Questions and Answers on
“Scouts’ Owns” and Interfaith Worship in Scouting
What is a “Scouts’
Own?”
The term “Scouts’ Own” has its origin in the British scouting movement. In 1933, in a British book titled Scouts’ Owns, M. P. G. Leonard wrote, “Gatherings of Scouts, Known by the term Scouts’ Own, are held for the worship of God and to promote fuller realization of the Scout Law and Promise, but these are supplementary to, and not in substitution for, the religious observances [of the Scout’s own faith group].” (p. 14)
Leonard goes on to point out that these worship services are usually held in camp. (p. 19)
Who should participate in a
“Scouts’ Own?”
In Scouting for Boys, the original book about scouting, Baden Powell wrote a section titled “Duty to God.” Here he said,
“No man is much good unless he believes in God and obeys His laws. So every scout should have a religion.” (p. 261)
“There are many kinds of religion such as Roman Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Mohammedans, and so on, but the main point about them is that they all worship God, although in different ways. They are like an army which serves one king, though it is divided into different branches, such as cavalry, artillery, and infantry, and these wear different uniforms. So, when you meet a boy of a different religion from your own, you should not be hostile to him, but recognise that he is like a soldier in your own army, though in a different uniform, and still serving the same king as you.” (p. 261)
Baden Powell was clearly not a professional theologian, but it is equally clear that from its beginning, scouting has held the ideal that all Scouts should be able to participate together in worship. This is interfaith worship.
What is the purpose of worship?
In Scouts’ Owns, Leonard offered the definition of worship as “the outward expression of Religion towards God.” (p. 15) This is a reasonable brief definition.
The focus of worship is God. It has been said that the purpose of interfaith worship is to make scouts “feel good” about religion. Certainly worship should not be boring and should encourage everything good, but it is still the case that we worship God, we don’t worship “good feelings.”
Even though we don’t worship “good feelings,” worship should be joyful. This idea was affirmed by Ernest Thompson Seton, naturalist, author, illustrator, and first Chief Scout of the BSA. His wife, Julia, says that, “During the years that we carried on our school for youth leaders at Seton Village, we conducted each week a Sunday service, non-sectarian, non-theological, with emphasis on high principle, not creed. Perhaps the theme of our worship is expressed in one of the Woodcraft Laws formulated by Seton many years ago: ‘Seek the joy of being alive.’ This was the doctrine he lived by.” Julia Seton goes on to say that Ernest Thompson Seton had experienced “flat and dreary” worship during his youth, but this didn’t alienate him from religion. Instead it convinced him that worship should be joyful. (Seton, Julia M. By a Thousand Fires. Doubleday & Co., 1967, pp. 41ff.)
Why hold interfaith worship services?
Whenever possible, scouts should worship with their own faith groups, but sometimes there are not enough scouts of any one faith to make a congregation, and sometimes there is not a qualified worship leader. In these cases, interfaith worship is the best option. Most interfaith worship services are held as part of a troop campout.
Sometimes at a District or Council event there will be a separate worship service for members of one or two religious groups that are well represented and everyone else will be invited to attend an interfaith worship service.
Is “interfaith worship” really
worship?
Yes, it is worship. It is not sacramental worship. It is not liturgical worship. It may not satisfy the doctrinal requirements of a particular faith group. It is not worship according to the fullest understanding of any faith group, but as long as it is focused on God, it is worship.
Clergy and Scout leaders should keep in mind that Scout interfaith worship is not the only worship experience the Scout will have. Most of the Scout’s worship will be in the context of his own faith congregation, and in that congregation the Scout will experience the liturgy, sacraments, and holiday celebrations that are uniquely special and meaningful. Interfaith worship is not intended as a substitute for any of this.
Who should lead interfaith worship?
Most often, a scoutmaster or assistant scoutmaster will lead the worship service. If a Scout chaplain is available, that person should lead worship. Occasionally, an exceptionally mature Scout can lead the worship. In addition to the leader, scouts should take part in the leadership by reading, leading in prayer, etc.
What happens in an interfaith worship
service?
The worship service should be simple and relatively brief. In an interfaith service there will be no sacraments and no presentation of doctrines or beliefs that are unique to a particular faith group or denomination.
Generally the worship will include singing and other music, prayer, scripture reading, and a devotional message. These elements should be organized in a way that makes sense in the setting, and the worship may or may not resemble the order of worship followed in an organized congregation.
The worship service may include elements such as the Scout Oath and Law.
How is scripture used in an interfaith
worship service?
Frequently the leader will know that those present will all be from a broad faith group. For example, on a troop campout the leader will know the religious backgrounds of troop members. If, for example, those present are all Christians, even though from different denominations or traditions, scripture from the Old Testament and New Testament can be used.
