Is there a troop in your church?
Do you have a Boy or Girl Scout Troop as part of your over-all
program? If so, is it integrated into the total Christian
Educational scheme of your parish or just tolerated as a community
service which has built-in hazards for church property?
Your Orthodox Church, in partnership with Boy Scouts of
America/Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and the Standing Conference of
Canonical Eastern Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, wholeheartedly
endorses Scouting and urges parish councils and the Reverend
Clergy to sponsor this program on a local level. Too often we fail
to see the possibilities that this program offers in the Christian
education of our youth.
Boy Scouts of America tell us in effect “Here is a program for you
to use as you wish. We will provide you the resources and
framework for your program and help train your leaders.” What more
do we ask? The unit or units once established, belong to the
church and the Boy Scouts will issue charters. The priest and
Parish Council have the responsibility of appointing Christian
leaders to guide the activities of the units. The Girl Scouts
appoint their leaders.
There are two types of troops a parish may sponsor. On the one
hand there is the closed troop whose membership is open only to
Orthodox Scouts; on the other hand, there is the opened troop
whose membership is not restricted in any way. Each parish is free
to chose its own program.
In January 2001 Archbishop Demetrios sent the Boy
Scouts of America this letter reaffirming the churches stand on
scouting. Click here to see it.
What does Scouting offer a Church?
A program for boys/girls tailored to the local parish and
administrated by the church, through the Priest and Parish
Council.
An opportunity of reading, teaching and training boys & girls and
thus strengthening the parish.
A cooperative program in which the Church, troop, school and home
work together.
Helpful up-to-date literature and program aids for the leaders.
Assistance and guidance from competent professional and volunteer
Scout leaders and also from the local Scout council office.
Scouting does not detract from existing youth programs. Rather,
they provide a Church-centered program of education and outdoor
activities which supplements other youth ministries in the parish
Scouting in the Parish Life
Scouting has many objectives that are common with those of our
Holy, Orthodox Church. As a program devised especially for the
formative years of our Orthodox youth, Scouting encourages a
better Christian life; it aids in building character and
developing wholesome habits and effective citizenship activities.
The Scout motto “Be Prepared” implies not only physical and mental
but also spiritual, moral preparedness.
Scouting works hand and hand with the Church on all levels. A
properly organized and supervised Scout program in a parish can do
a great deal in keeping our youth close to the Church and its many
varied, wholesome, character building activities; it trains boys
and girls to be of service to God, country, and fellowmen - all of
which constitutes a Christian upbringing. Finally, it trains our
boys/girls not only how to be contributing citizens of tomorrow,
but also participating members and leaders in our Holy Faith. We
have many examples of Scouts participating as acolytes, choir
members, Sunday school teachers, and in various other capacities
in our parish life. A number of the Boy Scouts even found
themselves drawn to the Holy Priesthood as a result of the close
contact they had with their priest through this program,
Scouting reaches every member of the family and leads him/her into
the parish life of our churches. This program cannot be expected
to cure all parish problems, but it can rally the youth around the
priest with a Church-centered, wholesome program of education and
fun. For this reason your national committee on Scouting urges all
parish priests and interested laymen to learn more about Scouting
and organize and sponsor an Orthodox Boy or Girl Scout troop
wherever one does not now exist.
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