2012 National Order of the Arrow Conference Session #: Chaplaincy in the OA
SESSION LENGTH: 50 Minutes
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
§ To reinforce the importance of Chaplaincy in
Scouting.
§ To identify specific ways in which Chaplaincy
can be better utilized in the OA, especially in the
lodge.
§ To identify and express similarities between Chaplaincy in the OA and BSA Summer Camp Chaplaincy.
§ To help participants become more comfortable in dealing with difficult or emergency situations that may arise during OA events as a Chaplain.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
§ Computer and projector
§ Flipchart and markers
§ Power Point presentation file
§ Role Play Info Cards
Trainer preparation
The optimal trainer for this course will be a Boy Scout Chaplain with experience both in scouting, the OA, and in religious ministry. Preferably, the lead trainer will be an adult, however, a youth perspective from youth with Chaplain’s Aide experience could be beneficial to the session. The trainer(s) will need become familiar with this syllabus and will need to have experience in chaplaincy situations.
Trainers should have a strong sense of their own faith and spirituality while maintaining an openness to differences in faith backgrounds and traditions that may be found throughout the scouting program. Trainers may like to spend time in prayer as part of preparation for this session, asking God to help them as spiritual leaders to be most helpful to those who will attend this session and to scouts and scouters whose faith may be deepened because of their experiences in scouting.
SESSION NARRATIVE
INTRODUCTION: 3-5 MINUTES
Welcome to the session “Chaplaincy in the OA.” This session give us an opportunity to talk about the importance of Religion and Spirituality within scouting. In particular, we will look at the role of Chaplain and how a Chaplain can be incorporated in the OA, especially within the lodge and at lodge functions. We will focus on similarities between BSA Summer Camp Chaplaincy and opportunities for Chaplaincy in the OA, including some time to think about and discuss situations that may come up at OA events in which a Chaplain could play an important part such as spiritual care, homesickness, morale building, grief counseling, and suicide prevention.
One of the best tools of a Chaplain is prayer, so let’s begin our time together with a moment of prayer. Let us pray.
TRAINER TIP: Depending on what you are most comfortable with, you may prepare an opening prayer or offer a spontaneous prayer at this time. You might find it appropriate to ask for God to be present during the session and to give wisdom and guidance to all who may be a Chaplain to others.
I want to let you know a little about who I am, including some of my scouting experience and my own religious background and experience.
TRAINER TIP: You can briefly introduce yourself and share your own experience and faith background. If the group is small, you may have participants introduce themselves as well.
INSPIRATIONAL PORTION: 2-3 MINUTES
Sir Robert Baden Powell, the founder of Scouting said this about religion in his book Rovering to Success, which was a handbook for British Rover Scouts:
Religion is essential to happiness. If you are really out to make your way to success – i.e happiness – you must not only avoid being sucked in by irreligious humbugs, but you must have a religious basis to your life. This is not a mere matter of going to church, of knowing Bible history, or understanding theology. Many men are sincerely religious almost without knowing it and without having studied it. Religion very briefly stated means: Firstly: recognizing who and what is God. Secondly: making the best of the life that He has given one and doing what He wants of us. This is mainly doing something for other people.
This quote by Baden Powell shows how religious belief and practice are foundational to scouting, and it helps us better understand the philosophy behind scouting.
Religious Principles in the BSA: 5-7 MINUTES
When we think about Chaplaincy and scouting we are taken immediately to the Scout Oath and Law. We promise to “do our duty to God” in the Scout Oath and the Scout Law ends with “A Scout is Reverent. Chaplaincy is one of the primary ways these foundational principles of scouting are encouraged in the scouting program.
The BSA Declaration of Religious Principles makes clear that religious belief and practice continue to be indispensable parts of the scouting program.
/ Advance PPT Slide “The BSA Declaration of Religious Principles”/ Advance PPT Slide “BSA Religious Principles (Cont.)”
TRAINER TIP: Do not read these slides in their entirety, but highlight the significant parts. The information on the Power Point Slides is provided below in case the Power Point is unavailable.
Power Point Slide – “The BSA Declaration of Religious Principles”
(Reprinted from the 1987 printing, 1976 copyright, of theCharters and Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America.The "Declaration of Religious Principles" are found in Article IX, Section 1, of the BSA Bylaws.)
• The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizenship without recognizing an obligation to God. In the first part of the Scout Oath or Promise the member declares, "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law." The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome precepts in the education of the growing members. No matter what the religious faith of the members may be, this fundamental need ofthe members should be kept before them. The Boy Scouts of America, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and the organization with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life.
• ACTIVITIES. The activities of the members of the Boy Scouts of America shall be carried on under conditions which show respect to the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion, as required by the twelfth point of the Scout Law, reading, "Reverent. A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others."
• FREEDOM. In no case where a unit is connected with a church or other distinctively religious organization shall members of other denomination or faith be required, because of their membership in the unit, to take part in or observe a religious ceremony distinctly unique to that organization or church.
• LEADERS. Only persons willing to subscribe to these declarations of principles shall be entitle to certificates of leadership in carrying out the Scouting program.
Power Point Slide – “BSA Religious Principles (Cont.)”
(Reprinted from the 1992 edition of BSA'sAdvancement Guidelines: Council and District Functions.)
• The Boy Scouts of America has a definite position on religious principles. The following interpretative statement may help clarify this position. The Boy Scouts of America:
– Does not define what constitutes belief in God or the practice of religion.
– Does not require membership in a religious organization or association for enrollment in the movement but does prefer, and strongly encourages, membership and participation in the religious programs and activities of a church, synagogue, or other religious association.
