Faith Matters

46 Pages·2005·3.82 MB·English

Faith matters
A support pack for Chaplains and Faith Advisers in Scouting
2005 Edition
telephone: [phone]
email: [email protected]

Dear Colleague,
Welcome to this updated pack for Chaplains and Religious Advisers in Scouting.
This has been put together to provide help and information to those involved in spiritual and religious
development in Scouting, especially Chaplains and Religious Advisers. Many of you will have downloaded
your copy from www.scouts.org.uk/scoutbase which is part of a national drive to make resources more
freely available.
The Scout Association is an open organisation and its membership is drawn from a variety of religious
backgrounds all of whom make a Promise to 'do their Duty to God.' Although many Members have little or
no contact with religion they fully support the values of The Scout Movement. Scouting works in
partnership with religious communities to help its Members develop their understanding of God.
Chaplains/Advisers have a very important role to play in this partnership.
We hope that this pack will be a starting point for all those undertaking these important roles, especially
given the Balanced Programme with its renewed emphasis on Faiths and Beliefs.
If you have any comments, let me know.
Yours sincerely

Fr. John Seddon MA
National Scout Adviser for Religious Development

The Scout Association
Gilwell Park Chingford London E4 7QW Tel + 44 (0)20 8433 7100 Fax + 44 (0)20 8433 7103 email [email protected] www.scouts.org.uk
Patron HM The Queen President HRH The Duke of Kent Founder Robert Baden-Powell OM Chief Scout Peter Duncan
Incorporated by Royal Charter Charity No. 306101
Welcome
Who is Faith Matters for?
This pack is for all Chaplains and Religious Advisers in Scouting. We hope it will
give you the ideas and inspiration you need to play an active role in the District/
County programme.
What does this pack cover?
Faith Matters provides guidance on activities, Leader appointments, training and
pastoral care for all Scouts and Scouting volunteers. It looks at Scouting’s role in
promoting the spiritual development of young people, and the Movement’s place
in faith communities. It provides background material on world faiths, personal tes-
timony from Chaplains in Scouting and helpful advice on making the most
of your time.
Finding out more
As a Chaplain or Religious Adviser there are a range of resources available to
help you in your role. Your District and/or County will be able to provide you with
general Scouting resources however there are resources available to help you as a
Chaplain - this pack is a good starting point.
A large number of factsheets on a wide variety of topics, are available on-line at
www.scouts.org.uk/scoutbase
The specific Faiths and Beliefs section of Scoutbase can be found at http://www.
scoutbase.org.uk/ps/fab/index.htm where a PDF copy of this resource can also be
downloaded.
For advice on any Scouting matter, call the Scout Information Centre at Gilwell Park
(0845 300 1818). Opening hours are Monday - Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday
from 9pm to 12 noon.
Faith Matters: A support pack for Chaplains and Religious Advisers in Scouting Page 4
Introduction
A Movement of faith
Scouting is a values-based Movement. It is therefore important that Members
accept and make a commitment to the values of Scouting expressed in the Promise
and Law. Scouting is also a world Movement and ‘Duty to God’ is an essential part
of the Promise world-wide.
By ‘Duty to God’ the World Scout Constitution understands:
‘Adherence to spiritual principles, loyalty to the religion that expresses them and
the acceptance of the duties resulting there from.’
The Scout Association in the United Kingdom is an open Association. This means
we are made up of Members of different faiths and identify ourselves with no one
faith exclusively.
At the same time, all Members of the Association are encouraged to:
• make every effort to progress in the understanding and observance of the
Promise to do their best to do their duty to God
• belong to some religious body
• carry into daily practice what they believe.
(rule 95ii of Policy, Organisation and Rules)
The challenge ahead
Over the years, the way in which Scouting has tried to help its Members ‘to do
their best to do their duty to God’ has become increasingly more challenging.
In the early days of Scouting, the great majority of Members would have identified
themselves as Christians. It was natural then to identify the religious commitment
of ‘Duty to God’ with the commitment to encourage the ‘spiritual development’ of
Scouts, which formed part of the Aim of the Association.
‘Duty to God’ was seen to ‘run through everything we do in Scouting’ and there
was a concern not to isolate it from the rest of the Programme. So, for example, it
was felt that a Religious Proficiency Badge would be inappropriate. Provision was
