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CHAPLAINS AND CHAPLAIN-AIDES
CHAPLAINS
Earlier in
this text we mentioned recruiting a minister or religious leader as a unit
chaplain. You've probably already figured out that a Chaplain must be a member
of the clergy and probably know that most Scout Camps have one or more Scout
Chaplains. This leaves the question of what does a Scout Chaplain do? Here
are a few of the things Scout Chaplains do:
1. Serve
as a resource to new families on opportunities for worship in the area (at no
time should the chaplain proselytize).
2. Help
in the event of accidents, illnesses and other problems.
3. Work
with Chartered Organization Representatives.
4.
Support unit leadership through recruitment and recognition.
5.
Encourage Scout participation in Religious Emblem study programs.
6. Help
plan and conduct worship experiences.
7.
Identify service opportunities.
8.
Sensitivity to Needs (alert for personal, family, or social situations that may
require special care).
CHAPLAIN-AIDES
The
chaplain aide is an approved youth leadership position for Boy Scouts and its
responsibilities are to encourage spiritual awareness and growth in the lives of
Troop members and to assist the chaplain. A Boy Scout seeking this position
should have earned or be in the process of completing his religious emblems
study program. It is recommended that the Boy Scout selected by at least a Star
Scout that has demonstrated an ability to exercise mature and sensitive judgment
and who has earned the trust of fellow Scouts. The duties of Chaplain-Aides
include:
1.
Maintaining the Troop's religious emblems award progress chart.
2.
Presenting an annual overview of religious emblem program opportunities to the
Troop.
3.
Compiling and keeping up-to-date lists of local clergy who have agreed to be
counselors for the various religious emblem programs.
4.
Presenting an overview of religious emblem programs to Cub Scout dens and packs
on request.
5.
Serving as the youth coordinator for the observance of the annual Scout Sabbath
or Sunday in February.
6.
Working with the troop chaplain.
7.
Preparing a Troop prayer.
8.
Assisting in religious emblem recognition ceremonies (remember that presentation
of a religious emblem is the responsibility of the local religious institution
in which it is earned).
9.
Encouraging Troop members to strengthen their own relationship with God through
personal prayer and devotions and participation in religious activities.
10.
Participation in patrol leaders' council planning sessions (to ensure that
spiritual emphasis is included).
11.
Working with the Troop Chaplain, compose appropriate prayers for meals (with
sensitivity to various theological and religious positions embraced by the
faiths represented in the group).
12. Work
with the Troop Chaplain to plan appropriate religious services for all members
during weekend Troop campouts.
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