Guidelines Scouting & Civic Youth-Serving Ministry

The United Methodist Church is endowed with certain responsibilities that allow scouting and civic youth serving programs to become a ministry. This is what differentiates us from a civic or community-based club. This Guideline will help explain the Office of Civic Youth Serving Agencies/Scouting (OCYSAS), the five chosen programs, and how to lead in this ministry area.


This is one of the twenty-six Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2017-2020 that cover church leadership areas including Church Council and Small Membership Church; the administrative areas of
Finance and Trustees; and ministry areas focused on nurture, outreach, and witness including Worship, Evangelism, Stewardship, Christian Education, age-level ministries, Communications, and more.