Leadership in Scouting Ministry
By Larry Coppock
The Office of Scouting Ministries is responsible for training leaders of various youth-serving organizations and coordinating scouting activities.
The Scouting Ministry Committee, a standing committee of the commission, establishes strategic and tactical plans that give guidance to membership, training, adult and youth recognition, chaplaincy and communication.
In the midst of this planning, Christ––through the Holy Spirit––makes us aware of new ways of doing ministry. That is how scouting ministry specialists (SMS) came into existence over six years ago.
Currently, more than 300 SMS have registered with the scouting office, which is responsible for recruiting, training and resourcing these volunteers.
These specialists fulfill many important roles including the servicing of existing Cub Scout packs, Boy and Girl Scout troops, Venture crews, and other community youth-serving organizations; they may also help other churches in the neighborhood start new units.
The scouting office defines the roles and responsibilities of these leaders, but flexibility is at the core of the program. These specialists may focus on Scout Sunday promotion, PRAY (Programs of Religious Activities with Youth) awards, adult and youth recognition or starting new troops. They fill a void that is often left at the district level.
The scouting office is also responsible for training annual conference and district scouting coordinators and linking scouting ministry specialists to the official structures of the denomination and the goal of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”
We are thankful to all these servant leaders as they continue to define a new and exciting discipleship-making “adaptive challenge” in scouting ministry.
Please contact our office for a copy of the 2013-16 Strategic Plan or other information on scouting ministry.
Larry W. Coppock
National director of Scouting Ministries and director
General Commission on United Methodist Men
LCoppock@gcumm.org