The UM presence at the 2017 BSA National Jamboree

“He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

––Mark 9:36-37 (NIV)

The BSA National Jamboree will be held July 19-28 at The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, West Virginia. More than 35,000 Scouts and leaders will be welcomed. This will be the second time the jamboree has been held at The Summit, the permanent site for the national jamboree.

During the past 18 months, we recruited 14 pastors for jamboree service: 12 will serve as chaplains in 20 sub-camps and two at BSA headquarters. A special thanks is extended to the Rev. Jason Fry, Corpus Christi, Texas, for coordinating chaplain placement, conducting chaplain pre-jamboree training in Nashville, and contributing to the planning of the UM Communion service. Jason is a veteran of several jamborees and we appreciate his servant leadership.

An additional 30 volunteers will serve as staff at the “Duty to God and Country” UMC Scouting Ministry exhibit. The exhibit will include information about becoming a scouting ministry specialist, recognitions and awards, our mission initiative, the Society of Saint Andrew, and Strength for Service.

Jamboree officials have given us permission to present Scouts with the BSA edition of Strength for Service to God and Country. This book will be distributed at the UMC exhibit, in sub-camps by chaplains and at the July 23 Communion service conducted by West Virginia Area Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball.

Join us in celebrating the ministry presence of The United Methodist Church at the BSA National Jamboree!

Larry W. Coppock, national director of scouting ministries
General Commission on UM Men
 lcoppock@gcumm.org