Transcript BSA Religious emblem programs

BSA RELIGIOUS EMBLEM
PROGRAMS
General Program Overview
Overview



A Scout is reverent. His is reverent toward God. He
is faithful in his religious duties and respects the
convictions of others in matters of custom and
religion.
To encourage members to grow stronger in their
faith, religious groups (not BSA) have developed
religious emblem programs, that various religious
groups administer.
BSA has approved these programs and allows the
emblems to be worn on the official uniform.
Awards
Cub
Webelo
BS1*
BS2*
Adult
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Anglican Catholic Church
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Anglican Church in North America
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Armenian Apostolic Church (W. Prelacy)
Armenian Church of America (E. Diocese)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Baha’i
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Baptist
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Buddhist
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Catholic, Eastern
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Catholic, Roman
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Awards, cont.
Cub
Webelo
BS1*
BS2*
Adult
Church of Christ, Christian Scientist
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Churches of Christ
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Community of Christ
Eastern Orthodox
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Episcopal
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
General Church of the New Jerusalem
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Hindu
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Islamic
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Jain
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Jewish
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Lutheran
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Meher Baba
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Awards, cont.
Cub
Webelo
Moravian
BS1*
BS2*
Adult
Yes
Yes
Yes
Natl. Assoc. of Anglican & Trad. Catholic Scouters
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Nazarene
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Polish National Catholic Church
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Presbyterian Church in America
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Protestant & Independent Christian Church
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
The Salvation Army
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Unitarian Universalist Scouters Organization
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
United Church of Christ
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
United Methodist
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
United Pentecostal Church International
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Awards, cont.
Unity Worldwide Ministries
Cub
Webelo
BS1*
BS2*
Adult
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Zoroastrian
Notes:
Cub Scouts generally reflect Scouts in grades 1-3.
Webelos generally reflect Scouts in grades 4-5.
The BS1 represents Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts.
The BS2 represents Venturer, Older Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts.
Frequently Asked Questions

I have a unit with children of all different faiths.
How can I include the religious emblems program
for my unit?
 The
emblems program should be presented as an
optional program for scouts.
 Religious instruction should always come from the
religious organization, not the unit leader.
 Parents need to be informed about these programs and
told where to get the information for their particular
faith.
Frequently Asked Questions

Do boys and girls participate in same program?
 It
depends on the religion. Please check the specific
eligibility requirements for each emblem program.

Do the youth have to belong to a religious
institution?
 It
depends on the religion. Please check the specific
eligibility requirements for your particular religious
program.
Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn’t my religious institution know about the
religious emblems programs?
 Although
the religious bodies at the national level
created the programs, the local religious institutions
may not be aware of the programs. It may be helpful
to write for more information or even obtain a copy of
the curriculum to give to your religious leaders.
Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to complete a program?
 It
depends on the program. Some programs may take
3 or 4 months, others longer.

Who may serve as a counselor?
 It
depends on the program. Some programs require
clergy to serve as counselors, others allow a parent or
family member. Please check the specific guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions

How do I order the recognition items?
 Follow
the instructions in your recognition guidelines.
THESE EMBLEMS ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN YOUR LOCAL
COUNCIL SCOUT SHOP OR OFFICE.

How is the emblem presented?
 The
emblem should be presented in a meaningful
ceremony, preferably in the youth member’s religious
institution. Some emblems come with a sample
presentation ceremony.
Frequently Asked Questions

Which religious emblem square knot should I wear?
 Scouts
wear the silver knot on a purple background if
they earned the award as a youth.
 Adults
wear the purple knot on a silver background if
they have been awarded the adult award.
 As
additional levels are earned, any combination of
devices representing the program may be worn on the
same knot.
Frequently Asked Questions

If I earned the religious knot as a youth and then
was awarded the religious knot as an adult, which
knot should I wear on my uniform?
 You
can wear both knots. The religious square knot is
only a few square knots that can earned as a youth
and worn as an adult.
How can you get started?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Scouts must obtain the specific booklet for their
religion.
Parents much review the program guidelines.
Families should talk to their religious leaders and
show them the booklet before beginning any
program.
Scouts need to complete the requirements, obtain
the proper signatures and order the emblem.
Program Example
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BSA Troop 282, in coordination with St. Paul’s
Lutheran Church in Millard, NE, have been offering
the Protestant version of the religious emblem
program for youth ages 6-18 for the past 3 years.
Classes are:
 God
and Me (Grades 1-3)
 God and Family (Grades 4-5)
 God and Church (Middle School)
 God and Life (High School)
Program Example, cont.
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God and Me

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God and Family

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The children make a ‘pizza’. Each layer represents the different
levels of family and family, and how they can relate that to their
own lives.
God and Church


The children make games that they put in a box. Each game
helps them learn how to personally connect with their faith.
The youth either make a scrapbook or film a movie to talk about
the church and Jesus’s journey, then how that relates to the
modern church and their own faith journey.
God and Life

The youth do daily devotional reading and a weekly study about
the book of Paul. At the end of each chapter, the youth have a
project to complete.
Program Example, cont.
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Classes are offered to anyone who wants to attend.
Along with BSA Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, members of
local Girl Scout Troops and Venture Crews have
attended.
The fee for the classes was set at $25.00 per student.
This covered the workbooks, materials and a pizza
party at the end.
Service Project: The middle and high school groups join
together to do a service project at either Sienna Francis
House or Open Door Mission as part of their program.
Program Example, cont.

What was learned:
 The
class was moved from the spring to the fall. This
was done so that as the scouts finished and their
awards were ordered, that depending on their place
of worship, that the awards might be able to be
presented at Scout Sunday in February.
 Class start dates are staggered depending on the
class. This was done so that everyone would finish at
about the same time and enjoy the pizza party
celebration together.
Program Example, cont.

The Troop 282 / St. Paul’s course is coordinated by
Mike Wilson from Troop 282.
 For
any questions, please contact Mike at
[email protected]
Program Promotion
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P.R.A.Y. Publishing is Christian Education resource
that uses Bible lessons paired with service projects
to help young people grow in their faith.
At www.praypub.org, they have information on the
new BSA position: Religious Emblems Coordinator.
They also have presentation resources: videos,
scripts, slide presentations, round table
presentations, Pow Wow / University of Scouting
training information & Duty to God promo game.
Program Promotion
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Pray Pub also has
puzzle patches to
award people who
attend or make a
presentation on
religious emblems &
make a commitment to
Duty To God.
Adult Awards
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On the PRAY Pub website, it has information on the
requirements for each youth faith award, along with
information on adult awards for each faith.
For many of these awards, adults can only earn the
award by nomination only. Because of this, if a
Unit/Council member knows of an Adult Scouter who is
helping to encourage youth in their faith, they should
approach the religious organization that the Adult
Scouter belongs to with the nomination form.
Each Adult Scouter should be recognized for going
above and beyond their usual scouting duties to work
with our scouts. This is a great way to show our
appreciation.
References
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Images: ReligiousKnotYouth.png
Program information:
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Awards/Religi
ousAwards.aspx
www.praypub.org
Created 2014.08 / Last updated 2014.08 by KR