed, into the bond of true friendship, to banish hatred and bigotry, and to safeguard our ideals and institutions of freedom. May this land under YOUR Providence be an instrument for peace throughout the world. AMEN. - unknown (Source #7) DECLARATION OF RIGHTS We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. - Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 HISTORIC SCHOOL PRAYER A Supreme Court ruling in June 1963, banned Bible scriptures and prayers in all U.S. public schools. The prayer decided to be unconstitutional had merely stated the following: Almighty GOD, we acknowledge our dependence upon THEE and we beg THY blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our Country. THE NEW COLOSSUS From an inscription added in 1903 onto the pedestal of AThe Statute of Liberty@, that was dedicated Oct. 28, 1886. The statute=s formal name is actually ALiberty Enlightening the World.@ Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, with conquering limbs astride from land to land; here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand a mighty woman with a torch, whose flame is the imprisoned lightning, and her name AMother of Exiles.@ From her beacon-hand glows World-wide welcome, her mild eyes command the air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. AKeep ancient lands, your storied pomp!@ cries she with silent lips. AGive me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!@ - Emma Lazarus, 1849-1887 Q-2