# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1954_S78
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

78

II.

Proceedings of the Forty-Third Convention,

B. Participation in the Chaplaincy System Nourishes the Spirit
of Unionism.

1. A unionistic burial practice for chaplains is advocated.

2. A unionistic administration of the Sacrament is provided
for in the “Articles of Agreement.”

Part Two — Scouting

. SCOUTING HAS OBJECTIONABLE RELIGIOUS FEA-

TURES.

A. Scouting Is Not a Purely Secular Organization.

1. Though devoted extensively to citizenship training, it has
religious features.

2. Though these religious features do not deal with the
eternal, they have to do with religion of this life.
B. There Are Religious Features in Mandatory Elements of
Scouting.
1. The oath or promise calls for doing “duty to God.”
2. The twelfth law calls for reverence and worship.
3. The slogan calls for the doing of “good turns” as a “duty
to God.”
C. These Religious Features Do Not Automatically Become
Acceptable —
1. Because Scouting says they are.

2. Because Scouting permits them to be applied by the
local sponsor.

3. Because they are products of natural knowledge of God
and His Law.
D, The Bible Tells Us That These Religious Features Are
Objectionable.
1. Scouting’s “God” is not the true God of the Bible.

2. Scouting’s “duty to God” is not the duty to God taught
in the Bible.

3. Scouting’s reverence is basically unionistic and forbidden
in the Bible.

THE SCOUT OATH OR PROMISE IS AN OATH CON-

DEMNED BY THE BIBLE.

A. The Scriptural Teaching Regarding Oaths.
1. The warning against going beyond a “yea” or a “nay.”
2. The warning against making subtle distinctions in the

wording of oaths.

B. Application of These Teachings to the Scout Oath or

Promise.

1. The Scout oath or promise contains an implied reference
to God.

2. The Scout oath or promise is forbidden.