A Scout is Reverent

"May the Greatest Scoutmaster of all scout be with us until we meet again."

A Scout is reverent. He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion.

Scouts at all levels can earn the Religious Emblems. Religious Emblems recognize youth and adults who demonstrate faith, observe the creeds or principles of the faith, and give service. There are different emblems for each faith and religion. Click here to see a picture of all the emblems

Useful Links:
BSA Religious Emblems Programs
Contact Info for the Different Emblems
USFK Command Chaplains

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Below are some ideas for Scout's Own or services for Scout Sunday.

The Boy Scouts of America designates the Sunday that falls before February 8 (Scouting Anniversary Day) as Scout Sunday, which is the primary date to recognize the contributions of young people and adults to Scouting. However, each chartered organization can use either of two other options to celebrate this special day.

An organization can adopt a specific Sunday to celebrate. In the instance of the United Methodist Church, Scout Sunday is celebrated on the second Sunday in February. It also is permissible for a local church to celebrate on the Sunday most acceptable to the pastor and congregation.

Learn more at the BSA National Scout Sunday Page.

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Troops are encourage to have a Troop Chaplain (adult) and a Chaplain Aide (scout). These leadership position for on providing religious support to the scouts in the troop. Troop Chaplains are typically a professional religious leader (ie pastor, priest, or military chaplain). Troop Chaplain duties include:

• Provide a spiritual tone for all troop meetings and camping experiences.
• Assure members and leaders of your interest in them and their activities.
• Provide spiritual counseling service when needed or requested.
• Provide opportunities for all boys to grow in their relationship with God and their fellow Scouts.
• Encourage Scouts to participate in the religious emblems program of their respective faith.

Chaplain aide is an approved youth leadership position for Boy Scouts. The responsibilities are to encourage spiritual awareness and growth in the lives of troop members and to assist the chaplain. The Boy Scout seeking the position of chaplain aide should have earned or be in the process of completing his religious emblems study program. It is recommended that the Boy Scout selected be at least a First Class Scout. The chaplain aide should be mature and sensitive, a Boy Scout who has earned the trust of his fellow Scouts.

• Maintain the troop's religious emblems award progress chart.
• Present an overview of the various religious emblems programs to the troop at least annually, instructing members to contact their own clergyperson or religious counselor to guide them in the appropriate study programs.
• Compile and keep an up-to-date list of local clergy who have agreed to be counselors for the religious emblems programs.
• 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.
• Working with the troop chaplain, usually a member of the clergy, compose a Sabbath service appropriate for all troop members during weekend campouts. Invite the troop chaplain to visit a campout, eat with the troop, and conduct a worship service.
• Prepare a troop prayer.
• Assist the troop chaplain, or other appropriate adult, to plan and conduct a religious emblem recognition ceremony. Presentation of a religious emblem is the responsibility of the local religious institution in which it is earned, though it is appropriate for the troop to recognize boys who have received religious emblems at courts of honor.
• Encourage troop members to strengthen their own relationship with God through personal prayer and devotions and participation in religious activities.
• Participate in patrol leader's council planning sessions, ensuring that a spiritual emphasis is included, e.g., vespers, prayer before meals, religious observances, etc.
• Working with the troop chaplain, compose an appropriate prayer for before and after meals. When composing these prayers, the chaplain and chaplain aide should be sensitive to the various theological and religious positions embraced by the faiths represented in the group.
• Work with the troop chaplain to plan appropriate religious services for all members during weekend troop campouts. Troops may conduct their own religious services, invite the troop chaplain or an exemplary layperson to participate in the service, or they may visit a nearby church, synagogue, temple, mosque, or other religious institution.

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For food, for raiment
For life, for opportunity
For friendship and fellowship
We thank thee, O Lord