CUB033 Duty to God

1. CUB033 Duty to God University of Scouting 2013 Circle Ten Council Jason Buffington jason@ScoutingForGod.org

2. Imagine writing this letter • Dear Mr. Jones. • I am sorry about Johnny Scout's horrible allergic reactions to the peanut butter sandwiches that we serve on all of our campouts. I didn't ask the boys about their food allergies because I didn't want to offend or embarrass anyone. • Your Scoutmaster

3. Imagine writing this letter • Dear Scouts and Families, • This is to inform you that effective immediately, we will no longer be serving food on our campouts. • While we have always enjoyed preparing and serving food with your sons each weekend, we recently discovered that one of the boys is a vegetarian. Since we are used to serving meat with most meals, we have decided it is easier to simply not serve any food over the campout weekend. Those boys who are interested in eating should bring their own food and eat privately within their own tents. • Your Scoutmaster

4. Resources • PrayPub www.PrayPub.org • (you’ll hear a lot more about them later) • Scouting For God (my site) www.ScoutingForGod.org Available in Midway today Much of the Sample Service section of this PPT was developed by Penny Jones @ Pack350-Athens pennypjones@embarqmail.com for UoS 2010-2011 Penny gave thanks to Dayne Woodall, SM WB91 and Greg Evetts, ASP WB91 for sharing presentations regarding subject matter.

5. WHY ??? • BSA Charter and Bylaws”The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God.” • Sir Baden Powell • “No boy can grow into the kind of man that he was meant to, without a healthy understanding of their God.”

6. BSA Charter specifics • Article IX, Clause 1 of the Charter of the Boy Scouts of America states: • The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. • In the first part of the Scout Oath or Promise the member declares, ‘‘On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law.’’ The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome precepts in the education of the growing members. • No matter what the religious faith of the members may be, this fundamental need of good citizenship should be kept before them. The Boy Scouts of America, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but it is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and the organization or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life.

7. BSA Charter specifics • Article IX, Clause 1 of the Charter of the Boy Scouts of America states: • The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. • The BSA goes on to offer the following interpretive clarifications: (condensed) • The Boy Scouts of America does not define what constitutes belief in God or the practice of religion. • The Boy Scouts of America does not require membership in a religious organization or association for enrollment in the movement but does prefer, and strongly encourages, membership and participation in the religious programs and activities of a church, synagogue, or other religious association. • The Boy Scouts of America respects the convictions of those who exercise their constitutional freedom to practice religion as individuals without formal membership in organized religious organizations. • If a boy says he is a member of a religious body, the standards by which he should be evaluated are those of that group. This is why the application for the Eagle Scout Award requests a reference from his religious leader to indicate whether he has lived up to their expectations. • Scouting believes in religious freedom, respecting others whose religion may differ from theirs, and in the right of all to worship God in their own way.

8. BSA Application

9. BSA Application

10. BSA Application

11. BSA Application The BSA … is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and organization or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life.

12. BSA Application The BSA … is absolutely nonsectarianin its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and organization or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life.

13. BSA Application Only persons willing to subscribe to these precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principle and to the Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America shall be entitled to certificates of membership.

14. BSA Application Only persons willing to subscribe to these precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principle and to the Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America shall be entitled to certificates of membership.

15. And that is why ... • Cub Scouts promise to do their “Duty to God” • For Boy Scouts (and all scouts within a few years), • the 12th point of the Scout Law is Reverence.