made for Chaplains but these were at Group, District and County level only and
their role was primary to lead worship and prayer.
Where we are now
We now find ourselves in a new situation. The majority of Scouts today would not
identify themselves as having an active faith in any religious body. There are also
many more Members who are not Christians.
We now need to think of ‘spiritual development’ therefore, as an integrated part of
the Programme and how it might be best supported and encouraged by Leaders as
part of their responsibilities. This is irrespective of the religious community, if any, to
which they or their Scouts belong.
Faith Matters: A support pack for Chaplains and Religious Advisers in Scouting PPaaggee 55
1
The Fundamentals
of Scouting
A definition of Scouting is provided as follows:
Scouting is a worldwide, values based Movement.
Scouting aspires to make a positive contribution to society by helping young people
to develop as active members of the community who:
• are self reliant
• are caring
• are responsible
• show commitment.
Scouting works well when young people enjoy ‘learning by doing’ through:
• taking part in a wide variety of activities and new experiences
• exploring the outdoors
• participating in teams
• taking responsibility all in partnership with adults.
Scouting succeeds when it is:
• attractive to young people
• fulfilling for adult members
• trusted by parents
• valued by society.
Scouting’s Fundamentals are therefore a general presentation of the Purpose,
Principles, and Method of Scouting. It:
• contributes to the fulfilment of their potential
• uses a progressive and enjoyable programme for personal development
• is based on a set of values.
Purpose of Scouting
The purpose of Scouting is to contribute to the development of young people in
achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials as individuals,
as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international
communities.
Faith Matters: A support pack for Chaplains and Religious Advisers in Scouting Page 6
Principles of Scouting
Scouting is based on the following principles:
• Duty to Self
• Duty to Others
• Duty to God
These principles lead Members of the Scout Movement to believe that the World is
a better place when people:
• are trustworthy, self controlled and self confident
• have self respect and respect for others
• work together to serve other people and to improve society
• show responsibility towards the natural world and proper respect for
possessions and property
• have an active faith.
The Scout Method
Scouting uses a method to achieve its aims, which is young people in partnership
with adults:
• enjoying what they are doing
• learning by doing
• participating in varied and progressive activities
• making choices for themselves
• taking responsibility for their actions
• working in groups
• taking increasing responsibility for others
• taking part in activities outdoors
• sharing in prayer and worship
• making and living out their Promise.
The outcomes of Scouting
Scouting succeeds when Members demonstrate:
• a growing sense of self discipline and self esteem with integrity, honesty and
reliability - one who can be trusted
• a growing ability to get along with others as an individual and as a team
member - showing a sense of responsibility to others
• a growing determination to work with others towards the creation of a more
tolerant and caring society
• a growing understanding of the natural world in which we live, and a sense of
responsibility towards it and those who live in it
• a growing sense of wonder and a discovery of the need for prayer and worship.
The Promise
The Scout Promise is based in the Fundamentals Principles of Scouting: Duty to
Self, Others and God. The wording differs for the various age groups to help young
people to understand the Promise they are making of the Law or Laws they are
promising to keep.
Faith Matters: A support pack for Chaplains and Religious Advisers in Scouting Page 7
The Scout Promise and Law
Promise
On my honour, I promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and to The Queen,
To help other people
And to keep the Scout Law.
Law
1. A Scout is to be trusted.
2. A Scout is loyal.
3. A Scout is friendly and considerate.
4. A Scout belongs to the world-wide family of Scouts.
5. A Scout has courage in all difficulties.
6. A Scout makes good use of time and is careful of possessions and property.
7. A Scout has self-respect and respect for others.
The Cub Scout Promise and Law
Promise
I promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and to The Queen,
To help other people and to keep the Cub Scout Law.
Law
Cub Scouts always do their best
Think of others before themselves and do a good turn everyday.
The Beaver Scout Promise
Promise
I promise to do my best
And to be kind and helpful
And to love God
Law
Leaders present the concepts expressed in the Scout Law to Beaver Scouts through
games, story telling and other informal activities.
