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Religious
Emblems Presentation Script:
A
Presentation by Unit Leaders to Venture Crew Members and their
Parents
Considerations for presenting the religious emblems programs to
your unit:
·
Make the
presentation at a meeting when parents will be present (if
possible)
·
Provide
information on all religious emblems (do not assume that your
youth members will be of the same faith)
·
Explain that
the Scouting program encourages “Duty to God”
·
Emphasize
that young people will earn the religious emblem for their
particular faith
·
Ask members
who have earned their religious emblems to talk to your crew
·
Preview the
requirements for the “Duty to God Promotion Patch” at
www.praypub.org and decide whether you will pre-order these
patches for your participants, both youth and adults.
Religious
Emblems Presentation Script:
Slide 1.
Welcome your group: “Welcome to our presentation on religious
emblems. We’re going to tell you all about religious emblems,
but more importantly, we’re going to challenge you to earn the
religious emblem of your faith.”
Slide 2.
Introduce the connection between religious emblems and the
Scouting program. Hold up the “Duty to God” brochure for
everybody to see. Then say, “The title of this brochure is
‘Duty to God.’ What is it referring to? [Venture members
should reply that it’s referring to the Venturing Oath; also to
the Venturing Code]
Slide 3.
Ask all Venturers to stand and join in the Venturing Oath:
“As a Venturer, I promise to do my duty to God and help
strengthen America, to help others, and to seek truth, fairness,
and adventure in our world.” Continue by saying, “The
Venturing Code says, ‘As a Venturer, I believe that America’s
strength lies in our trust in God…’ How can you show your
trust in God? Allow Venturers to volunteer answers.
Then explain: “One way that Venturers can show their
reverence to God is to earn the religious emblem of their faith
and to wear the award on their uniform. The video you are about
to see will talk about the importance of the religious emblems.”
Slide 4.
Show video, “Promoting Duty to God (Religious Emblems).” After
watching the video continue by saying, When you earn your
religious emblem, the badge you wear indicates much more than
achievement: it indicates who you are and what you believe. It
shows your Duty to God. I challenge all our Venturers to earn
their religious emblem. ”
Slide 5.
Explain the universal religious square knot. “When you earn
your religious emblem, you also earn the right to wear the
universal religious square knot. This knot will always be on
your uniform (it even carries up to the adult uniform).”
Slide 6.
Explain that most religious emblems programs have more than one
level. “If you are a male Venturer and have earned your
religious emblem as a Cub Scout, Webelos Scout, or Boy Scout and
you have already received your religious square knot, it doesn’t
mean that you are through. Most religious programs have more
than one level. You can go on and earn another award as a
Venturer. When you earn more than one religious award, you pin a
special device in your square knot to show that you have earned
your religious award at different levels. If you are a female
member or a male that hasn’t earned a religious award, now is
the time to start.”
Slide 7.
Point out that the religious emblems are part of the Religious
Life Bronze Award and also part of the special Trust Award.
“The religious emblems count toward the Religious Life Bronze
Award and also the special Trust Award. Both awards have options
to earn your denomination’s Venturing-age religious award.”
Slide 8.
Explain that the Advisor is not the instructor for the religious
emblems. These are enhancement programs. Parents and guardians
will help decide whether or not their Venturer participates in
these programs. “Your parents and religious leaders will help
you earn your religious emblem. This is not a badge we earn
together as a crew. We are of different faiths and we belong to
different congregations. Each Venturer will earn the award for
his or her own faith. These awards provide opportunities for you
to get to know your clergy better and to be more involved with
your congregation.”
Slide 9.
Here’s how you get started on these programs: There are four
basic steps:
Step 1:
Youth members must obtain the specific booklet for their
religion.
·
Use the
“Duty to God” brochure to identify the program for your faith
·
Check with
your council store or contact the religious organization
directly.
·
Each
participant needs his or her own booklet to document progress.
·
Some
religions offer adult manuals for counselors and mentors.
Step 2:
Parents and clergy should review the program guidelines.
·
Some
programs require participants to be official “members” of the
religious institution.
·
Age/grade
requirements vary from program to program.
