Congregations

BSA Religious Emblems

Religious Emblems: the Linchpin to Membership

F.B.I.Faith Based Initiative

How to Have Congregations and Clergy

Begging You to Start the Full Family of

Scouting

Stop Selling Packs, Troops, and Crews

Stop Selling Scouting as Ministry

Start Selling SOLUTIONSto Congregations and

Their Needs

Whose needs are these?

• Membership growth• Retention• Program• Money• Trained Volunteers

“You can have everything in life you want, if you'll just help enough other people to get what they want!”

– Zig Ziglar

Why Collaborate?

What’s in it for Congregations?

Question:

What are the five most stated items in any strategic plan of a local congregation?

What’s in it for Congregations?

Answer:

•Membership •Retention of new members•Religious training•Volunteers / Leaders•Money

What’s in it for Congregations?

Religious Organizations Benefit

• Common Goals• Enrich current program

– Scouting has high brand recognition

– Membership opportunities– Proven youth program: citizenship

training, character development, fitness

– Outdoor resources (local and national facilities) continued

Religious Organizations Benefit

• Trained Leaders– Provides leadership training skills– New leaders (adults may volunteer

to be leaders because they see it as service to their religious organization)

– Religious organizations select the leadership that reflects their values

Congregations need •Young families •Adult males

Religious Organizations Benefit:Membership

Religious Organizations Benefit:Faith Formation

Religious Emblems Programs:• Are developed by the national

religious organizations, not BSA

Religious Organizations Benefit:Membership

• The average size of a pack is 30• 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 • 15 pre-qualified families already in your

building without a faith home

Religious Organizations Benefit:Membership

• The unit leader makes a presentation on religious emblems using the R.E.C. / Duty to God resources.

• The congregation offers a religious emblems class.

Religious Organizations Benefit:Membership

• The chartering congregation offers their religious emblems program for their youth members and extends an invitation to the Scouting unit, especially those without a current congregational home.

• Invite the parents to the first class and start building relationships.

Religious Organizations Benefit:Membership

• If the congregation offers a religious emblem class to all youth in their units

• If the congregation offers a religious emblem class to the whole district

• The congregation expands its membership potential in close geographic area

Congregations need •Young families •Adult males•Retain members•Scout parents http://scoutparents.org/

Religious Organizations Benefit:Membership

What’s in it for Councils:Program

66% + 10% + 70% + 98% = +42%

98% = the number of clergy who are unaware that these religious emblems even exist!

Journey to Excellence

• Membership• Units• Retention• Advancement• Camping

Why Collaborate?

What’s in it for Councils?

The History of the BSAAccording to Mark

BSA Research

• Unit Retention better by 10%• Rank Advancement 10 to 30% better• 66% of units Chartered to Faith based

organizations• 70% of Chartered Partners only have 1

Unit or one Member of the Scouting family

Resources: Assoc. of Religion Data Archives

• www.thearda.com• Denomination Report (by county)• County membership report• And much more!

Denomination Report(UMC – Number of Congregations)

Rank ^ County Value

1 Lancaster, NE 28

2 Douglas, NE 23

3 Buffalo, NE 13

4 Custer, NE 12

5 Cass, NE 11

6 Gage, NE 10

7 Hall, NE 8

8 Merrick, NE 8

9 Lincoln, NE 8

County Membership Report(Lancaster County, NE)

Religious Bodies Congregations AdherentsAdherence Rate†

United Methodist Church, The 29 17,595 61.6

Non-denominational 24 5,775 20.2

Catholic Church 16 42,609 149.3

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 15 14,216 49.8

Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod 14 13,043 45.7

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 10 4,744 16.6

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 9 2,185 7.7

What’s in it for Councils?

• Question:What are your council’s top goals according to Journey to Excellence?

What’s in it for Councils?

Answer:• Membership• Retention• Advancement• Money• Leadership• Program

What’s in it for Councils:Membership

• Youth membership– Parents are looking for values– Religious organizations share common

goals• Adult leaders

– Improve retention of leaders– Religiously based individuals are more

likely to volunteer• Target underserved populations

What’s in it for Councils:Program

• Religious organizations teach the religious emblems programs

• Recruit clergy for religious retreats and camporees

• Chaplains

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 MUST be trained by the local council

• Religious emblems must be promoted by the unit leader

• Congregations must offer a religious emblems class

Linch Pin

Congregations

BSA Religious Emblems

Wrap up: Why Collaborate?

• Win-win-win situation• Collaboration results in:

• Stronger youth and families• Stronger congregations• Stronger councils