A Scout is reverent toward God, faithful in his or her own religious beliefs, and respectful of the beliefs of others. An interfaith worship service puts both halves of that promise into practice at the same time. On a campout or at summer camp, it's a short, simple service that Scouts of every faith, and Scouts still figuring out what they believe, can share without anyone being asked to pretend.
Planning one is usually the job of the Chaplain Aide, with help from the troop chaplain or an adult advisor. If you're the Scout who just got handed that job, this page walks you through it. The prayers and readings are already on this site in the Inspirational section. This page is about putting them together.
Pro Tip - Communication Merit Badge: Requirement 8 lets you plan a court of honor, a campfire program, or an interfaith worship service: have the patrol leaders' council approve it, write the script, prepare the program, and serve as master of ceremonies. Leading one prayer isn't enough; the requirement asks you to do all of it. Check with your merit badge counselor before the service. See Hone Your Skills for more.
Baden-Powell called it a Scout's Own: a short, simple time of reverence that Scouts hold for themselves, wherever they happen to be. An interfaith service is built for everyone in the circle. Some Scouts will be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Latter-day Saint, Baha'i, or something else, and some won't be sure yet. The service doesn't blend their faiths together or replace anyone's own worship. It gives everyone a few quiet minutes to give thanks, reflect, and remember the promise of the Scout Oath, each in their own way.
A good interfaith service leaves every Scout feeling that they belonged there. That's the test to keep in mind while you plan.
In most troops, the Chaplain's Aide plans and leads worship, working with the troop chaplain or an adult advisor. Chaplain's Aide is a youth leadership position, so treat the service like any other program you lead: plan it, get it approved by the patrol leaders' council, and run it yourself.
You don't have to do every part alone. The best services have several Scouts reading, ideally from different patrols and different faiths. Your job is to plan it, recruit readers, and keep it moving.
If your troop doesn't have a Chaplain's Aide, the senior patrol leader can assign the job to any Scout who's willing. It makes a great first leadership role for a quieter Scout.
This order works for most services. Skip or swap parts to fit your time and your troop. Every link goes to readings already on this site.
| Spot | Part | Leader | Length (min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silent walk to the site; gathering song: For the Beauty of the Earth | Song leader | 3 |
| 2 | Welcome and Call To Worship 01 (responsive) | Chaplain's Aide | 1 |
| 3 | Opening prayer: Invocation 01 | Reader 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Reading: Psalms 100 | Reader 2 | 1 |
| 5 | Reading: Hindu Prayer For The Unity Of All Life | Reader 3 | 1 |
| 6 | Reflection: Different Paths, Same Mountain | Scout or adult leader | 3 |
| 7 | Moment of silence | Chaplain's Aide | 1 |
| 8 | Closing song: This Is My Father's World | Song leader | 3 |
| 9 | Benediction: Scoutmaster's Benediction | Chaplain's Aide | 1 |
Many faith communities set aside a weekend each year, often in February around Scouting's anniversary in the US, to honor Scouts at their own services. Those are different from a campout service: they follow that community's own worship, and Scouts attend as guests in uniform. See the Scoutmaster Minute Scout Sunday, Scout Sabbath, Scout Jumuah for more.