By Steven Scheid
On the night Joseph and Mary were looking for a place for the child to be born. They asked, “Can we have room for a night?” They did not desire to go to Bethlehem, and there was a sense of urgency for the child was coming.
Like Mary and Joseph, we do not always have our first choice. But there was a place for them and the child.
At the end of 2019, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will no longer charter Scout units. Scouts and Scout leaders of this church will be asked to take an action that is not their first choice.
But there is a place for them.
The UMC supports Boy Scouts of America. We support the value of the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. We are open to receiving packs, troops, ships, and crews. We want to provide opportunities for youth and adults to grow, no matter their faith background. We answer the door with, “There is room. Please come in.”
We work with Jewish youth and adults to honor Sabbath on Saturday. We work with Islamic Scouts and Scouters who fast during Ramadan. We work with Latter-day Saint Scouts and Scouters to make sure they can act in faith at their Sunday Sacrament Service. We honor the time of our Catholic Scouts and Scouters as they attend mass.
In short, we support faith as a family decision.
We stand with open doors to Scouts and Scouters. Please reach out to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with this open invitation.
For details on a unit near you, contact the Center for Scouting Ministry. We will connect you with the local team who can help. If you need help in reaching out to the Latter-day Saints in your community, contact Mark Francis.
Steven Scheid, director of the Center for Scouting Ministries
General Commission on UM Men