Increasing Membership through
Religious Awards
Although religious awards
have been recognized in terms of “program,” they have been
overlooked in terms of “membership". The religious awards
programs can be used by local councils to increase membership in
the following ways:
Community Sponsorship
- The religious awards programs
(the curriculum and recognition items) are created by the
national religious organizations, not by the Girl Scouts of
the U.S.A. This allows councils to initiate dialogue with
local congregations about one of their own resources designed
to serve their youth.
- The religious awards programs
can help a congregation embrace Girl Scouting not as an
outside group that meets in its building, but as an integral
part of their ministry with youth. Local congregations will
not only be providing religious instruction through the
religious awards programs, but they will also be strengthening
the spiritual component of Girl Scouting.
- The religious recognitions
programs can be presented not only as opportunities for
religious education, but also for ministry and outreach. For
example, a faith community that offers the God and Country
Mentor program for parents is ministering to the whole family,
not just to the child. And a faith community that offers a
religious awards class and publicizes it through the council
newsletter might be reaching out to girls of the same faith
who do not have membership in a religious institution but are
interested in earning their religious award.
Diverse Membership
- The religious awards programs
can help councils reach diverse racial and ethnic groups and
specific geographic areas or communities not being served by
the Girl Scout program. The religious awards programs provide
an instant and visible connection between Girl Scouting and a
faith community.
Adult Leaders
- Adults active in a
congregation may volunteer as counselors for the religious
awards programs because they see that as a direct extension of
their congregation’s ministry. The religious awards programs
may be their first exposure to the Girl Scout program.
- The continuity and tenure of
adult leaders in religious institutions is greater than those
in other areas.
Resources to
Promote Religious Awards
- To Serve God brochure –
Available at www.praypub.org.
- “Religious Awards Presentation
Script: A Presentation by Girl Scout leaders to Troops and
Parents” – Available at
www.praypub.org
- Religious Awards: What are
they? Why Promote them? How to promote them?
Please duplicate.
P.R.A.Y. 8520 Mackenzie Road, Ste. 3, St. Louis, MO 63123-3413
1-800-933-7729 /
www.praypub.org
|
