Faith-Based Initiative (F.B.I.)
Targeting the Faith Community
BSA Research
 BSA
research points to
congregations as the BEST
place to start new sustainable
units.
Whose needs are these?
Membership growth
 Membership Retention
 Program
 Money
 Trained Volunteers

We Need Each Other
How do we do this?
 How can we help each other?

Show congregations WHY they
need Scouting
Stop selling Packs, Troops, and Crews
 Start selling SOLUTIONS to
congregations and their needs

Religious Organizations Benefit

Enrich current program
Proven youth program: citizenship training,
character development, fitness
 Outdoor resources (local and national
facilities)
 Scouting has high brand recognition
 Membership opportunities

Religious Organizations Benefit

Training Leaders
Religious organizations select the
leadership that reflects their values
 Provides leadership training skills
 Possibly open new leadership base (adults
may volunteer to be leaders because they
see it as service to their religious
organization)

Offer Solutions

Congregations need

Young families
Offer Solutions




The average size of a pack is 10
50 to 60% of youth in a Pack, Troop or
Crew do not currently have a faith
home
These parents are pre-qualified as
looking for values for their children
5 pre-qualified families already in your
building without a faith home
Offer Solutions
 Introduce
the congregation to
RELIGIOUS EMBLEMS
 Religious emblems are programs
that are developed by the national
religious organizations, not BSA
Religious Emblems = Linchpin
Religious
Emblems
BSA
Congregations
A Linchpin enables forward progress
Religious Emblems Coordinator
(R.E.C.)
The R.E.C. position exists at the Council,
District, and Unit levels
 Religious emblems will be promoted like
all other rank advancement

R.E.C. Resources
Duty to God Religious Emblems Chart
 Duty to God DVD
 R.E.C. webpage
http://www.praypub.org/REC

Religious Emblems
 The
unit leader makes a
presentation on religious emblems
using the R.E.C. / Duty to God
resources.
Religious Emblems


The chartering congregation offers
their religious emblems program for
their youth members and extends an
invitation to the Scouting unit,
especially the 50% without a current
congregational home.
Congregations need to invite the
parents to the first class and start
building relationships.
Congregations need:
Young families
 Retain members

What’s in it for Councils:
Program

98% = the number of clergy who are
unaware that religious emblems exist!
70% + 70% + 98% + 57 = 42%
Religious Emblems
“Foot in the door” versus “foot in your
mouth”
 Become familiar with the religious
emblems program before visiting a
congregation
 Each religion creates its own program
 Eligibility requirements will differ from
religion to religion

Do Your Homework!
Religious Emblems
Analysis Sheet

www.praypub.org
Do Your Homework!

Congregation
Questionnaire
Resources
Cultural Informants – Council Staff,
Board, Religious Relationships
Committee, your Key 3, Chartered
Partners
 To open doors, teach/speak the
language
 FBI Resources
http://www.praypub.org/partnerships/
FBI_resources.htm

Sponsor vs. Chartered Partner

The Chartered Partner Concept
offers a HUGE strategic tool
when approaching religious
organizations / congregations.
Ingredients for Success
Both sides must clearly understand
the chartered organization
agreement before it is signed.
 BSA should use as many
congregational volunteers as is
feasible.
 The congregation must “invest” their
best kid person to be the leader

Ingredients for Success
All volunteers should be trained by
the local council
 Religious emblems must be
promoted by the unit leader
 Congregations must offer a religious
emblems class

Religious Emblems = Linchpin
Religious
Emblems
BSA
Congregations
Wrap up: Why Collaborate?
Win-win-win situation
 Collaboration results in:

Stronger youth and families
 Stronger congregations
 Stronger councils
