Religious Emblems

District Religious Emblems Coordinator
Tom Swisher

Religious Emblem Program

A Scout is reverent. They are reverent toward God. They are faithful in their religious duties and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion.

To encourage members to grow stronger in their faith, religious groups have developed the religious emblems programs. Additional resources are available from Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y). The Boy Scouts of America has approved of these programs and allows the emblems to be worn on the official uniform. The various religious groups administer the programs.


Religious Emblems Coordinator

Duty to God. Help Scouts earn their religious emblems!

Now a committee position, units should have a religious emblems coordinator on their committee. With the recent release of the unit religious emblems coordinator patch, the religious emblems coordinator program is now in place. When properly implemented, the program not only leads to an increase in the number of religious emblems earned and provides another opportunity to affirm "duty to God" in Scouting but also serves as a tool for unit retention and growth. BSA research indicates that Scouts working on their religious emblems remain in Scouting longer. Additionally, relationships are strengthened with the chartering organizations, more than 70 percent of which are faith-based, and doors are opened to the starting of new units.

The responsibility of the coordinator is to educate, motivate, evaluate, and facilitate the religious emblems program at the unit level. In addition to serving on the unit committee, a key function of the position is to serve as the liaison to the district religious emblems coordinator.

Training is offered at University of Scouting.

Religious Emblems Presentation Resources

Below you will find a collection of important resources to conduct a presentation including handouts for your unit to learn more about religious emblems.

Power Point Presentations

Scripts

Videos

Handouts

Webinars

 Religious Emblems and Ordering Information

BSA Duty to God, 512-879
2014 Edition of BSA Duty to God covering the religious emblems Scouts can earn for their faith as well as the workbook that would need to be ordered.

Religious Emblems Awards
This online resource lists all Religious Emblems Programs available to members of the Boy Scouts of America. You will also find images of the medals available and religious organizations that you may contact for information and ordering.

Supporting Religious Organizations Chartering Units

Leads help Scouts and families. Scouts in your units are from all walks of life and of various faiths. When seeking to earn their religious emblem, the Scout may need to have a religious leader or layperson of their faith to meet with them, sign off the Scout’s completion of their workbook and/or mentor them through. The following religious organizations within our district support and charter BSA units:

Baptist

  • Jersey Village Baptist Church

Roman Catholic

  • Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Community
  • Prince of Peace Catholic Community
  • St. Maximillian Catholic Community.  Deacon Dennis Hayes has committed to assisting Scouts’ religious emblems efforts. Please email Dennis.Hayes@lukoil-overseas.com or call/text 713-876-2590.

United Methodist

  • Fairbanks United Methodist
  • Foundry United Methodist
  • St. Timothy United Methodist

If you are interested in joining our district religious emblems team and represent your faith, or are a member of a church that is interested in offering their support of Scouts of their faith wanting to earn their religious emblem, please contact the District Religious Emblems Coordinator.

Scout Sunday / Scout Sabbath

The Boy Scouts of America designates a Saturday and Sunday that falls before February 8 (Scouting Anniversary Day) as Scout Sunday and Scout Sabbath to recognize the contributions of young people and adults to Scouting. It is permissible for a local church to celebrate on a different day most acceptable to the religious leader and congregation.

Scout Sunday / Scout Sabbath is an opportunity for units to participate in the religious service of their chartering organization by attending services in uniform, conducting a flag ceremony, speaking about Scouting, and/or formally thanking them for their support throughout the year. Units should also consider having a recruiting information table in the foyer or hospitality area. This is also a great time to distribute the religious emblem awards earned by Scouts.