Faith Matters: A support pack for Chaplains and Religious Advisers in Scouting Page 8
Variations on the Scout Promise
Scouting is open to all faiths. It therefore needs to take account of the different
religious obligations of its Members while upholding the essential spirit of the
Promise.
Duty to God
In each Promise, the phrase ‘Duty to God’ (or in the case of Beaver Scouts, ‘to love
God’) is suitable for most faiths (including Christian, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and
Sikhs). Hindus may either use the words ‘my Dharma’ or ‘God’. Orthodox Muslims
can use the word ‘Allah’ in place of ‘God’. Buddhists should use only the word
‘my Dharma’. Where some other form of wording is required for a member of a
particular faith or religion advice should be sought from Gilwell Park.
Allegiance to country
Foreign residents who become Members of The Scout Association owe allegiance
to their own country. The phase ‘Duty....to The Queen’ should therefore be
replaced by the phrase ‘Duty....to the country in which I am now living’.
In the case of Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts and Scouts the decision as to which form
of wording should be made by the Group Scout Leader in consultation with the
parents. In the case of Explorer Scouts, Scout Network members and adults the
decision should be made by the District Commissioner in consultation with the
person concerned.
P.O.R. Rule 1.1 Variations to the wording of the Promises.
These changes are available in factsheet form: The Promise (FS 322016) available
from the Scout Information Centre or www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/
pdfs/fs322016
Faith Matters: A support pack for Chaplains and Religious Advisers in Scouting Page 9
2
Spiritual
Development in
Scouting
Spiritual development is an integral part of the Aim of the Association, which is:
To contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical,
intellectual, social and spiritual potentials, as responsible citizens and as members
of their local, national and international communities.
Set out below is The Scout Association’s understanding of spiritual development. It
has been supported by all major faiths in the United Kingdom.
If our ‘Duty to God’ is to doing what God wants us to do and becoming fully alive
as human beings, then Scouting must help young people to be aware of God and
help them to develop fully as human beings.
The four friendships
In Scouting we look to develop four sets of friendships in our lives:
• As friends with ourselves
• As friends with other people
• As friends with nature
• As friends with God
It is through developing these four friendships that we learn to develop our
competencies, and accept our limitations. They also help us support and encourage
other people to fulfil themselves, to respect and care for the natural world and to
grow in their understanding of God.
It is developing these friendships which makes us fully alive, spiritually devloped
and aware. Scouting offers young people a supportive environment in which to
develop.
This understanding of spiritual development in Scouting is expressed as five
principles:
• To develop an inner discipline and training
• To be involved in corporate activities
• To understand the natural world around them
• To help create a more tolerant and caring society
• To discover the need for prayer and worship, both personally and shared.
Everything we do in Scouting helps young people to develop in these five areas.
These principles help clarify our understanding of how, in our Programme and
Leader Training, Scouting effectively contributes to this important area.
Faith Matters: A support pack for Chaplains and Religious Advisers in Scouting Page 10
Helping Leaders understand spiritual development
The five principles provide a valuable tool for Appointments Sub-committees when
interviewing prospective Leaders.
On training courses, Leaders also welcome this understanding of spiritual
development. It helps them recognise the opportunities in the programme to
support and encourage spiritual development.
Religious Development
The development of religious faiths must take place within a religious community.
There is a need however to develop and deepen the existing partnership between
Scouting and these communities.
To help achieve this, the Balanced Programme has a Faith and Beliefs Personal
Development Area, which is expressed in different ways in different Sections. In
addition there is a Faith Award for Beaver Scouts and My Faith and World Faith
Awards for Cub Scouts and Scouts.
All Sections and Leaders can work together on the Group Faith Award, which helps
strengthen ties between the Scout Group and local faith communities - especially
but not exclusively where the faith community is the Sponsoring Authority. More
details on the Faith Awards are given in Section 8.
Faith Matters: A support pack for Chaplains and Religious Advisers in Scouting Page 11