·
Each program
sets its own guidelines as to who may serve as counselor. Some
programs require clergy to serve as counselors; other programs
allow parents or other family members to serve as counselors.
Step 3:
Families should talk to their religious leaders and show them
the booklet before beginning any program
·
Most
programs require that they be completed under the auspices of
that religious organization.
·
Many
programs require the signature of the local religious leader.
Step 4: The
youth member needs to complete the requirements, obtain the
proper signatures, and follow the instructions to order the
emblem.
·
These
emblems are not available from your local council store (follow
instructions in your booklet).
·
The emblem
should be presented in a meaningful ceremony, preferably in the
member’s religious institution.
·
The award
can be presented at anytime of the year. Boy Scout
Sunday/Sabbath in February is a perfect time to recognize
recipients.
Slide 10.
Distribute the Duty to God grid and/or the “Dear Parent”
handout. “The Duty to God grid provides the name and address
of where to obtain more information and/or to purchase the
booklets. The “Dear Parent” handout is a short summary of how to
get started on the programs. It also provides space for you to
copy the contact information” (if copies of the grid are not
provided). Please note that most of the Protestant,
independent, and non-denominational churches use the P.R.A.Y.
program which is listed in the grid under “Protestant.” Have
the Venturers find out what the emblem for their faith looks
like. Be prepared for some not to know what religion or
denomination they are or not to be active in a religious
institution. Remind them that the religious emblems are optional
programs.
Slide 11.
Help the youth get started by setting a target date: “Let’s
set our first goal together as a crew. The important thing is to
get started! I’d like everybody to talk to your parents and
clergy about earning a religious emblem. Together decide whether
or not you will earn your religious emblem, and if so, get the
booklet and talk about setting up a schedule to earn it. Then at
our next crew meeting on _________ (date), I want to find out
how many of you decided to earn your religious emblem. Even
though this is a project that you will be doing with your family
and clergy, I am interested in your progress and will encourage
you to complete it.”
Slide 12.
Explain the special Duty to God patch: “I have a special
announcement about a Duty to God Promotion Patch. This patch is
for youth or adults who 1) learn about religious emblems, and
then 2) make a commitment to Duty to God. Because you are here
today at this presentation, and are taking information about
religious emblems to show your parents, you have fulfilled the
first requirement for this patch. The second requirement is
making a commitment. You may commit to earning your religious
emblem, helping younger Scouts earn theirs, making a
presentation on religious emblems to another unit, etc. How many
Venturers want to make that commitment today? Please stand.
·
If you
ordered patches to distribute to your Venturers, hand them out
now: “Congratulations on making a commitment to do your Duty
to God. Here is your Duty to God patch that shows you are
committed to earning your religious emblem.”
·
If you plan
on ordering patches for your Venturers, make an announcement:
“Congratulations. You will be presented with a Duty to God patch
on _______(date). This will be a good reminder to fulfill your
Duty to God.”
·
If you want
participants to order their own patches, distribute the order
form and make the following announcement: “Congratulations.
Every person standing is eligible to wear a Duty to God
Promotion patch. Here is an order form so that you can purchase
your own patch.”
Briefly
describe the patch: “The Duty to God Promotion Patch is a
four-segment puzzle patch. You can only earn one segment a year.
Every year that you learn about the religious emblems or earn an
emblem or help make a presentation about them, you can earn the
next segment.”
Slide 13.
Conclude your presentation: “By learning about religious
emblems and making a commitment to Duty to God, you are living
up to your Venturing Oath. Thank you for your attention. This
concludes our presentation.”
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Continue
to encourage your Venturers by setting goals and asking
about their progress. Try to find activities for your crew
that will include all faiths. Can you plan a joint field
trip or service project related to the religious emblems
programs? Can you visit each other’s church, synagogue or
temple? This would be a wonderful opportunity for the
Venturers to experience pluralism.
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Religious emblems are presented to the Venturers by clergy,
usually in a worship service in the recipient’s
congregation. Advisors should also plan to recognize the
religious emblems recipients in a special award ceremony in
the crew. Attend the ceremony for each youth.
Thank you
for promoting religious emblems!
P.R.A.Y.
1-800-933-7729 / www.praypub.org
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