Interfaith Worship
Services
Nancy Fonseca
A
SCOUT
IS
REVERENT
Why include religious services
in Scouting?
• BSA Charter and By-Laws
• Absolutely – Non-sectarian
• Religious Instruction ultimately the
responsibility of the home and
religious institution.
Religious Principle
The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no person can
grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an
obligation to God and, therefore, acknowledges the
religious element in the development of youth members.
However, the BSA is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude
toward that religious development. Its policy is that the
organization or institution with which youth members are
connected shall give definite attention to their religious
life.
Only adults willing to subscribe to this declaration of
principle and the Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America
shall be entitled to certificates of leadership.
Boy Scout Handbook
A Scout is reverent.
A Scout is reverent toward God.
He is faithful in his religious duties.
He respects the beliefs of others.
Boy Scout Handbook
A Scout is reverent
Wonders all around us remind us of our faith in God. We find it in
the tiny secrets of creation and the great mysteries of the
universe. It exists in the kindness of people and in the
teachings of our families and religious leaders. We show our
reverence by living our lives according to the ideals of our
beliefs.
Throughout your life you will encounter people expressing their
reverence in many different ways. The Constitution of the
United States guarantees each of us complete freedom to
believe and worship as we wish without fear of punishment. It
is your duty to respect and defend the rights of others to their
religious beliefs even when they differ from your own.
What is an Interfaith Worship
Service?
• Baden Powell – November 1928
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Big effect
To the pace of youngest
Cheery
Understandable prayers
Good address –which grips the boys
Short and meaningful
Planning a service
• Choose the setting
• Planned, timed and rehearsed
• Parts of the Service
• Courteous, kind, reverent
• Rights and feelings of others
• Everyone may participate
Diversity
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Unit composition
Seek suggestions, participation
Inspirational passages
“Scout’s Own” now interfaith worship service
• Interfaith
• Universal
• Nature of a service
TAKE HOME POINTS
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Include opportunities
Encourage participation
Share uniqueness
Planning – simple/complex
Support and respect all faiths
• Hymns
• Offering
• Be positive
Have you seen the light?
1. True or False
The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no
member can grow into the best kind of
citizen without recognizing an obligation to
God.
Religious principle
Answer: TRUE:
The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no person can
grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an
obligation to God and, therefore, acknowledges the
religious element in the development of youth
members.
However, the BSA is absolutely nonsectarian in its
attitude toward that religious development. Its policy is
that the organization or institution with which youth
members are connected shall give definite attention to
their religious life.
Only adults willing to subscribe to this declaration of
principle and the Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America
shall be entitled to certificates of leadership.
Have you seen the light?
2. Choose the correct answer(s)
The 12th point of the Scout Law includes
the following responsibilities:
a. personal religious obligations
b. duty to country
c. respect for the beliefs of others
d. all of the above
Boy scout handbook
Answer: a and c.
A Scout is reverent. A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in
his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.
Wonders all around us remind us of our faith in God. We find it in the
tiny secrets of creation and the great mysteries of the universe. It
exists in the kindness of people and in the teachings of our families
and religious leaders. We show our reverence by living our lives
according to the ideals of our beliefs.
Throughout your life you will encounter people expressing their
reverence in many different ways. The Constitution of the United
States guarantees each of us complete freedom to believe and
worship as we wish without fear of punishment. It is your duty to
respect and defend the rights of others to their religious beliefs even
when they differ from your own.
Have you seen the light?
3. Choose the correct answer(s)
The word “nonsectarian” means
a. nondenominational
b. ecumenical
c. not affiliated with any specific religion
d. all of the above
“absolutely nonsectarian”
Answer: c.
• A non-denominational service: is for
Protestants, possibly appropriate for all
Christians.
• An ecumenical service: one suitable for the
whole Christian church.
• A nonsectarian service: one not affiliated
with any specific religion.
Have you seen the light?
4. Choose the correct answer(s)
Which of the following could be a violation of a
religious belief?
a. recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the United
States of America
b. removing one’s hat when indoors and/or during a
meal
c. expecting everyone to taste a particular food
d. attending a program event or activity on a
Saturday
e. drinking coffee, tea, or cola
f. asking for a financial donation at a worship service
Have you seen the light?
Answer: All the above could be a violation.
5. True or False
In accordance with their agreement with the Boy
Scouts of America, some churches sponsoring
Scouting units can require members of their units
to participate in religious ceremonies and services
distinctive to that church.
BSA By-laws:
Answer: False
“In no case where a unit is connected with a
church or other distinctively religious organization
shall members of other denominations or faiths be
required, because of their membership in the unit,
to take part in or observe a religious ceremony
distinctly unique to that organization or church.”
Have you seen the light?
6. True or False
An interfaith worship service is one that all Scouts and
Scouters may attend. It requires careful planning to ensure
that it does not violate the beliefs of any religion.
Answer: True
7. True or False
Some religions have specific requirements that cannot be
fulfilled through an interfaith worship service. Other
arrangements might be necessary for Scouts of those faiths
to fulfill such commitments.
Answer: True
Planning
• Recognize the universality of beliefs in God.
• Be considerate when choosing any
scripture reading, prayers, hymns, etc.
• Welcome the opportunity to share the
various religious beliefs of members.
• Appreciate our religious diversity.
Have you seen the light?
8. True or False
Of the eight major religions in the world, all
are represented in the BSA’s religious
emblems program.
Answer: False
Religious Emblems
Religious emblems for
Scouts to earn in:
• Hinduism,
• Judaism,
• Buddhism,
• Christianity, [multiple
Not presently in:
• Confucianism,
• Taoism,
• Shintoism.
Christian faiths, have their
own program or awards.]
• Islam.
Religious emblems are not Scouting awards.
Have you seen the light?
9. Choose the correct answer(s) “Duty to
God” and “religious duties” are in:
a. The Cub Scout Promise
b. The Law of the Pack
c. The Scout Oath
d. The Scout Law
e. The Venturing Oath
f. The Venturing Code
g. All of the above
Answer: all except b.
A Scout’s duty to God
… is done by
“following the wisdom of those teachings
every day and by respecting and defending
the rights of others to practice their own
beliefs.”
— Boy Scout Handbook.