Religious Requirements for the BSA Todd Gianetti Membership Chairman Archdiocese of Hartford Catholic Committee on Scouting

Objectives “Duty to God” Program Enhancements: The new program elements being introduced for Boy Scouts, and Venturers, provide even clearer support for the importance of “duty to God” in Scouting. In addition, greater assistance is provided for adult leaders in their affirming “duty to God” as well as in teaching respect for the faith of others.

ARTICLE IX. POLICIES AND DEFINITIONS CHARTER AND BYLAWS OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

BSA Principles and Policy Section 1. Declaration of Religious Principle Clause 1. 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,

BSA Principles and Policy “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law.”

BSA Principles and Policy 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.

BSA Principles and Policy No matter what the religious faith of the members may be, this fundamental need of good citizenship should be kept before them.

BSA Principles and Policy The Boy Scouts of America, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and the organization with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life.

BSA Principles and Policy Activities Clause 2. The activities of the members of the Boy Scouts of America shall be carried on under conditions which show respect to the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion, as required by the twelfth point of the Scout Law, reading,

BSA Principles and Policy “Reverent. A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.”

Cub Scouting By the beginning of the Scouting year, each Cub Scout rank will include a new family-based Duty to God adventure. These requirements will NOT include a requirement that a Cub Scout earn his respective religious award.

Tiger Adventure: My Family’s Faith My Family’s Faith is one of the Tiger CORE Adventure Requirements. For this adventure, Tiger Cubs and their adult partners talk about faith and family and participate in an activity related to their beliefs. The requirement for this adventure are shown below. Upon completion of this adventure, Tiger Cubs will receive a belt loop. Requirements for the My Family’s Faith Tiger Adventure 1.With your adult partner, find out what faith in God means to your family. 2.Find out what makes each member of your family special. 3.With your family, make a project that shows your family’s beliefs. 4.Participate in a worship experience or activity with your family.

Wolf Adventure: Footsteps of Faith Footsteps of Faith is one of the Wolf CORE Adventure Requirements. For this adventure, Wolves visit a religious monument and create a display about their trip. They also explore other aspects of faith. Upon completion of this adventure, Wolves will receive a belt loop. Requirements for the Footsteps of Faith Wolf Adventure 1. Do both of these: a.Visit a religious monument or site where people might show reverence. b.Create a visual display of your visit with your den or your family, and show how it made you feel reverent or strengthened your faith in God. 2. Complete two of the requirements a through d. a.Give two ideas on how you can practice your faith. Choose one, and do it for a week. b.Read a story about people or groups of people who came to America to enjoy religious freedom. c.Learn and sing a song that could be sung as prayer before or after meals or one that gives encouragement, reminds you of how to show reverence, or demonstrates your duty to God. d.Offer a prayer with your family, den or pack.

Bear Adventure: Fellowship of Faith Fellowship of Faith is one of the Bear CORE Adventure Requirements. For this adventure, Bears either earn the religious emblem for their faith or explore the practice and history of their beliefs. Requirements for the Fellowship of Faith Bear Adventure Do requirement 1 or requirement 2. 1.Earn the religious emblem of your faith. 2.If you choose requirement 2, complete requirement 2a plus two more from 2b–2d. a.Working with a parent, spiritual advisor, or religious leader, provide service to help a place of worship, school, or chartered organization that puts into practice your ideals of duty to God and strengthens your fellowship with others. b.Name some people in history who have shown great faith in God as they worked to make our world a better place. Discuss with an adult one or more of the characteristics of a person you admire, and make a plan to develop one of the selected characteristics in yourself. Share your plan with your family, and carry it out for two weeks. c.Make a list of things you can do to practice your duty to God as you are taught in your home or place of worship. Select two of the items, and practice them for two weeks. d.Attend a religious service, den or pack meeting worship service, or time of family reflection and discussion about your family’s beliefs.

