Learn More About the Purpose of LDS-BSA Relationships Committees
Statement from the LDS Church “Scouting Handbook,” June 2012:
2.4 – An LDS-BSA Relationships Committee should be organized in each BSA Council to help maintain and strengthen working relationships between the Church and the BSA Council. An assigned Area Seventy chairs or designates a stake president to chair this committee, which includes a member of each stake presidency within the local BSA council. If designated, the stake president provides the Area Seventy with regular reports at coordinating council meetings or at other times. The BSA Council Scout Executive or his designee serves as an adviser to this committee.
The effort to establish LDS-BSA Relationships Committees across the nation has increased the number of BSA councils working more effectively with local LDS church leadership to deliver the quality Scouting program that LDS boys, young men, adult leaders, and the surrounding communities deserve.
The LDS-BSA Relationships Committee allows local church key holders to interface with the local BSA Council officers. When stake presidencies serve on Relationships Committees, they are engaged and aware of important local, regional and national issues and can influence the decisions of the BSA Council in positive ways.
Stakes that support functioning LDS-BSA Relationships Committees have a profound impact on Scouting within the Aaronic priesthood. Since the committee agenda is focused on matters relating specifically to the church, communication is significantly improved within local wards and stakes, and the delivery of Scouting in the Church and community is enhanced. The five main goals of the LDS-BSA Relationships Committee are as follows:
1. Provide boys and young men a quality Scouting experience, blessed with priesthood guidance.
2. Strengthen working relationships between the Church and Scout councils.
3. Collaborate with the local BSA council and executive board, including key community, religious, business, and educational organizations.
4. Provide counsel on policies, procedures, budgets, calendars and training. Resolve issues and concerns.
5. Encourage participation in and support of the BSA council to ensure “Real Growth.”
The LDS-BSA Relationships office in Salt Lake City is available to work with each BSA council and Relationships Committee to create a tradition of better correlation between the LDS Church and the BSA.
Resources
This sounds like a great way to keep the lines of communication open. I was glad to see the article about Philmont in a recent church magazine too. General Conference talks in October also included positive references to Scouting. Go BSA : -)