Duty To God & Religious Emblems

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Religious Emblems

Learn About Religious Emblems on April 16th, 2024 • 7PM

The 12th point of the Scout Law is a very important part of Scouting – A Scout is Reverent. This twelfth Point Zoom event is open to leaders and youth of all ages. It will show you how and why you should earn your religious emblem regardless of your faith. Religious emblems are an essential part of Scout advancement in your journey to become an Eagle Scout. Earning the emblem will satisfy the Duty to God Adventures in Cub Scouts, Scout Spirit requirements in Scouts BSA, and TRUST Award for Venturers.

Thank you to everyone who attended our information session. We hope that you found it to be a valuable experience.

Questions?

Dan Eslinger
DBCdutytogod@gmail.com
937-499-791

Click the button below to access the recording of the information session

Passcode: F5FW8*VH

U.S. National Day of Prayer

Participate in National Day of Prayer on May 2nd, 2024

Scouts all around the world will read the entire sacred texts of these world religions: Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim faiths. In addition, Scouts in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Christian, Eastern Orthodox, Hindu, Sikh, and other Faiths will be also reading their Sacred Texts.

Scouts will start reading at 5:30pm in the Far East, then eight hours later in Europe. Six more hours later, we cross the Atlantic where Scouts begin reading on the East Coast, then the Midwest, and finishes in California.

What a vision to have Sacred Texts being read starting in the Far East and sweeping west all around the world – all on the US National Day of Prayer.

Scouts can Participate in One of Three Ways

  1. Read from home with your family your faith’s Sacred Texts.
  2. Ask your Faith leader to read at their faith location. Faith leaders may suggest the readings, promote, or broadcast this to the public.
  3. Invite a Scout friend to participate in this event at their home or Faith location.

Participating in this event could help satisfy the Duty to God requirement necessary for advancement.

Questions?

Jim Marchbank
Chair, Council Support Subcommittee

National Religious Relationships Committee


jimmarchbank@gmail.com
314-914-2162

A Scout is Reverent

One of the basic tenants of Scouting is Duty-to-God.  The first point of the Boy Scout Oath is the promise “To do my Duty to God” and the last point of the Scout Law is Reverent, as in a “Scout is Reverent”.  There are many ways you as an adult scout leader can build faith into your unit’s scout program, whether you are in a pack, troop or crew.  An important concept to keep in mind is that we need to be respectful of other faiths and not promote one faith over another.  However, it is ok to concentrate on one faith if everyone in the unit is of that faith (e.g. Jewish units, some Catholic, Protestant and Muslim units). 

Duty to God

With that said, in multi-faith units it is ok to have Scouts do something that’s in their personal faith tradition that is appropriate for the timing and to share it with the unit. For example, in the Jewish tradition on Friday night before dinner, a Jewish scout may give a special blessing over grape juice and challah bread.  Several years ago at summer camp, Troop 2000 wanted to expose all their scouts to this tradition.  So they asked everyone to watch.  Opportunities like this where people realize that they are not necessarily being asked to participate, but rather to observe are great occasions to educate those in other faiths.  The difficult part is that it mostly works for groups in the minority.  Also, non-denominational services are an excellent way to show our Duty-to-God in a respectful way.

Council Duty to God Award

The Council Duty to God Award was created to recognize those registered Scouters who have demonstrated an exemplary history of transformational leadership in supporting and promoting the spiritual foundation of Scouting at the local Council level. It acknowledges the unswerving dedication to faith, fellowship, and service of those whose character embodies the moral principles and shared ideals of the Boy Scouts of America. The deadline submit nominations is January 31, 2024. Nominations can be sent to Michelle Byrne at michelle.byrne@scouting.org

Unit Leaders & Committee Chair Resources

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Chaplain Aide Resources

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Additional Online Resources:

Questions? Please contact your District Professional by visiting the Staff Directory.