Bishop William McAlilly tells Isaac Shaw, a member of BSA Troop 1 and a new member of Brentwood UMC, that he offered an excellent invocation. Photo by Martez D. Moore, BSA director of field service.
    

BRENTWOOD, Tenn.––Fifty people from 18 United Methodist Churches in the Tennessee Annual Conference gathered for an April 29 Bishop’s Dinner for Scouting at Brentwood UMC.

Representatives agreed to continue supporting their scouting ministries, and will encourage young people to participate in four United Methodist God and Country studies sponsored by St. Louis-based Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (PRAY).

Four churches said they will begin new units.

These dinners help church leaders understand how scouting can become an integral part of their outreach ministries. The dinners also introduce participants to several youth-serving ministries including  Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A; Camp Fire USA, Big Brothers Big Sisters and 4-H.

More than 1.5 million participants and family members are estimated to be affected by scouting ministries in The United Methodist Church.