The Rev. Greg Godwin, coordinator of the Bishop's Scouting Dinner, opens the West Virginia meeting with Star Scout Jackson Bell and Daisy Scout Lakyn Harshbarger.

GLEN JEAN, W.Va. --Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball hosted an April dinner for scouting at the Summit Bechtel Reserve.

Prior to the dinner, some 80 participants,, including representatives from 15 churches spent a cold and rainy April afternoon touring the permanent site of Boy Scout National Jamborees.

At the dinner, West Virginia Area Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball lamented the fact that some churches know little about Scouts that meet in their buildings. She said it is sad that local congregations do not understand the opportunities for outreach to people in their communities through scouting.

The event was funded by the UM Foundation of West Virginia.

The Rev. Greg Godwin, a scouting ministry specialist and coordinator of the dinner, reports eight churches agreed to explore the establishment of Boy Scout units and four signed covenants to explore Girl Scout units.

“We also have opportunities to establish units with three residential units of the Burlington UM Family Services,” said Godwin. “There are also opportunities to begin Scout units in McDowell County, one of the poorest places in the U.S., and a church is exploring the possibility of providing Venturing to the homeless in Charleston,”