I attended dozens of weekend outings while serving as Scoutmaster. There was one activity that was part of almost every one. On Sunday morning, before breakfast and preparations to return home, a Scout would lead what is called a Scout’s Own service. This is a brief, optional gathering that allows Scouts to fulfill their Duty to God, one of the three duties in the Scout Oath. It is intended to help Scouts affirm their own religious beliefs while learning about and acknowledging the beliefs and practices of others.

Duty to God is and always has been central to Scouting. As I mentioned, it is in the Scout Oath (Duty to God and Country), and is the 12th point of the Scout Law (A Scout is Reverent). In the 1908 edition of Scouting for Boys, Lord Robert Baden-Powell wrote “Every Scout should have a religion...Religion seems a very simple thing: First: Love and Serve God. Second: Love and serve your neighbor.” Today, Scouting America maintains that the best kind of citizen recognizes an obligation to God, but it is nonsectarian in its attitude toward religious training.

The next time you see any age Scout or adult Scouter in uniform, take a look at the area above the left pocket. You might see a small rectangular patch featuring a silver square knot on a blue background, or a dark blue square knot on a gray background. These little devices indicate that the Scout or Scouter has completed the requirements for the religious emblem of his or her faith. For formal occasions like Scout Sunday, a Scout or adult might also wear a religious medal.

It is important to understand that the requirements for religions emblems are not created by Scouting America and pursing the recognition is completely voluntary. The requirements are developed by each religious group and a representative of that group — a pastor, priest, rabbi or other counselor — works with Scouts to complete the requirements outside of Scouting activities. Many world religions participate in the program, including Episcopal, Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Jews, Quakers, Hindus, Muslims and many more. Most faiths have a separate adult award, and some have multiple progressive awards for Scouts of different ages.

In a Scouts BSA troop, the Troop Chaplain (an adult) and Chaplain’s Aide (a youth) make information about the religious emblem program available to Scouts. In a Cub Scout Pack, the Cubmaster or a designated parent might raise awareness. But at every age, Scouts are not obligated to earn any of the religious emblems and parents are always involved in the decision.

I was recently made aware of five Scouts in Morton Pack 85 who have earned the Parvuli Dei (Children of God) religious emblem for the Catholic faith. Many more have done the same in cities and towns across the Council. 

To learn more about the religious emblem program in the W. D. Boyce Council, visit www.wdboyce.org/religious-emblems

Scout On!

Scott Fishel wears several hats in Scouting, including a longtime association with Troop 178 in Morton. You can contact him at [email protected]. Find a Scout unit in your community at beascout.org.