– Respects the convictions of those who exercise their constitutional freedom to practice religion as individuals without formal membership in organized religious organizations. In a few cases, there are those who, by conviction, do not feel it necessary to formally belong to an organized form of religion and seek to practice religion in accordance with their own personal convictions. Every effort should be made to counsel with the boy and his parents to determine the true storyof the religious convictions and practices as related to advancement in Scouting. Religious organizations have commended the Boy Scouts of America for encouraging youth to participate in organized religious activities. However, these same organizations reject any form of compulsion to enforce conformity to establish religious practices.
– If a boy says he is a member of a religious body, the standards by which he should be evaluated are those of that group. This is why an advancement committee usually requests a reference from his religious leader to indicate whether he haslived up to their expectations.
• Throughout life, Scouts are associated with people of different faiths. Scouts believe in religious freedom, respecting others whose religion may differ from theirs. Scouting believes in the right of all to worship God in their own way.
So scouting is understood to be what we call “non-sectarian,” that is scouting does not adhere to any particular sect or religion. The BSA maintains that all members must believe in God and express that belief in some way, but the BSA does not mandate in any way what those beliefs are or have to look like. The Religious Emblems Program of the BSA is a good example of this. How many of you have earned the Religious Emblem for your faith tradition?
Scouting has no input as to the work that must be completed for a youth to earn a Religious Emblem. The specific faith tradition develops the curriculum and scouting simply allows us to wear a knot on the uniform and/or the appropriate medal.
The Role of the Chaplain and Chaplain’s Aide: 5-7 MINUTES
Let’s do a quick review of what a Chaplain is and what a Chaplain’s Aide is and also what their role is.
/ Advance PPT Slide “The Chaplain and Chaplain’s Aide”TRAINER TIP: Do not read the slide in its entirety, but highlight the significant parts. The information on the Power Point Slide is provided below in case the Power Point is unavailable.
Power Point Slide – “The Chaplain and Chaplain’s Aide”
• Chaplain: In the Troop, an adult volunteer who is often the religious leader of the chartering organization of the troop if that organization is a faith community, or a member of the local clergy if not. At Summer Camp, an adult volunteer or paid staff member who will usually be a clergy person and have attended BSA National Camping School for Chaplaincy.
• Chaplain’s Aide: In the Troop, an approved youth leadership position.
/ Advance PPT Slide “Role of Chaplain and Chaplain’s Aide”TRAINER TIP: Do not read the slide in its entirety, but highlight the significant parts. The information on the Power Point Slide is provided below in case the Power Point is unavailable.
Power Point Slide – “Role of the Chaplain and Chaplain’s Aide”
• The primary role of chaplains and chaplain’s aides is to be a friend to others and help contribute to their spiritual welfare and growth.
– This may include: setting a positive example; leading worship services; offering prayer and encouraging others to lead prayer as well; promoting Religious Emblems programs; counseling if appropriate; relationship building; participation in leadership activities; assisting in emergencies as needed; being present and available for support during accidents, illnesses, and other problems.
The Chaplain’s role is often limited to prayer and worship leadership, but a Chaplain can find many more appropriate ways to be involved in scouting. This may be especially true of Chaplains involvement in the OA lodge and at lodge functions. In many ways, OA Chaplaincy is similar to Summer Camp Chaplaincy in that most involvement of a Chaplain in the OA will be at lodge functions, which are brief, usually 2 to 3 day, events. That said, a Chaplain in an OA lodge may have opportunities to build relationships over time, which would resemble Chaplaincy in a Troop.
Let’s brainstorm some ways Chaplains can be more involved in the OA.
/ Flip Chart to #_2_ “Ways Chaplains can be Involved in the Lodge” Stage Left ChartTRAINER TIP: Encourage discussion and write responses on a flipchart. Be conscious of time as there is still a lot of ground to cover in the remaining part of the session. Possible responses include: lead worship at functions; encourage prayer before meals, LEC meetings, etc.; work with lodge leadership to create a Chaplain’s Aide position on the LEC with an adult Chaplain advisor; assist with training to increase awareness of spiritual elements of OA and scouting program; assist with activities to encourage team building and moral building; scheduling and announcing times during which a chaplain would be available for individual prayer and discussion.
Situational role plays: 8-10 MINUTES
Some of the major ways a Chaplain may be helpful at an OA function are unpredictable. For example, there may be an emergency that a Chaplain could assist with in terms of communication with family and others, or a scout may receive news that a loved one died while he was at the event and a Chaplain may be able to support him temporarily while arrangements are made for him to go home. These types of emergency situations are also usually the most anxiety producing for Chaplains.
What we are going to do now is pair off, so everybody find a buddy. Try to find someone that you don’t know. We are going to do some role playing. I’m passing out “Role Play Information Cards” now. Each of them describes a situation that you, as an OA member, are experiencing while at an OA function. Decide with your buddy who will go first, then read your card and let your partner know what is going on. Your partner will be your chaplain. We’ll switch after 3 or 4 minutes and then come back together as a group to go over the different situations. Are there any questions before we begin?
TRAINER TIP: Pass out “Role Play Information Card” at this time. Encourage active participation and creativity and be available for any questions that might come up about the activity. The information for the cards is provided below.
Role Play Information Card #1
Scout Joe (Homesickness): You are a 13 year old, ordeal member who is on his first function, the lodge fellowship, after your ordeal weekend about one month earlier. You did not really enjoy your ordeal, but you made it and your family was proud, especially your dad who is an Eagle scout and an assistant Scoutmaster in your troop. He was able to attend your ordeal weekend (which is probably why you survived it!), but he is not at the fellowship this time because of a business trip. You didn’t want to go to the lodge fellowship, but you were too afraid to tell your dad this because you didn’t want to let him down. Now that you are here you feel lonely – almost like you could cry – and you just want to go home. You have some friends here with you from your troop, but you don’t want to see them or do anything.