Webelos Adventure: Faith in Action Faith In Action is one of the Webelos CORE Adventure Requirements. For this adventure, Webelos either earn the religious emblem of their faith or plan and take part in an interfaith service. This type of service used to be called a Scouts’ Own service. Upon completion of this adventure, Webelos will receive a pin. Requirements for the Faith in Action Webelos Adventure Do requirement 1 or requirement 2. If you choose requirement 2, complete 2a plus two more from 2b–2d. 1.Earn the religious emblem of your faith for Webelos Scouts. 2.Do the following: a.Help plan and participate in an interfaith worship service with your den leader. Show reverence during the service. b.Review with your family or den members what you have learned about faith. c.Discuss with your family or den members how planning and participating in an interfaith worship service helps you live your duty to God. d.List one faith practice that you will work on for one month. Write down what you will do each day to remind you to work on that faith practice.

Arrow of Light Adventure: Faith in Action Faith in Action is one of the Arrow of Light CORE Adventure Requirements. For this adventure, Webelos either earn the religious emblem of their faith or create and carry out a plan to strengthen their own beliefs. Upon completion of this adventure, Webelos will receive a pin. Requirements for the Faith in Action Arrow of Light Adventure Do either requirement 1 OR requirement 2: 1.Earn the religious emblem of your faith for Webelos Scouts, if you have not already done so. 2.Do requirement 2a and any two from 2b–2e: a.With your religious leader, parent, or guardian, discuss and make a plan to do two things you think will help you get closer to God. Do these things for a month. b.Create an activity to share with your family that shows what character- building traits your religious beliefs have in common with the Scout Oath and Scout Law. c.For at least a month, pray or reverently meditate each day as taught by your family or faith group. d.Read at least two accounts of people in history who have done their duty to God. (This can include family members and ancestors.) List their names and how they showed their duty to God. e.Under the direction of your religious leader, parent, or guardian, do an act of service for someone in your family, neighborhood, or religious community. Talk about your service with your family and your Webelos den leader. Tell your family, den, or den leader how it made you feel.

Boy Scouting Beginning in 2016 in Boy Scouts, Duty to God will be incorporated in the requirement to show Scout Spirit. During the unit leader conference, the Scout will be asked what Duty to God means to him and how he demonstrates that duty. Again, there will be no requirement for the Scout to earn his respective religious award.

Scout Rank Explain what Scout spirit is. Describe some ways you have shown Scout spirit by practicing the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan.

“Scout spirit” refers to ideals and values; it is not the same as “school spirit.”

Evaluating Scout spirit will always be a judgment call, but through getting to know a young man and by asking probing questions, we can get a feel for it. We can say, however, that we do not measure Scout spirit by counting meetings and outings attended. It is indicated, instead, by the way he lives his life.

Tenderfoot Rank Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived four different points of the Scout Law in your everyday life. _________________ _________________

Second Class Rank Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived four different points of the Scout Law (not to include those used for Tenderfoot requirement 9) in your everyday life. _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________

First Class Rank Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived four different points of the Scout Law (different from those points used for previous ranks) in your everyday life. _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________

Star Scout Rank As a First Class Scout, demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life.

Life Scout Rank As a Star Scout, demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life.

Eagle Scout Rank As a Life Scout, demonstrate Scout Spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God, how you have lived the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life, and how your understanding of the Scout Oath and Scout Law will guide your life in the future. List on your Eagle Scout Rank Application the names of individuals who know you personally and would be willing to provide a recommendation on your behalf, including parents/guardians, religious (if not affiliated with an organized religion, then the parent or guardian provides this reference), educational, employer (if employed), and two other references.

Eagle Scout Palm Since earning the Eagle Scout rank or your last Eagle Palm, demonstrate Scout Spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life.

Faith Traditions Young people need faith. There is abundant evidence that children benefit from the moral compass provided by religious tradition. We acknowledge that faith can become an important part of a child's identity. Each of the major faiths breeds hope, optimism, compassion, and a belief in a better tomorrow. Scouting encourages each young person to begin a spiritual journey through the practice of his or her faith tradition. One of the key tenets of Scouting is "duty to God." While Scouting does not define religious belief for its members, it has been adopted by and works with youth programs of all major faiths.