The Council of Protestants in Guiding and Scouting

Last weekend CPGS had its General Assembly in Paris, France. We thank our member Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs Unionistes de France for hosting us and introducing us to French Protestantism. The assembly heard the reports by the chairperson and the treasurer and discussed future activities, for example a seminary for exchanging our spiritual and religious programmes. We’d like to inform you that we’ve received new corporate members from Cameroun (Les Scouts du Cameroun), Cote d’Ivoire (Éclaireuses et Éclaireurs Unionistes de Côte d’Ivoire as regular member, Éclaireuses et Éclaireurs de Côte d’Ivoire as associate member, Fédération Ivoirienne du Scoutisme as Observer), and Hungary (ICHTHÜSZ – Protestant Unity of the Hungarian Scout Association). »

Last weekend the members of the Interreligious Forum of World Scouting (IFoWS) with representatives of CPGS, DESMOS, ICCS, IFJS, IUMS, WBSC, Sikh scouts and LDS scouts came together in Rome for their annual meeting. We had a very fruitful meeting and discussed among other things: How to help and assist NSOs/NSAs to instigate and strengthen the spiritual dimension and the interreligious dialogue within their Youth and Adult programme. How to introduce scouting within our communities. »

The European Scout Interreligious Forum, together with the European Scout Region, gathered more than 60 scouts from 7 different faiths and religions to a weekend of exchange and planning in Antwerp (Belgium). We introduced each other to our faiths and religions, invited each other to see how each faith and religion is praying and celebrating, and had the opportunity to ask questions and to discuss with each other. And every group did some planning for a programme at Faith & Beliefs Zones at regional and world events. »

You are hereby heartily invited to the General Assembly of CPGS in Paris, 6–8 April 2018. We like to invite delegates from our current and prospective members as well as guests from interested NSOs or NSAs, who are confessional protestant guide and scout associations or national guide or scout associations on behalf of their pastoral protestant committees or having protestant members. Please see the formal invitation with the agenda and travel information here and register by 1 March 2018. »

The European Scout Interreligious Forum, together with the European Scout Region, invites to a (long) weekend to inspire and educate more Scout and Guide leaders to become involved in interfaith activities across Europe (please refer to the attached invitation). CPGS is therefore looking for possible delegates from its members and further NSA/NSOs attached to Protestantism. Please send me (max. 2) nominations through your International Commissioner or National Bureau with Faith Registration Form. »

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We’d like to share with you the invitation to the 5th World Scout Interreligious Symposium 2017. The 5th World Scout Interreligious Symposium (WSIS) 2017 is organised by members of the Boy Scouts of America’s Religious Relationships Committee and the Interreligious Forum of World Scouting (IFoWS, an informal network of religious groups/organisations in Scouting), and is supported by the World Scout Bureau. Participation is for scouts with an interest in interreligious dialogue and with spiritual and religious aspects of Scouting, and those concerned with growing Scouting among religious communities. »

To get into better contact with the Interamerican Scout Region we joined the Interamerican Scout Conference, which took place in Houston from 26–29 October. At the conference, Göran Hagerdahl from World Scout Bureau gave a presentation on preliminary conclusions from the Duty-to-God-Survey earlier this year. Here is one slide about how the answers on religious affiliation distribute: I am also happy to have had the chance to talk to the Asociación de Guías y Scouts de Costa Rica and to the União dos Escoteiros do Brasil about what we do as CPGS. »

We’d like to share with you an invitation by the German Verband Christlicher Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder to their 2017 Reformation jubilee Jamboree “Weitblick“ (“vision”) in Wittenberg: Invitation.pdf »

CPGS joined the European Guide and Scout Conference at Oslofjord Convention Centre. We had a CPGS-lunch with the members present at the conference (and with other people interested); Annette and Adrien presented the current status of CPGS and we had a joint exchange of thoughts and plans. The new regional plan of WOSM Europe has “Diversity & Inclusion” which includes Peace Education through spiritual development and dialogue (again) as one of its strategic priorities. »