16. Religious Awards

17. The BSA is Nonsectarian • NondenominationalService suitable just for Protestants • EcumenicalService suitable for the whole Christian church • Nonsectarian Service not affiliated with any specific religion • InterfaithService incorporating elements from 2 or more faiths

18. PRAY PUB .org Of the eight major religions in the world Represented: • Judaism • Hinduism • Buddhism • Islam • Christianity Not represented: • Confucianism • Taoism • Shintoism

19. PRAY PUB .org

20. PRAY PUB .org God & Church 6th 7th 8th Grades God & Me 1st 2nd 3rd Grades God & Service Adults God & Family 4th 5th Grades God & Life 9ththru12th Grades

21. Religious Awards (knots) Youth Religious Award … aka “Purple Knot” Adult Religious Award

22. Adult Religious Award • Minimum of 5 years of service to church • Minimum of 5 years of service to youth agency • Encourage and assist young people in earning P.R.A.Y. award • Promote religious observances at youth agency • Encourage youth to participate in community service projects • Recruit volunteers to give leadership to national programs • Promote the youth agency among churches other than his/her own • Be a person whose Christian example is highly regarded by others in the church and whose lifestyle is a model to young people. Requirement s vary by faith or denomination Nominated by adults who serve alongside the nominee in youth agency (BSA) or church whose youth have benefitted from the nominee. Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted.

23. Youth Religious Award Youth Religious Award … aka “Purple Knot” Can be worn on Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Adult uniforms Pins are typically used for 2nd, 3rd and additional awards

24. Every Faith is Different

25. Every Faith is Different

26. PRAY PUB .org

27. God & Me • Could be done as a Den(s) – of same faith • More often hosted by an local church, with scouts (boys and girls) of multiple Packs/Troops participating … with voluntary participation per scout. • Typically 4 to 6 weekly meetings, e.g. Sunday afternoon

28. God & Me • Step 1: Youth members must obtain the specific booklet for their religion. • Step 2: Parents must review the program guidelines. • Step 3: Families should talk to their religious leaders and show them the booklet before beginning any program. • Step 4: The youth member needs to complete the requirements, obtain the proper signatures, and follow the instructions to order the emblem

29. God & Family • Six to Eight weekly meetings, with small amount of homework with parents between each one … OR FRIDAY 5:00P Leadership team arrives to prep facility 6:00P Registration Table open 6:30P Kick-Off & Course Introduction 7:00P Session 1 (75m) 8:30P Session 2 (75m) 9:45P Movie & Board-Games 11:30P Lights Out SATURDAY 6:30A Lights Up & Breakfast 7:30A Session 3 (75m) * 9:00A Break (prep for skit) - craft support 9:30A Session 4 (90m) with skit * 11:00A Session 5 (75m) * 12:30P Lunch 1:30P Session 6 (75m) 3:00P Closing Ceremony 3:30P Dismissal www.ScoutingForGod.org

30. EXAMPLE

31. Worship Service ideas

32. Cub Scout RequirementKeys to Remember! Scouts Leader DO NOT UNDO THE PARENTS TEACHING!! If your den decides to complete the Religious Emblems Program, remember this is lead by a Counselor (Religious Leader), not the Den Leader. (Some allow parent or family member) • Know your audience • Asks parents about religious preference • Let the scouts do most of the talking • Embrace the Diversity in your den/pack.

34. Worship Service ideas • Make Sure that your service is Open to all - it is not an attempt to proselytize, recruit, or convert someone to a specific faithFocus on making it engaging for boys and varied in formatA good idea is a talk which grips the boys, instead of an address

35. Worship Service ideas • Choose a setting that promotes reverenceEverything must be in good taste • Be sure to Time, and Rehearse (30 mins max) • Respect the rights, feelings and beliefs of othersParticipation is available for everyone, but not required. • It can be as simple or as complex as the leader chooses to make it

36. Worship Service ideas • Ask for suggestions … Planning, Materials, Participation, Leadership • Inspirational materials vs. religious materialsHoly Days and Religious Duties vary; so you probably won’t meet everyone’s needs

37. Worship Service ideas • It is for all, so focus on the universal themes of Belief in God and ReverenceLet YOUR AUDIENCE know the nature of the services ahead of time so that they are not caught off-guard

38. Worship Service ideas • Scoutmasters Minute/Scout Prayers • True story of a hero • Reading from The Torah, Bible, Koran, smriti or Isruti (Hinduism), Native American prayer/poem, etc. • Patriotic Songs • Can include a blessing or communion in the service.

