Learning by Doing

One good friend was on the trustees when I was voted on. We knew each other from Scouting. As a parent, he found it hard to see the youth leading the group. There were many inefficiencies whenever a new youth leader (Senior Patrol Leader) took over. Placing responsibility on individual youth and their groups does lead to challenges. The kind that both adults and youth learn from.

After two years of serving together, his time on the trustees came to an end. He had served as the chair for almost the whole time. His parting comment really stuck with me. “It feels like you just got it down when your time is up.”

Scouting is one of the few ministries where young people learn by doing all the time. They lead the meetings, plan the trips, cook the meals, and solve the problems. Adults mentor along the way. The church has long believed that faith is formed through practice, not theory alone. (Ask James in case you wonder about that verse 1:22.) When we support Scouting, we are supporting a hands‑on discipleship model that mirrors Jesus’ own approach with his followers – walk with me.

By the way, if the trustee chair had been a Scout, he would have already had some experience to lean on when leading in the church. That would have changed him and the church for the better.

A Safe Place to Grow

Young people grow best where they feel safe. Scouting’s commitment to youth protection aligns naturally with our Safer Sanctuaries practices. Together, they create a space where children can try, fail, learn, and try again. The Scout Law calls us to be trustworthy. Safety is the first step toward trust — and trust is the soil where faith can take root.

Youth protection isn’t paperwork. It’s discipleship. Our leaders train, prepare, and stay vigilant because every child deserves a church that guards their dignity and well-being.

Local churches have always carried a deep calling to nurture children and youth. But in today’s legal, digital, and cultural landscape, that calling comes with a level of responsibility that many congregations underestimate. When a church operates a youth group, whether it’s five kids on Wednesday night or fifty on a retreat, the church is the sole owner of that ministry. And ownership brings both blessings and liabilities for both the local church and its trustee (the conference).

At the same time, many of the most respected youth-serving organizations in the country-Scouting America, Girl Scouts of the USA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, YMCA of the USA, YouthBuild, Boys and Girls Clubs, and 4-H among them-have spent decades building robust systems of training, screening, monitoring, and insurance that most churches simply do not have the capacity to replicate on their own.

Are we going to try to keep kids safe alone or as a cord of three strands?

A Church that Shows Up

There is something powerful about a church that simply shows up for its young people. Scouting gives us a front‑row seat to watch youth discover who they are becoming. When a congregation opens its doors to a troop or pack, it is offering more than a meeting space — it is offering presence. And presence is ministry. The Scout Oath begins with “On my honor,” and when the church stands beside young people, we help them understand what honor looks like in daily life.

Growing a Worldwide Connection: The Expanding Ministry of United Methodist Scouting

As a General Agency of The United Methodist Church, the General Commission on United Methodist Men is called to serve the worldwide connection. In Scouting Ministries, that calling is lived out by connecting, serving, and expanding opportunities for young people through partnerships that stretch across borders. Our partners see the world globally—and so do we.

This global vision is not new. It is rooted first in Jesus Christ, who commanded us to go into all the world, and second in Robert Baden-Powell, whose movement has always been international at its core. When a local church, our partners, and the Commission stand together, we form a three‑cord strand that is not easily broken. But like any strong cord, it takes time to weave.

2018 – A Vision for Global Growth

The Scouting Ministries Committee advanced a proposal to strengthen the international reach of Scouting Ministries, aligning our work with the worldwide nature of Scouting itself. A direct request for support was brought to Board President Bishop James Swanson.

2019 – World Scout Jamboree: A Global Affirmation

At the Duty to God in North America booth, global relationships deepened. One moment stood out: David Michael Baden‑Powell visited the booth, looked around, and said, “This is right on. My grandfather would be happy it is here.” A blessing from the founder’s own family.

2024 — A Year of Global Reconnection and Renewal

May — General Conference in Charlotte

Delegates from across the world renewed relationships and raised a clear question from an African delegate: “What is the Commission doing for the boychild?” The call was unmistakable.

Aug — International Partnership Building

Travel to Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland opened new doors. Connections were strengthened with:

  • Wesley Scouts in Germany
  • WOSM leadership
  • Protect Children (advancing safe scouting)
  • The Council of Protestants in Guiding and Scouting, a WOSM‑recognized consultative group with strong African leadership

October – International Safeguarding Symposium

With support from the United Methodist Men’s Foundation, leaders from four countries gathered to share research and best practices in youth protection.


Attendees included a bishop, a chancellor, district superintendents, pastors, and professionals from multiple youth‑serving fields.


A global conversation on safeguarding had begun.

2025 – Connections Deepen Across Africa

Social media networks expanded, linking us with Central Africa Conference Scouts and Scouting Ministries.


In December, the Commission hosted a conference on Men’s and Scouting Ministries, sharing learning and opportunities across diverse African contexts.

Two testimonies captured the spirit of the moment:

  • Angola: “Once we announced we were going to have Scouting, the church grew.”
  • Uganda: Joseph Zalambi, seen below, is a leader of the Child Crisis Center of Uganda serving 400 children. He is integrating Scouting into education programs so youth can not only survive—but thrive.

2026 — A Worldwide Ministry Takes Shape

2026 February 8th – Scout Sunday

The 2026 Scout Sunday theme and patch celebrate the global fellowship of Scouts and Guides. This ministry is not about one place—it is about the whole world.

May 7- Youth read sacred text worldwide

A weeklong global event where young people read their sacred texts, inspired by the Scouting commitment to Duty to God. Registration is open at YouthReadSacredTextsWorldwide.org.

Throughout 2026 — Expanding Resources

New materials in needed languages are being developed to strengthen the United Methodist Scouting fellowship worldwide.

August — El Salvador

Another step in a growing global network of faith, service, and youth empowerment.

Are you ready to help grow the connection?

The world is full of young people longing for hope, belonging, and purpose. When we connect churches, Scouts, and the Commission, we create a ministry that can transform lives across continents.

There is much to do—and the work is good. If we truly want to transform the world in the work of God, this is where we begin.