Religious Emblems in Scouting Duty to God and A Scout is Reverent

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Religious Emblems in Scouting Duty to God and
A Scout is Reverent

• Boy Scouts of America Religious Emblems Programs

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Purpose

• All of us are here today because we believe that
  each boy needs to come to or strengthen his faith
  in God.
• The Religious Emblems programs are a tool to
  assure that each boy can accomplish that.
• Today we will learn how to use these tools

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Objectives

• Explain the relationship between the religious
  emblems and Boy Scouting
• List resources that help promote religious
  emblems
• Explain the difference between youth awards and
  adult recognitions
• Religious Awards vs Duty to God Patches

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What are religious emblems?
Religious emblems are

• Created by the national religious groups for
  their youth
• Recognized by BSA who allows the recognitions to
  worn on the uniform
• Optional programs for youth members to complete
  with the help of their families and religious
  leaders

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Religious Emblems Available to Members of the
Boy Scouts of America
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Why promote religious emblems?

• Religious emblems help youth members fulfill
  their Duty to God
• Religious emblems can help strengthen
  partnerships with faith communities and the
  council
• Increasing the number of Scouts with Religious
  emblems help the Unit have sustained growth AND
  increase retention

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How do we get started on these programs?

• 4 simple steps to start your religious emblems
  program

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1. Youth members must obtain the specific booklet
for their religion.

• Check with the HOAC Scout Shop or contact the
  religious organization directly.
• Each youth member needs their own booklet to
  document progress.
• Some religions offer adult manuals for counselors
  and mentors.

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2. Parents must review the program guidelines.

• Some programs require participants to be official
  members of the religious institution
• Age/grade requirements vary from program to
  program.
• Each program sets its own guidelines as to who
  may serve as counselor.
• Some programs require clergy to serve as
  counselors
• other programs allow parents or other family
  members to serve as counselors.

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3. Families should talk to their religious
leaders and show them the booklet before
beginning any program.

• Most programs require that they be completed
  under the auspices of that religious
  organization.
• Many programs require the signature of the local
  religious leader, counselor, parent and Scout
  leader

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4. The youth member needs to complete the
requirements, obtain the proper signatures, and
follow the instructions to order the emblem.

• These emblems are not available from your local
  council store (follow instructions in your
  booklet).
• The emblem should be presented in a meaningful
  ceremony, preferably through the members
  religious institution.
• The award can be presented at anytime of the
  year. Boy Scout Sunday/Sabbath in February is a
  perfect time to recognize recipients.

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What are adult awards?

• Adult recognitions are by nomination only
• Adult awards usually require a minimum number of
  years of service.

God and Service
Good Shepherd
St. George
On My Honor
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How can you promote religious emblems?

• Promote the religious emblems of all faiths.
• Understand that promoting religious emblems means
  providing information, not religious instruction.
• Make a presentation at your Roundtable / Training
  event or ask for assistance from RED Team.
• Make a presentation to your Scouting Unit and
  parents.

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Religious Awards vs
Duty to God Patches

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Resources

• Duty to God
• color brochure
• Unit leader scripts
• Promoting Duty to God Religious Emblems
  Video

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Local Resources

• Contact your-----
• Faith Representative
• and/or
• District REC
• OR

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Local Resources

• HOAC Website / Programs tab
• Religious Emblems link
• http//www.hoac-bsa.org/religious-emblems
• OR
  

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Local Resources
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Other Local Resources

• Heart of America Council RED Team
• Request a Religious Emblems Display Team
  presentation for your Cub Pack, Scout Troop,
  Venture Crew

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You are the vital link

• You! Are where the rubber meets the road
• You! Are where things happen
• You! Are the unit

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You are the vital link......

• Make sure that your unit has a REC
• A Unit REC is a new nationally formed
  position
• This is NOT a chaplain

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You are the vital link......

• The responsibilities of the Unit Religious
  Emblems Coordinator are to
• 1. Serve as a member of the unit committee.
• 2. Acquaint all youth with the religious emblems
  programs and the emblems
• available from their faith group.
• 3. Provide Scout families and clergy with an
  orientation to the religious emblems
• program and encourage their involvement.
• 4. Urge all youth in the unit to earn the
  religious emblem(s) of their faith.
• 5. Disseminate information to the unit's Scouts
  and Scouters about any district or
• council religious emblems activities, retreats,
  camps, etc.
• 6. Promote religious emblems usage like BSA
  promotes other youth advancement.
• 7. Coordinate the establishment of goals and
  track the number of religious
• emblems completed every year.
• 8. Serve as the unit's liaison to the District
  Religious Emblems Coordinator.

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You are the vital link......

• What are your
• Questions?

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• Thank You for being a leader in Scouting and the
  building up of the Duty To God and
• A Scout is Reverent program