Lots of scouters have tried to build the relationship between their church and their troop, without a lot of success. If you want to have church members become involved with the scouts, There is one sure-fire way to get them.
Just stand up on Scout Sunday, and tell the congregation "We need some of you to be Volunteers!"
Wait, I think I mixed that up. That's the one sure-fire way NOT to get volunteers.
If you remember my posts on Scouting as a Tool for Church Growth, here, here and here, one of the points I made is that scout families need to meet the people in the church before they think about joining it. If you ask someone to volunteer, make sure they understand that it's not just because you need a set of hands doing crafts or teaching a merit badge. Its because you want the scouts and their families to know the people you have asked to volunteer.
As I told one of the ladies at our church, I know we have a lot of really nice people, and I want the scout families to meet them. I consider them and their smiles to be a huge part of what made us feel welcome in the church. But we only got to meet them when we started coming on Sundays. I want the other families to meet them at scout meetings, so maybe they can come and see the rest of us on Sundays too.
Showing posts with label Congregation Volunteers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Congregation Volunteers. Show all posts
Friday, June 15, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
It's Official, I'm a Scouting Ministry Specialist
The UMC Has a program to train people to be a "Scouting Ministry Specialist", I recently signed up for this, serving my local church, and 1-2 other churches to be determined.
More information about it can be found on the United Methodist Men Scouting Ministry Website.
Requirements of a Scouting Ministry Specialist (SMS)
More information about it can be found on the United Methodist Men Scouting Ministry Website.
Requirements of a Scouting Ministry Specialist (SMS)
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Provide proof of youth protection training and/or take an online sexual ethics and safe sanctuaries course.
- Show a record of scouting/youth ministry experience.
- Read Scouting Guidelines.
- Submit $10 to become enrolled as a scouting ministry specialist.
- Provide information about national awards
- Introduce churches to the God and Country series.
- Encourage church leaders to attend regional and national training opportunities. (See below for upcoming training events.)
- Assist with bishop’s dinners and other district and conference events.
- Cultivate relationships with conference and district leaders.
I don't know if any other denominations have a similar program, but if your church does, I'd be interested in finding out more about it.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Faith Modeling vs. Faith Teaching
For those of us who view our scouting program as part of our church's ministry, this can be a very tricky line to tread. This is true especially for those serving in a role like Chaplain in a multifaith Boy Scout Troop.
Within Scouting, generally speaking, we don't want to try to impose our specific religious beliefs on others. These scouts each come from families which have their own faith tradition. As a Scout Leader, It's not my role to give religious instruction to the scouts. If they have questions, I can answer them, but my main role in regards to faith is to set a good model for them to follow. As I've heard it stated before, "We should be able to set an example, so that people around us will know we are Christians, even if we don't tell them." But from a scouter's point of view, I want to encourage the scouts to follow their family's faith. This is Faith Modeling, where I can show the boys what someone who sincerely follows their faith looks like. That means I've got to be on my best behavior and set a good example for them at all times.
Faith Teaching is something quite different. This is what one might do as a Sunday School teacher, or at Vacation Bible School, or in some specifically religious setting. If you have done a good job reaching out to the scouts in your unit and inviting them, hopefully some of the youth from scouts will also be in the sunday school class. But at any rate, their presence there at this kind of event means that the parents have entrusted you and your congregation to lead the child in a religious education. Although it might be the same leader, and the same kid, and in some cases even in the same classroom in the church basement... It's two different settings.
It doesn't mean that you quit being a Christian when you put on your scouting uniform. But it does mean that you respect the differences in situation, and remember that some parents have entrusted you with imparting Scouting's Values, while other parents have entrusted you with imparting specific religious beliefs. Although there is a HUGE overlap between the two, there is a distinction, and that's the difference between Modeling your faith and Teaching your faith.
Within Scouting, generally speaking, we don't want to try to impose our specific religious beliefs on others. These scouts each come from families which have their own faith tradition. As a Scout Leader, It's not my role to give religious instruction to the scouts. If they have questions, I can answer them, but my main role in regards to faith is to set a good model for them to follow. As I've heard it stated before, "We should be able to set an example, so that people around us will know we are Christians, even if we don't tell them." But from a scouter's point of view, I want to encourage the scouts to follow their family's faith. This is Faith Modeling, where I can show the boys what someone who sincerely follows their faith looks like. That means I've got to be on my best behavior and set a good example for them at all times.
Faith Teaching is something quite different. This is what one might do as a Sunday School teacher, or at Vacation Bible School, or in some specifically religious setting. If you have done a good job reaching out to the scouts in your unit and inviting them, hopefully some of the youth from scouts will also be in the sunday school class. But at any rate, their presence there at this kind of event means that the parents have entrusted you and your congregation to lead the child in a religious education. Although it might be the same leader, and the same kid, and in some cases even in the same classroom in the church basement... It's two different settings.
It doesn't mean that you quit being a Christian when you put on your scouting uniform. But it does mean that you respect the differences in situation, and remember that some parents have entrusted you with imparting Scouting's Values, while other parents have entrusted you with imparting specific religious beliefs. Although there is a HUGE overlap between the two, there is a distinction, and that's the difference between Modeling your faith and Teaching your faith.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Service Project Coordinator
One of the trickier parts of building a scouting ministry is matching the right people with the right jobs. Lots of people in the congregation will say they don't know anything about camping, or they aren't ready to commit a lot of time to volunteer with scouts. You have to find something they are interested in.
One position I am carving out is that of "Service Project Coordinator". This is not an official position in the BSA or GSUSA, but would probably fall under that generic role of "Committee Member"
This would be an ideal role for someone from the church who can help advise and suggest service projects for the Pack or Troop to participate in. Odds are, you have some people in the church that are highly involved in ministries that give back to the community, such as a Food Pantry, or Clothing Closet. These kind of people would be ideal for coming up with great ideas for service opportunities for your scouts.
For Older Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, they may be able to help with Eagle or Gold Projects as well. Not so much handling the paperwork/documentation, but being a resource for the older scouts to explore ideas on how to help their community via a service project.
One position I am carving out is that of "Service Project Coordinator". This is not an official position in the BSA or GSUSA, but would probably fall under that generic role of "Committee Member"
This would be an ideal role for someone from the church who can help advise and suggest service projects for the Pack or Troop to participate in. Odds are, you have some people in the church that are highly involved in ministries that give back to the community, such as a Food Pantry, or Clothing Closet. These kind of people would be ideal for coming up with great ideas for service opportunities for your scouts.
For Older Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, they may be able to help with Eagle or Gold Projects as well. Not so much handling the paperwork/documentation, but being a resource for the older scouts to explore ideas on how to help their community via a service project.
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