Our History
100 Years of Scouting at Centenary
The United Methodist Church recognizes the second Sunday of each February as Scouting Sunday, an opportunity to recognize all forms of Scouting in our community for the positive impact they have on our youth, and the valuable contributions they make to our communities. Many members of our congregation have a direct and personal connection to Scouting.
On February 10, 2019, celebrated 100 years of extraordinary partnership with our own Troop 920 of the BSA Scouting Program.
Indeed, Troop 920’s roots precede our formation as Centenary United Methodist Church on Fifth Street, tracing all the way back to Centenary M.E. Church South on Liberty Street. Records show that on December 8, 1918 (notably less than 30 days after the end of the Great War) an application for a new Troop Charter was submitted to the recently-chartered national organization of the Boy Scouts of America by Rev. G.T. Rowe of Centenary M.E. Church South. Reverend Rowe would serve as the first Scoutmaster, and the Troop Committee was to be made up of noteworthy citizens such as James A. Gray and Hugh G. Chatham.
The application was approved by the Boy Scouts of America, allowing Centenary to begin what is now 100 years of sponsorship of one of our nation’s oldest continually operated Boy Scout Troops. While the Troop unit number has evolved from 2, to 20, to 920, our values and core mission remain: to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
Trustworthy Loyal Helpful Friendly Courteous Kind
Scout Law
A Scout is:
Obedient Cheerful Thrifty Brave Clean Reverent
Over this last century, hundreds of young boys from within our congregation and hundreds more from the Winston-Salem area have joined the ranks of Troop 920. Each of these Scouts has been introduced to the Scouting values and knowledge that they will need to become leaders in their communities and country. An impressive number of these Scouts have gone on to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in Scouting – and an honor only earned by four percent of all Scouts nationally.
Today, we are pleased to report our unit is thriving under the support of our congregation.
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