39. Worship Service ideas • Adapt a religious teaching to scouting • The Acorn (from the Parable of The Sower) • Seed = The Scouts • Good Soil and Sun, Rain, Shade = Parents, Teachers, Scouters • Worms, Rocks, Weeds = Bad peer pressure, bad influences • Thrives, Grows and Matures = Eagle Scout, Leaders in Life

40. Worship Service ideas • Great words to cover all prayers • “Please prepare yourself for prayer • in the manner you are accustomed to.” • Words to consider avoiding (depending on audience) • In Jesus Name • Allah … Destroyer

41. World Friendship Fund • The World Friendship Fund was developed by the Boy Scouts of America during the closing days of World War II. At the time, there was a great need to rebuild Scouting in nations that had been wracked by war and were just emerging from the shadows of totalitarianism. • In the years that have elapsed, virtually every nation in the free world that has Scouting has been aided by the fund. Both those nations that have had Scouting before and those newly emerging nations that desire the Scouting program for their youth have been helped. • Through the World Friendship Fund, voluntary contributions of Scouts and leaders are transformed into cooperative projects that help Scouting associations in other countries to strengthen and extend their Scouting programs.

42. Pack 91 Interfaith Worship Service

43. Call to Worship We revere good thoughts, good words, good deeds done and to be done now and henceforth We are accordingly the praisers and invokers of that is good. Jonathan Whittier 1872 (Zoroastrian)

44. Opening Prayer Oh Lord! You are magnificent, inspiring, eternal, the greatest purifier, and all pervading. Oh Lord! Nothing higher than you exists. This entire universe is strung on you like pearls on a thread. Oh Lord! Bestow your grace on us, dwell in our heart, and dispel the darkness of ignorance by the light of knowledge and wisdom. The Prayer “Heavenly King”

45. Song – God Bless America God bless America, land that I love, Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above. From the mountains to the prairies To the oceans white with foam, God bless America, my home sweet home. God bless America, my home sweet home.

46. Responsive Reading Leader: A true and worthy person recognizes his obligations and does them without being watched or compelled. Scouts: A scout is trustworthy. Leader: We owe much to many – to home, school, community, nation, and to God. Scouts: A scout is loyal. Leader: The good Samaritan showed the spirit of doing a Good Turn. Scouts: A scout is helpful.

47. Responsive Reading Leader: Courtesy is the mark of all faiths. It is shown in thoughtful acts and kindly respect for everyone. Scouts: A scout is courteous. Leader: Kindliness is the way people show respect for others. Scouts: A scout is kind. Leader: Life is filled with things that we must do whether we like them or not. One of the marks of growing up is our readiness to accept responsibilities willingly. Scouts: A scout is obedient.

48. Responsive Reading Leader: Our moods make our days. If we are grouchy, our day is gloomy. If we are happy, our day is always happier. Scouts: A scout is cheerful. Leader: The world offers many gifts. A wise person uses them with care. Scouts: A scout is thrifty. Leader: To each of us comes danger, difficult tasks, and temptations. In choice of courage or cowardice, may we be brave. Scouts: A scout is brave.

49. Responsive Reading Leader: Cleanliness is next to Godliness. To have a clean body, a clean mind, and a clean record is a rewarding achievement. Scouts: A scout is clean. Leader: Character is determined by the things we worship. If we respect ourselves and our brothers and sisters, and see them as gifts of the goodness of God, we live on a high plane. Scouts: A Scout is reverent. All: Give us clean hands, clean words, and clean thoughts, O God. Teach us the work hard and to play fairly. Forgive us when we are unkind and help us to help others. Send us strength to do a good turn each day and so to live after Thy will. Amen.

50. Mr. White You have to have faith