A subtle problem arises when the leader is from a tradition different from that of some of the Scouts. Even though the leader uses scripture which the Scouts use when they worship at home, the leader will inevitably see this scripture through the “lens” of his own faith. The best way to overcome this problem is for all people involved to exercise humility and appreciation for one another. For example, a Christian leader may decide to read (or have a Scout read) a passage from the Koran (Qu’ran). This is good, because it helps young Scouts understand that Christians and Muslims have many things in common, and they can be “brothers” in Scouting. However the leader must remember that the Christian and the Muslim may have different interpretations of the passage being read.
Generally the New Testament should not be used in the worship service if non-Christians are going to be present. (For more on this, see the “scripture essay” on this site.)
There is an exception to this general rule, but the leader must think and plan carefully before using this exception. The leader may want to call attention to a New Testament story as part of the devotional lesson. If the story is not “doctrinal,” that is, not teaching specifically Christian values that are not shared by other faiths, and if the leader is not trying to convert anyone to Christianity, and if the leader makes the universal application of this story clear, then the story might be used in worship. (It would be good for there to be a discussion of religious values in a parents’ meeting so that the leader knows the sorts of things the parents feel are appropriate and inappropriate for use in worship services.)
Why do we avoid “sectarian” or
“denominational” statements in interfaith worship?
Those attending the interfaith worship do not have a real choice as to whether or not they will attend. Even if the Scoutmaster allows them to “opt out,” social pressure to attend will be great. In such a circumstance the worship should, as much as possible, help everyone focus on God.
How can we pray in an interfaith worship
service?
Prayer is not a problem. Our understanding of prayer is sometimes a problem.
The leader must keep in mind that he or she is “leading” others in prayer. This is not the same as praying during a personal time of prayer. The leader is to pray in such a way as to help those present focus their own prayers.
It is not appropriate for the leader to use the phrase “I pray . . .,” because that phrase changes the prayer from a prayer on behalf of everyone present to a personal prayer. Likewise, it is not appropriate, in a mixed-faith setting, to pray “in Christ’s name,” because this restricts the prayer to those who are Christian, and leaves everyone else out of the prayer.
Another caution about prayer: Prayer is addressed to God. A prayer is not a sermon with closed eyes.
Different denominations and different faith-groups act differently during prayer. Some groups stand. Some sit. Some kneel. Muslims have a highly defined ritual of bowing. Catholics make the sign of the cross. Buddhists bow from the waist. Ancient Christians would stand and extend their arms out from their sides. Some modern Christians raise one or both hands in the air. The list of how we express prayer through our bodies can become very long. Generally in the U.S., members of a multi-faith congregation will follow the instructions of the worship leader. The worship leader should think ahead of time about what the instructions will be (stand, sit, etc.), and should not be offended if someone, as a true expression of faith, takes a different posture.
Should we use printed orders of worship
or other printed materials?
The Scout interfaith worship service should be relatively short and simple, so a detailed or complicated worship bulletin should not be essential. Printed worship aids are a problem. Often at a District or Council event it is difficult to estimate how many copies are necessary. If a troop packs into its campsite, the printed materials represent extra weight. Seldom is there a budget for printing, so some individual, often the worship leader, must volunteer the funds. If it rains, the printed materials can get wet and unusable.
However, some printed materials can be useful. A troop might want to purchase multiple copies of the Scout Song Book, which includes some hymns and religious songs. A troop might also want to prepare its own “hymn/prayer book” (which might be a single page) for repeated use at campouts.
What guidelines are useful in planning interfaith worship?
Leonard, in Scouts’ Owns gave a list of guidelines which are still useful:
The leader should be “natural.” Don’t use a special “praying voice” or “preaching voice.” Also, if you need to re-start a song that got off on the wrong pitch, do so.
Be aware of the limits of a Scout’s concentration. Keep it short, and let the Scouts change position (stand, sit, etc.) from time to time.
Have a theme that links the songs, prayers, scripture and devotional talk.
Choose hymns and songs that the Scouts know and can sing.
Prayers: “Let your intercessions be for real needs and your thanksgiving for real blessings.” (p. 21) In his discussion of “Duty to God,” Baden Powel said, “Remember that a present given to you is not yours until you have thanked for it.” (p. 261)
With respect to the devotional message, Leonard says, “Remember and profit by a boy’s love of a good yarn.” In 1933, a time in history when church sermons were a lot longer than they are now, Leonard suggested that the devotional message for Scouts be no longer than 10 minutes.
Involve Scouts in the leadership of the worship service. Let them read, lead in prayer, and lead singing, and help them ahead of time to prepare for such service.
REFERENCES:
Baden-Powell, R. S. S. Scouting for Boys: A Handbook for Instruction in Good Citizenship. London: Horace Cox, 1908 (Facsimile Edition, 1957).
Leonard, M. P. G. Scouts' Owns. London: C. Arthur Pearson, Ltd., Revised Edition, 1948.