Being the Director of the Center for Scouting Ministries, I have a rare privilege. I receive requests for Eagle Scout commendation or congratulations letters. In the last four years, there have been over 3,800 requests. These requests are from proud parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, church leaders, and Scout leaders. Each letter brings a piece of the Scout’s walk into my life.
There are so many interesting Eagle Scout projects. Many projects are for the local churches including youth group spaces, prayer gardens, storage units, and much more. Other projects reach out in outdoor Scouting spirit. Environmental projects benefit everyone. Animal shelters are embraced and helped with their needs. The homeless have been served within the community and far abroad. Veterans are aided and honored. A fitting “thank you” for their service. No matter the giving, each is a piece the Scout shared. As Baden-Powell put it, “Try and leave this world a little better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate, you have not wasted your time but have done your best.”
The parents’ and leaders’ glow fills the pages and my office. No Eagle has ever taken flight on its own. They have had a worldwide family of support and care. Now they soar in the light. So, do I as I hear of their journeys.
The Bald Eagle has been our national symbol since 1782. But it was also once endangered. In the 1960s and 1970s, we became aware of the problem harming them. Action was taken to ban a pesticide decimating their population in 1972. By 2007, Bald Eagles were removed from the endangered species list.
While there are unseen dangers to the future Eagle Scouts today, I believe in the nobility and value of their foundation. It is in an Oath to duty and a Law of character. Children need not only safety but room to grow. They need positive investment in their lives. They need to stretch their wings. If we are watchful and involved, then Eagle Scouts will not become extinct. The lives of parents, leaders, churches, and communities will be all the brighter. So will our future.
My hope is that we realize along with providing care for the harmed, we will also provide HOPE for future generations. Check out the work that Tufts is doing. Research that has long-term meaning!
Sept. 25- Oct. 1, 2022, Methodist Service Conference at Philmont: We will work on both the base camp chapel and the chapel at the PTC. This conference will be unlike any we have had before. There will be just a few hours of classroom work, lots of fellowship, and growth planning. We leave a positive trace on a place we love and those who will worship there in the future.
My heart broke when a pack from across the country called my office. They were seeking an opportunity learn of God. Their local charter pastor was too busy to welcome these little ones. Our Zoom God and Me was delightful and fulfilling. If you or your group wants to grow in faith, an opportunity is below. Duty to God!
I will bet you have never heard that statement made on the way to a campout. It becomes a standard joke when you drive the three days from South Carolina to Philmont. There is an irony that sometimes the waiting truly is the hardest part. So we are still waiting.
Docket dates as currently scheduled from Omni Agent
Above is an image of the current court dates for the bankruptcy. The May 25th hearing will not include a ruling on the plan of reorganization. The legal holding pattern is very resilient.
GCUMM is still working with legal, ecclesiastic leadership, and BSA to get a resolution that allows for those called by God to serve in ministry.
Where the light is brightest, the shadows cast are the longest. Faith and values-based organizations lend to those who take part in them an air of goodness.
The language, associations, and vows made through church membership are no exception. Trust is a natural part of working within a congregation. It should be. Trust must not be an excuse for avoiding tackling the difficult challenge of abuse. The light must shine on all that we do. The purpose and history of our church are profound. These can be lost through wrongful acts in the shadows.
Summary
Recognize predators target organizations where they are assumed to be “good” through membership.
Utilize light, light control technology, and line of sight to reduce the availability of spaces where harm can occur.
Utilize sound for detecting atypical activity.
Know the people and facility while letting the spirit guide you.
