Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1954, Page 81

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Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America, 1954 81

4. The Scout oath is not considered to be an oath in the reli-
gious sense of the term. ‘The Constitution of the Boy Scouts
of America therefore expressly calls it “the Scout Oath, or
Promise.” (Art. III, Sect. 1.)

5. The opportunity exists on the local level to prevent the
abuses of the “good turn” philosophy by proper religious
instruction under the auspices of the congregation.

As a result of these changes in the Boy Scouts of America the
charges raised in the pamphlet by Dr. Graebner are no longer
valid. It is these changes which have convinced Synod that the
Boy Scouts is and wishes to be what it claims to be in its consti-
tution — a corporation “to promote, through organization and co-
operation with other agencies, the ability of boys to do things for
themselves and others, to train them in scoutcraft, and to teach
them patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues.” No
one will deny that such a secular organization and its program can
be abused; however, the possibility of going wrong is not sufficient
to condemn it as sinful per se. Local conditions are decisive.

At this point it is imperative to point out what the relationship
is between the Boy Scouts of America and a local organization or
church, Basic to our consideration is the fact that the Boy Scouts
of America does not operate a single Scout unit. Every Cub pack,
Scout troop, and Explorer unit is chartered to an institution which
operates the unit. Scouting is a program for boys which is available
to institutions, principally to churches, to use as a part of their
own youth program. The National Council and the local councils
of the Boy Scouts of America are only service stations to develop
the program, maintain standards, provide program helps, train
leadership, develop camping facilities, and provide a medium
through which all the institutions that give Scouting to boys can
work together in the service of boyhood.

The local church has wide latitude for working within the lim-
its of the Scout charter. Choice of leadership for Scouting rests
entirely with the church. Regular reports on progress of the units
are made through proper channels to the governing body and to
the minister. In other words, Scouting, like any other activity of
the church, can be subjected to the administrative control and
harmonized with the ongoing program of the local church. The
Boy Scouts of America encourages the local church to assume this
degree of responsibility for its Scout units and is anxious to have
Scouting become an integral part of the church’s program of reli-
gious education and youth work.

To make the Boy Scout program in the individual congregation
most effective, a system of awards has been established by which
it is possible for churches and the Boy Scouts of America to recog-
nize individuals who serve their church in a special way. The par-
ticular award devised for the Lutheran Church is called Pro Deo
et Patria. This award is geared particularly to the needs of the
congregation. Very difficult assignments must be effectively carried
out before an individual is entitled to this religious award. As of
February 6 this year, just as a matter of statistics, 3,903 applica-
tions were made from the United Lutheran Church for such awards,
but only 820 were actually bestowed. In the Wisconsin Synod
six applications were made, and one was granted, to a pastor’s son
of the church near the Thiensville Seminary. 1,504 applications