02/15/2024
All
See the note below from Jim Marchbank, Chair Council Support Subcommittee of the National Religious Relationships Committee. If you or your unit is interested in participating contact Jim at
[email protected]
Ed Milbrada
Scouting VP
Brotherhood of St Andrew
Would you like to be part of something that’s never been done before in Scouting? This is your chance to make history.
Allow me to introduce myself. I am Jim Marchbank, Chairman of the Council Support subcommittee on the National Religious Relationships Committee.
Our committee has organized an ambitious event for 5:30 pm local time on May 2, 2024, which is the National Day of Prayer.
We plan for Scouts to read the entire sacred texts of these world religions - Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim faiths on May 2nd. In addition, Scouts in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Eastern Orthodox, Sikh, and other Faiths will be also reading their Sacred Texts.
We will do this by dividing these four religions’ sacred texts into 10 sections and a few of the larger Councils have agreed to read one tenth of these entire Sacred Texts. This will make history and we expect this to be an annual event.
Now, here is where we need your help, and it is easy. We are asking you to invite all Scouts in your council to join us. Yes, we want to invite every Cub and every Scout, over one million strong, to participate and read their Sacred Texts on this important day. We are only asking Scouts to do what they should be doing anyway (reading their Sacred Texts) and in doing so, strengthen their relationship with their Faith organization and their God.
Your participation will promote Duty to God and generate much needed positive publicity for Scouting, locally and nationally.
All Scouts can participate in one of three ways. First, they can participate from home with their family by reading a portion of their family faith’s Sacred Texts. Second, they can ask their faith leader to invite Scouts from their faith to come to their faith location on May 2nd and read in 15-minute increments. Faith leaders are encouraged to suggest the readings and to promote this cause to the public. Faith locations may decide to broadcast this event to the public. Finally, they can ask a Scout friend to participate in this event at home or Faith location.
Participating in this event could help Scouts satisfy the Duty to God requirement necessary for advancement.
Here is the link for Scouts or Faith locations to register:
Scouts Read Sacred Texts Worldwide
Here is our webpage where you’ll find the most current information and a list of councils participating. Please send a quick email and we will add you to the council list.
https://stlbsa.org/scouts-read-sacred-texts-worldwide/
Finally, it wouldn’t be a Scouting event if there weren’t a commemorative patch. Patches will be available for Councils or individuals to purchase. Stay tuned for information about this commemorative patch.
We are very pleased to have the Far East and the Transatlantic councils join us. That means Scouts will start reading at 5:30 pm in the Far East, eight hours later, Scouts read in Europe, cross the Atlantic and six hours later, Scouts begin reading on the East Coast, then Midwest and finish in California. What a vision to have Sacred Texts being read, starting in the Far East and sweeping west all around the world - on the US National Day of Prayer.
Our BHAG goal is to get every council to participate. Even if just a few scouts in your council read their sacred texts, your council would be on the map and make history.
Will you promote this event on your website, round tables, with unit and Pack leaders and through social media? This will be promoted nationally on Scouting Wire, and we will send a press release that you could use. We have attached a document that can be used to promote this at round tables, on your website or social media.
Our world needs the power of prayer and positive action more than ever. The Scouting movement has maintained this balance with the 12th Point of the Scout Law: A Scout is Reverent. This Duty to God event allows Scouts to broaden their faith and deepen their faith in their home or faith institution.
We also have invited 183 International countries with WOSM, World Organization of Scouting Movement to join us.
May God bless our efforts.
Sincerely,
Jim Marchbank
[email protected]
Chair, Council Support Subcommittee
National Religious Relationships Committee.
USA cell phone (314) 914-2162
The Scout Oath begins with “I will do my best to do my Duty to God… and the Scout Law ends with …”A Scout is Reverent” . The 12th Point of our Scout Law is “A Scout is Reverent.” Scouting has organized a few of the larger Councils around the world to represent the Scouting movement and...
