New York (AP) – For American Boy Scouts – Recently renamed Scout America – The past 12 years have been difficult. It opened up that program to gay people and later disappointed girls in a few quarters. the Bankruptcy declaration in 2020 He has long been fighting over compensation for thousands of men who claim to be sexually abused as scouts.
However, the 115-year-old organization serves a lot fewer young people than it was at its peak decades ago, but appears to be stable. A slight increase Membership last year. The important factor is Enduring loyalty of major religious denominations Still, I believe that scouting’s mission is uniquely in harmony with its own.
“I say this is the best time to get involved in Scouting America and the best time to get involved through Catholic forces,” said Bill Grielmi, chairman of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. “There’s a hunger right now for finding value-based organizations.”
Gullielmi and others engaged in faith-based reconnaissance have praised the way that old-fashioned scouting programs, such as camping and expeditions, are blending with new activities such as indoor skydiving and artificial intelligence merit badges. But most of all, they value the organization’s continued commitment to community prayer.
“Words are a big deal here,” Bill McAlister said. Bill McAllister served for over 40 years as a scout master for San Antonio’s Army 285 under the sponsorship of the Unified Methodist Church.
“There are all camp outs, formal worship, sometimes we serve communion,” he said. “A lot of scouts come to me and say, ‘Mac, this is my church.’ ”
Diversity of faith in reconnaissance
According to the latest data from Scouting America, faith-based organizations account for 42% of the roughly 40,000 units run by chartered organizations. The Catholic Church and its affiliates are number one, overseeing 3,514 units.
Other major sponsors include United Methodists, Anglican Churches, and various Lutheran and Presbyterian denominations. Approximately 250 units, offering more than 6,500 scouts, are sponsored by Muslims, Jews and Buddhist organizations.
Roger Krone, a scout for the American president and CEO, took the post in 2023 as the organization emerged from bankruptcy proceedings. He appreciates the religious diversity of scouting.
“It really speaks to the alignment of missions, visions, values that our organization has and the alignment of what those organizations have,” he told The Associated Press. “It’s character development, spiritual growth, community service.”
Boy Scouts have publicly lifted the ban Gay youth members in 2013 And it started Accepting girls in 2018 – Stepkrone, depicted as a welcome message to families considering scouting.
Krone said the steps the organization doesn’t take are abandoning religious beliefs at the heart of its mission. The famous scout vow begins. “In my honor, I will do my best to fulfill my duties to God,” the message in the conclusion of the Scout Act said, “Please respect God. Be faithful to your religious duties. Respect the beliefs of others.”
“Today, there are some places where you are not encouraged to talk about spiritual growth and what may be happening outside your small bubble,” Krone said. “In our organization, it will remain central and core of our principles for years.”
Krone admits that while some secular families praise the reconnaissance aspect, they may be uncomfortable with the pledge of “duty to God.” Nonetheless, he encourages them to try scouting.
“You are welcome in our organization,” he said. “But I want people to know when you come to scout.
“Parents can come and become volunteers, go through some meetings and some camp outs, see what we do, see how the way we treat God and respect affects youths of your child’s age, then make decisions,” Krone said. “Don’t take us away.”
How is it done by Troop 228?
That welcoming approach is fully practiced by Corps 228, chartered by the Catholic Church of St. Cathelli Tekakuwitta, located outside of Los Angeles in Santa Clarita, according to one of the adult leaders Christine Tezai.
She estimates that less than half of the military’s more than 40 scouts are Catholic, but all participate in occasional religious events, including an annual mass where religious awards are presented.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re Catholic or not,” Tezai said. “Scouts are respectful. It doesn’t matter how much you are respectful. There’s no need to say prayers. …I know what we do with kindness and help.”
Her 17-year-old son, Mykhail Tezai, joined Cub Scouts in first grade. Now, as a high school senior, he’s on track to become an Eagle Scout.
He said that although several fellow scouts do not identify with a particular faith, they feel comfortable in the military with the distinctive church.
“They are very interested in my religion and being Catholic,” he said. “They want to know how it works.”
Some faith groups have broken
After the 2013 decision to recognize gay youth, several dissatisfied conservatives formed a new group, Trail Life USAcreated your own ranks, badges and uniforms. It is currently argued by 65,000 young members who are participating in a church-run unit tailored to “Bible Christian Principles.”
The biggest blow came at the beginning of 2020, the Church of Jesus Christ for Latter-day Saints and the biggest faith-based partner of Boy Scouts. Over 400,000 scouts have been withdrawn In favor of a new program of its own.
The Clone said many Latter-day Saint families liked programming Boy Scouts and now they would place their children in units that are not associated with the church.
“We want to welcome more Mormon youths into the program,” Krone said. “They can have their own programs…but they may adopt Scouting America more than they have last few years to benefit from the programs we have developed.”
As for Trail Life, Krone acknowledged that its conservative Christian outlook has a strong appeal to some families.
“But our program will prepare you better for the rest of your life,” he said. “After graduating from high school, you need to learn to get along with other people in the world like you do today, outside of the environment you grew up in.”
The loss of many units in Latter-day Saints and conservative Christian churches was part of the wider contractions experienced by Boy Scouts who served more than four million boys in the 1970s. The Covid-19 pandemic and bankruptcy process were a major factor as membership declined.
Overall, more than 82,000 people filed claims they were sexually abused as scouts. The main faith-based sponsors of scout units, including Catholic parishes and Methodist churches, contributed to $2.4 billion Reorganization plan It came into effect in 2023, allowing Boy Scouts to continue operating while compensating for abuse survivors.
Rev. Mark Kerr, a Jesuit priest who serves as the National Pastor for Catholic Reconnaissance, said liability and insurance concerns are key factors that discourage several parishes from continuing to scout.
A deep commitment for those who stayed
Stephen Shade, director of the United Methodist Scouting Ministries Center, has seen several benefits for reconnaissance after previous difficulties. He cited strict child protection policies that he views as effective in reducing sexual abuse.
“The lessons learned from past mistakes can create better, stronger communities, safer communities,” he said.
In 2013, United Methodists accounted for around 350,000 young Boy Scouts. Currently, the diagram is 52,600.
But Scheid, the assistant master of the unit founded in 1916 in Springfield, Tennessee, says that adults still loyal to reconnaissance are “deeply committed. … They consider this a calling.
Christian churches make up the majority of American faith-based units scouting, but Muslim-sponsored units have over 3,500 scouts and around 1,560 Jewish units.
“American Muslims are looking for their identity. There are none more Americans than scouting,” said Rashid Abdullah, executive director of the National Muslim Association of Scouting. “It is perfectly in line with the values of our faith.”
Abdullah is also the lead organizer of a scout unit chartered to an Islamic Center in northern Virginia and the father of three sons who created the Eagle Scouts.
Another longtime Eagle Scout is Ricky Mason, a bankruptcy lawyer who will help negotiate a reorganization plan and become the second Jewish chairman of the Scouts’ National Executive Committee next year. His mother told Mason at age 7 that he had foresighted to become an Eagle Scout through the army sponsored by the Synagogue in Richmond, Virginia.
Amid concerns about the rising anti-Semitism, Mason portrays reconnaissance as a way for the American Jewish community to maintain relations with American society.
“Along with fun, scouting is really about character and leadership development,” Mason said. “This organization is needed more than ever.”
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Los Angeles AP journalist Krysta Fauria contributed.
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Associated Press Religious Reporting is supported through the Associated Press collaboration With funding from Lilly Endowment Inc., the AP is in a conversation by taking sole responsibility for this content.
