DRAFT: August 2, 2011

Archdiocese of St. Paul – Minneapolis

Catholic Committee on Scouting

Guidelines and Procedures for the Nomination and Review Adult Religious Emblems

  1. Committee
  2. An Adult Religious Emblems Sub-Committee is established by the Archdiocese of St. Paul Minneapolis Catholic Committee on Scouting (ACCS) to oversee the process of promoting, nominating, selecting and notifying individuals for recognition with Catholic adult religious emblems.
  3. The purpose of the Adult Religious Emblems sub-committee is to recognize adults working with Scouting as a Catholic youth ministry or to those who have made significant contributions to Catholic Scouting.
  4. The ACCS Chair, in consultation with the ACCS Chaplain, appoints the Chair of this Sub-committee and assists in recruiting members of the committee.
  5. The ACCS chair and the sub-committee chair identify members to serve on a selection committee consisting of an odd number of members, three or more in number, and at least one ordained person. Unless otherwise necessary the selection committee should consist of St. George Emblem recipients.
  6. The names and the actions of the selection committee members are confidential to keep the process from outside influence.
  1. Religious Emblem Programs
  2. The ACCS uses two adult religious emblem recognition programs – the Bronze Pelican and the St. George.
  3. Adult Religious Emblems may be awarded to any man or woman, including priests, deacons, seminarians, religious, and non-Catholics serving Catholic Scouting in the Archdiocese of St. Paul Minneapolis.
  4. The Bronze Pelican emblem is a diocesan recognition and no number has been set to limit the number that may be awarded each year.
  5. The ACCS follows the National Catholic Committee on Scouting’s guidelines for the St. George Emblem stated on the nomination form.
  6. Based on current NCCS guidelines, if the Archdiocese has 140 units the ACCS may award 8 emblems; if the number of units is 141 the ACCS may award 9 emblems.
  1. Considerations
  2. A candidate for recognition will be considered only for the Emblem for which he/she is nominated.
  3. If the selection committee or its chair determines the nominee is more qualified for a different emblem it must obtain the consent of the nominator before the nominee can be considered for that emblem.
  4. Criteria listed on the Nomination form under Catholic Scouting Involvement regarding participation in the various Religious Emblem programs and/or the ACCS exist to facilitate completing a nomination and shall not be considered a barrier to the nominee’s qualifications.
  5. The Selection Committee must review all nominations at least 30 days prior to the Annual ACCS Religious Emblems presentation.
  6. The committee will review all nominations in a manner determined by the Adult Religious Emblem Chair and Chaplain.
  7. Selection of recipients shall be based primarily on the established criteria for the specific emblem as stated on the application form.
  8. A nominee will be considered for only one Adult Religious Emblem each year.
  9. Nominations for priests, seminarians, religious or non-Catholics need to be approved by a proper church official.
  10. All Nominations must have the signature of the Nominee’s pastor or other ordained Catholic. A nomination will be considered to be properly signed if it is transmitted from the signatory’s personal email address.
  11. Nominations submitted electronically without proper signatures will be accepted if arrangements have been made to provide documentation of approval prior to the selection process.
  12. The selection committee will submit its recommendations for all adult emblem selections to the ACCS Chair for its review and approval.
  13. The Selection Committee will present the ACCS Chair with a verbal explanation for any nomination that it determined is not worthy of the Religious Emblem selection.
  1. Notification of Selection Committee decisions

a.  Following the selection of those approved individuals, the ACCS Chair will send a written notification to both the nominee and the nominator. Verbal notification is permissible but not required.

  1. The nominees who were approved to receive an Adult Religious Emblem will be notified in writing approximately one week after the nominators have been informed of the selection committee’s decision.
  2. This notification will include details on the Annual Religious Emblems presentation on ACCS stationary, signed by the ACCS Chair. The notification should include:
  3. Location and time of presentation ceremony
  4. When recipients need to arrive prior to ceremony and detail on how to check in.
  5. A returnable form, and/or email address, to inform the committee how s/he would like their name printed in the program.
  1. Document Retention
  2. Copies of all approved nominations and forms will be retained by the ACCS and will be on file indefinitely. The Bronze Pelican application will reflect this practice on its nomination form
  3. A list of those nominees that were not approved shall be maintained until the nominee is approved or for a period of five years, whichever is later.
  4. The ACCS shall maintain a database of Adult Award recipients that include, but is not limited to, Recipient’s Name, Adult Religious Emblem Awarded, parish and Date of the scheduled presentation.
  1. All adult religious emblems will be awarded at the annual ACCS sponsored Religious Emblems presentation. Recipients not present will be presented their emblem in a manner determined by the ACCS.