New Focus On
Duty To God
Why the Change?
• National Religious Organization Donors want
more emphasis on “Duty to God”
• BSA research found that congregations are
the best source of sustainable units
• Charter Organizations are the single largest
donor of a unit
Boy Scout Changes (current draft)
• Beginning January 2016, 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.
• There will be no requirement for the Scout to
earn his respective religious award.
Duty to God in Practice
• Scouting does not define what constitutes a
belief in God
• Membership in a religious organization is not
required
• Scout leaders must be careful not to favor
one faith over another in multi-faith units.
• In conducting Scouting activities, encourage
all Scouts to grow in their own religious
beliefs and faiths.
Duty to God in Practice
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Scoutmaster Minutes
Opening Invocations
Closing Benedictions
Mealtime Grace
Scout Vespers
Scout’s Own
12 Points Bike Ride
Chaplain and Chaplains Aide Positions
Religious Emblems Program
Invocation Examples
• May the Grand Master of Scouts set aside our
distractions, that we may be productive in this time
together
• Lord, thank you for being the source of guidance
during our Scouting adventures today.
• O God, thank you for watching over us while we
were apart. We ask your blessing on our time
together.
Benediction Examples
• May the Grand Master of Scouts be with you until we
meet again
• May the Lord bless you and keep you, now and
forever. Amen
• O God, We give thanks for the lessons we have
learned and the fellowship we had together.
Mealtime Grace Examples
• God is great, and God is good, And we thank him for
our food. Amen
• For good food and those who prepare it, for good
friends with whom to share it, we thank you Lord.
• Bless, this food to our bodies and give us the
strength to do thy will. Amen
Mealtime Grace Examples
Sing to the tune of the Addams Family theme song:
Da da da dum (snap snap)
Da da da dum (snap snap)
Da da da dum Da da da dum
Da da da dum (snap snap)
We thank you Lord for giving,
The things we need for living:
The food, the fun, the friendship,
Our Boy Scout Family.
Da da da dum (snap snap)
Da da da dum (snap snap)
Da da da dum Da da da dum
Da da da dum A-Men
The Unit Chaplain
• If the unit is operated by a religious organization, it
is customary for the religious leader to serve as the
chaplain.
• A unit not operated by a religious organization may
select a chaplain for the troop from the local clergy.
OR
• The committee chairman may appoint any adult over
the age of 21 to provide spiritual tone, guide the
chaplain aide, give spiritual counseling, and promote
the regular religious participation of each member.
Duties of the Chaplain Aide
• Make the 12th point of the Scout Law more
meaningful in life
• Present an overview of the various religious
emblems programs to the troop
• Present an overview of the religious emblems
programs to Cub Scout dens and packs on request.
• Serve as the youth coordinator for the observance of
the annual Scout Sabbath or Sunday in February.
• Conduct troop prayers
• Assist religious emblem recognition ceremonies
Religious
Emblems
Available to
Members of
the Boy
Scouts of
America
Why promote religious emblems?
• Religious emblems help youth members fulfill
their Duty to God
• Religious emblems can help strengthen
partnerships with faith communities and the
council
• Increasing the number of Scouts with Religious
emblems help the Unit have sustained growth
AND increase retention
Religious Emblem
Program