Membership Vows of The United Methodist Church
“To renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of the world, and repent of their sin;
To accept the freedom and power God gives them to resist evil, injustice, and oppression;
To confess Jesus Christ as Savior, put their whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as their Lord;
To faithfully participate in its ministries by their prayers, their presence, their gifts, their service, and their witness;”[1]
Who would not believe those engaged in these commitments are good? How can one “resist evil, justice, and oppression” while committing abuse? Remember, where the light is brightest, shadows are the longest. That is for good and evil. It is hard to understand what you cannot see on the backside of the “good person” perpetrator. It becomes even harder to identify them once they stand in the light. They know the right words, put on the right clothes, and share time with us. When the truth is revealed, the damage stretches far beyond the victim or the immediate group. It does not start with the worst offense but slowly and innocuously creeps into the frame. Keep the light encompassing and bright with the caution high.
We need to move from thinking about rules to protect the vulnerable into a protection culture. We look at all the aspects of what might open the door to abuse. Our culture needs to become a way of seeing every situation. We must look through this lens at the buildings, facilities, and places we minister.
Three parts will always be present when abuse occurs.
The opportunity
The People [both abuser and victim(s)]
A Place
The United Methodists constructed most of our buildings before the awareness of the prevalence of abuse. In 2007, the CDC issued its guidelines for youth-serving organizations to prevent child sexual abuse. [2] A checklist for evaluating our spaces is on page 36. But before you take the checklist in hand, consider three more ideas.
The thing that makes a facility available for abuse is a lack of detection. There are gifts God has given to us: sight, hearing, and feeling. Use these primary gifts in evaluating how to change or manage a facility.
Considerations for visibility
Lighting is a primary element of vision. Lighting needs to be proper so that the whole space within a room is visible. Look to remove shadows and dark spaces. Take special consideration with basements, closet spaces, or low-traffic areas. For infrequently used spaces or specially controlled spaces, use a motion sensor to control the light. The light being on gives those passing by a quick sign of activity. Lighting in hallways, bathrooms, stairwells, basements, and closets is also important. People need to be conscious of the lights that are on.
Line of sight is the next consideration. Can you stand at the door and see the entire space with good lighting? Do the doors have windows? With the door closed, a monitor should be able to see the whole space. Adjoining rooms or closets, need to be in a clear line of sight or inaccessible.
Conversation spaces need to be available. These spaces are open for viewing and allow a degree of privacy in the conversation. Never be alone. Be visible. Utilize this possibility for discretion with safety.
Signage and education are also in the visible tool kit. “No Youth Allowed” or “Restricted Access” messages signal a victim being taken to a secluded area to not go. These signals are only valuable if the reader understands them. Teach the whole congregation about the spaces that are for their use. Share why the others are not. Utilizing color-coded signage is an effective technique. Green means go. Red means stop.
Considerations for hearing
Sound allows us a second tool for identifying problems. Become mindful of the typical sounds of the ministry. Listen intently at varying times. Vary the locations where you listen. This awareness will aid in finding potential abuse and other problems.
There are low-cost sound monitoring devices that can allow for the monitoring of isolated spaces. These tools are available for safety well beyond protecting the vulnerable. They can assist in the early detection of water leaks, fires, or other hazards. Posting notices of cameras or sound devices also alerts a potential predator that you are vigilant. Check your local and state laws about the use of these tools.
Considerations for feeling
The gift of discernment is a gift of the spirit. While discernment is different from intuition, the two are cousins that can also be assets to the work. Discernment is the ability to judge well, informed by knowledge. In Christian contexts, it is a perception in the absence of personal judgment with a view to obtaining spiritual guidance and understanding.[3] While using our knowledge is a vital resource, discounting a feeling or gut response may be an error. This is the most difficult part of protecting the vulnerable. It requires both thought and feeling, listening to the spirit while acknowledging we all have biases. Walking with a bit of extra caution throughout the building because something does not feel right, is a faithful response.
Where humans are there will be harm. The first siblings, Cain and Able, are examples of the need to protect from the sin crouching at the door. God calls us to care for those in need and to protect the vulnerable. We need to utilize the natural gifts we are given, paired with research and technology to do all we can. This is not just about the vulnerable but also those who would fall into sin by harming others. We live into the grace of protection and prevention.
Scouting Ministries 