After Pathfinder registration and the first few club meetings, it is time for the Induction ceremony. The induction ceremony marks the formal welcoming of new members into the local Pathfinder Club and the larger Pathfinder family. Although we may wonder at ceremonies these days, there is a value in having a clear moment, and event, to mark the new beginning, to commit and re-commit to the ideals and mission of the Pathfinder Club.
Although there is not a required format for the Induction Ceremony, the suggested format from the old Pathfinder Staff manual [http://www.pathfindersonline.org/pdf/staff_manual/staff_manual_induction-pfsabbath.pdf] provides a template to base your program on.
Many churches have concerns with using candles [a discussion of this can be found at http://www.pathfindersonline.org/21-resources/club/579-candles-and-insurance-issue], so check with your church board. Done properly, the candle lighting ceremony is impressive - it adds a solemn tone, and as the number of lit candles increases, so does the amount of light shining from the front - which is exactly the analogy made during the ceremony.
There are several alternatives to using candles. I have seen LED candles and lights, colored ribbons to represent the classes, and variations for outdoor evening ceremonies (tiki torches for the classes, fatwood added by each Pathfinder to a small fire making it much brighter).
The important aspect is to remember that this is a time to welcome new members, for existing members to recommit to live by the Pathfinder Pledge and Law, and for the Church and Community to see the Pathfinders and express support. Induction is not only about joining the local club, it is about joining the 2 million Pathfinders around the world, about committing to a life as Servants of God and Friends to Mankind.
Although there is not a required format for the Induction Ceremony, the suggested format from the old Pathfinder Staff manual [http://www.pathfindersonline.org/pdf/staff_manual/staff_manual_induction-pfsabbath.pdf] provides a template to base your program on.
Many churches have concerns with using candles [a discussion of this can be found at http://www.pathfindersonline.org/21-resources/club/579-candles-and-insurance-issue], so check with your church board. Done properly, the candle lighting ceremony is impressive - it adds a solemn tone, and as the number of lit candles increases, so does the amount of light shining from the front - which is exactly the analogy made during the ceremony.
There are several alternatives to using candles. I have seen LED candles and lights, colored ribbons to represent the classes, and variations for outdoor evening ceremonies (tiki torches for the classes, fatwood added by each Pathfinder to a small fire making it much brighter).
The important aspect is to remember that this is a time to welcome new members, for existing members to recommit to live by the Pathfinder Pledge and Law, and for the Church and Community to see the Pathfinders and express support. Induction is not only about joining the local club, it is about joining the 2 million Pathfinders around the world, about committing to a life as Servants of God and Friends to Mankind.
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