Photo: Larry Coppock, director of scouting ministries stands behind West Virginia Conference leaders signing a letter of agreement to create a fund for scouting ministries within the state. Men signing the agreement (left to right) are: Ralph Herron, scouting coordinator for the conference; the Rev. Greg Godwin, vice-chair of UMC Scouting Ministries Committee, and Fred Jackson, president of UM Men in the conference.


CHARLESTON, W.Va. –– The UM Foundation of West Virginia has established an endowment fund to support scouting ministries at the Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, a 10,600-acre site near Beckley, W.Va.

The foundation established the fund with a $1,000 initial gift. Contributions to the fund will be invested by foundation trustees and 4 percent of the total will help purchase New Testaments for Scouts participating in high-adventure camps at the Summit and help fund training opportunities for clergy and laity involved in scouting ministries.

 Three persons from Scouting Ministries of the West Virginia Annual Conference will be authorized to withdraw available funds from the trust.

"Some 370,000 Scouts presently participate in troops sponsored by United Methodist congregations (the second highest number of Scouts and scouting units of all faith groups)," said the Rev. Greg Godwin, lead United Methodist chaplain for the 2013 jamboree and vice-chairman of the Scouting Ministry Committee. "The establishment of this fund will enable scouting ministry to grow in West Virginia and provide spiritual and practical resources for Scouts and leaders who participate in scouting activities within the state."

The Bechtel Reserve is the fourth high-adventure site for the Boy Scouts of America. Other sites are the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, the Northern Tier in Minnesota, and the Florida Sea Base. The Summit will host the 10-day National Scout Jamboree in 2013 and every four years thereafter. The 2010 jamboree was held for the last time at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia with over 43,000 Scouts in attendance. Some 5,500 Scouts attended a UM worship service at the U.S. Army site.

Fourteen United Methodists attended an Oct. 2 scouting ministry training session at Braxton County Memorial Hospital in Gassaway, W.Va. Eleven of the participants signed up to become scouting ministry specialists.

"Last year we gave 6,200 New Testaments to Scouts at the national jamboree and two other high-adventure sites. Proceeds for this fund will enable us to continue the practice and provide financial support for additional training opportunities in the state," said Larry Coppock, top scouting ministry executive for the General Commission on United Methodist Men.