Comments on: Religion and the Boy Scouts http://necessaryroughness.org/2006/12/religion-and-the-boy-scouts/ two kingdoms, hundreds of thousands of miles Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:36:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Rev. Bob McCanless (LC-MS) http://necessaryroughness.org/2006/12/religion-and-the-boy-scouts/comment-page-1/#comment-7318 Rev. Bob McCanless (LC-MS) Thu, 21 Dec 2006 12:12:27 +0000 http://necessaryroughness.org/archives/913#comment-7318 I think your discomfort as a teenager - at what was clearly a syncretistic service - was completely understandable. In almost 30 years of Scouting, I've found the Unionistic/Syncretistic camp worship service, to be the MOST disappointing aspect of those experiences. As a seminarian at CTS-Ft. Wayne, I developed there, a really GOOD way to do a lay-led service of the word (from the TLH, no less!), that can be used in a camp setting. For those interested in such things, as how to conduct a faithful Divine Service in the wilds of camp, you can read my own blogpost on the matter at - http://patchblanket.blogspot.com/2006/07/scout-is-reverent-lc-ms-perspective.html Drop me a line there, for more details. Keep up the good work Dan - we confessional Eagle Scouts are a rare breed indeed! :-D Rev. Bob McCanless Concordia Lutheran Church Pittsburgh Eagle Class of '81 I think your discomfort as a teenager - at what was clearly a syncretistic service - was completely understandable. In almost 30 years of Scouting, I’ve found the Unionistic/Syncretistic camp worship service, to be the MOST disappointing aspect of those experiences.

As a seminarian at CTS-Ft. Wayne, I developed there, a really GOOD way to do a lay-led service of the word (from the TLH, no less!), that can be used in a camp setting. For those interested in such things, as how to conduct a faithful Divine Service in the wilds of camp, you can read my own blogpost on the matter at - http://patchblanket.blogspot.com/2006/07/scout-is-reverent-lc-ms-perspective.html

Drop me a line there, for more details.

Keep up the good work Dan - we confessional Eagle Scouts are a rare breed indeed! :-D

Rev. Bob McCanless
Concordia Lutheran Church
Pittsburgh
Eagle Class of ‘81

]]> By: Meepman http://necessaryroughness.org/2006/12/religion-and-the-boy-scouts/comment-page-1/#comment-7309 Meepman Thu, 21 Dec 2006 00:20:09 +0000 http://necessaryroughness.org/archives/913#comment-7309 I have mixed views on this one. I can see their concerns regarding polytheistic worship, and confusion regarding what contradicts the finer points on what we belive as Lutherans and (more importantly) as Christians. But I think we may be looking at this with too high powered of a microscope. I've always taken the 12th point of the Scout Laws as something quite a bit more than "A scout goes to church and Sunday School, and believes A, B, C, and D regarding God." I interpret "A Scout Is Reverent" as meaning "A scout realizes that he is not the biggest thing there is, nor is he the most important. A scout realizes that there are things much larger than himself, and needs to keep that in mind when considering one's place in the universe." Whether it's the larger scheme or plans in where you work, team projects you undertake, or in your religious life, something reminding you of your place (and it's not at the top, necessarily...) I believe is vital to a personal philosophy, and critical to the development of leadership characteristics (something that, as an Eagle Scout myself, I'll offer some personal testimony on.) I have mixed views on this one. I can see their concerns regarding polytheistic worship, and confusion regarding what contradicts the finer points on what we belive as Lutherans and (more importantly) as Christians. But I think we may be looking at this with too high powered of a microscope.
I’ve always taken the 12th point of the Scout Laws as something quite a bit more than “A scout goes to church and Sunday School, and believes A, B, C, and D regarding God.” I interpret “A Scout Is Reverent” as meaning “A scout realizes that he is not the biggest thing there is, nor is he the most important. A scout realizes that there are things much larger than himself, and needs to keep that in mind when considering one’s place in the universe.” Whether it’s the larger scheme or plans in where you work, team projects you undertake, or in your religious life, something reminding you of your place (and it’s not at the top, necessarily…) I believe is vital to a personal philosophy, and critical to the development of leadership characteristics (something that, as an Eagle Scout myself, I’ll offer some personal testimony on.)

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