The A.M.E. Zion Church and the Boy Scouts of America

The history of the Boy Scouts of America cannot be told truthfully without Africa—and it cannot be told fully without The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Through the life and ministry of Reverend Colonel Harold O. Robinson, The A.M.E. Zion Church helped build a bridge between Scouting, Black churches, and communities on two continents, using the Scout movement as a tool for Christian formation, leadership development, and social uplift.

This article traces that story: from the origins of Scouting in South Africa, to the growth of Scout ministries in A.M.E. Zion congregations, to the visionary work of Rev. Robinson and his call for every Annual Conference to embrace Scouting as a vital ministry to children and youth.

Rooted in Africa: The Global Origins of Scouting
Many Americans know that the Boy Scouts were founded by British General Lord Robert Baden-Powell, and that the movement quickly spread from England to the United States. Far fewer realize that the ideas, images, and even some of the customs that shaped early Scouting were born in Africa. At the turn of the 20th century, Baden-Powell served in the British Army during the Boer War in South Africa. His defense of the town of Mafeking made him a national hero in England, but it also gave him prolonged contact with African peoples and cultures. During this time, he observed the courage, discipline, and woodcraft skills of African scouts and warriors—especially among the Zulu and other ethnic groups.

Several now-familiar elements of Scouting have roots in those encounters:
• The left-handed handshake is traditionally attributed to Baden-Powell’s interactions with African warriors, who set aside their shield (held in the left hand) to offer a sign of trust and friendship.
• Woodcraft and the use of “signs” and natural observation were not only military techniques, but deeply embedded skills in African societies, where tracking, reading the land, and living in harmony with nature were essential for survival.
• Songs, chants, and ceremonial practices in early Scouting borrowed from African rhythms and symbols, even when later retold through a European lens.

When Baden-Powell returned to England, he incorporated what he had learned in South Africa into his book Scouting for Boys, published in 1908. The Boy Scouts quickly became an international movement. Within a few years, Scouting had arrived in the United States, and the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was formally chartered in 1910. Girl Guides and later Girl Scouts would follow a similar path, bringing young women into the movement for character, citizenship, and service. From the beginning, then, Scouting’s DNA bore the imprint of Africa—even if that African contribution was often unacknowledged in official histories.

The A.M.E. Zion Church Embraces Scouting
As the Boy Scouts of America grew in the early and mid-20th century, Black communities and churches sought ways to claim Scouting as their own. For African American youth, Scouting offered more than camping and badges: it provided structure, positive male role models, and opportunities for leadership in a nation that often denied them those very things.

The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church—long known as “The Freedom Church” for its role in abolition, civil rights, and social justice—recognized the potential of Scouting as a ministry. Local congregations began to charter Scout troops, often under the leadership of dedicated pastors and laypersons who saw Scouting as an extension of Christian education.

By the late 20th century, the A.M.E. Zion Church had developed a more formal relationship with the Boy Scouts of America. The denomination’s Christian Education Department became a natural home for Scout ministry: Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, youth groups, and Scouting all served the same larger purpose of forming disciples, building character, and preparing young people for service to God and neighbor. Within this context, the work of Rev. Harold O. Robinson emerged as a powerful example of how one leader could shape the relationship between a denomination and the Scout movement. Within the denomination’s Christian Education work, he was appointed National Boy Scout Director and Chief Chaplain for the A.M.E. Zion Church (1992–2000). Prior to that appointment, he served as administrative assistant to Mr. James E. Boger, Chairman of Scout Ministry (1988–1994), and as Coordinator for the New Jersey Conference on Christian Education (1976–1979).

Some of the highlights of his Scouting ministry include:
• Serving as Scoutmaster at Father Sullivan’s Youth Center (Troop #78) in Trenton, New Jersey.
• Organizing the first Black African Boy Scout troop in post-apartheid Seshego, South Africa, and receiving a letter of commendation from Bishop Stanley Mogoba (Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of South Africa and President of the Boy Scouts of South Africa).
• Receiving the Lord Baden-Powell Award.
• Serving as Headquarters Chaplain for the 1997 National Scout Jamboree (Ft. A.P. Hill, Virginia).
• Serving as Chaplain at Philmont Scout Ranch (New Mexico) during the summer of 1997.
• Serving on the BSA National Council’s Religious Relationships Sub-Committee (Irving, Texas).
• Presenting the “Urban Emphasis” program to The A.M.E. Zion Church.
Beyond the church and Scouting, Col. Robinson served in workforce development and higher education, including leadership roles at the Kilmer Job Corps Center (Edison, New Jersey), the New Jersey Job Corps Center (Edison), and as Dean of Men at Clinton Junior College (Rock Hill, South Carolina). He also received civic/military honors and appointments, including recognition as Colonel, Aide-de-Camp on gubernatorial staffs (Georgia and Tennessee) and membership in the Order of Kentucky Colonels.

His own Scouting story began in Troop #32 at Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton (1953–1955), led by Scoutmaster Mr. Bob Bingham, founder of the nationally known “Fabulous Cavaliers” precision drill team. Rev. Robinson remembered his first camp in 1955—the year the Delaware River overflowed its banks and camps in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, were flooded—an experience that marked the seriousness of preparedness and service that Scouting seeks to build. Rev. Robinson retired from Scouting in 2000 after 47 years of involvement. He is the father of two adult children and two granddaughters, and he is married to Alice Steele-Robinson of Concord, North Carolina.

Troop 373 at Sandy Ridge A.M.E. Zion Church (Landis, NC)
Alongside Rev. Robinson’s national and international witness, local A.M.E. Zion congregations nurtured Scout ministry for decades. One example is Troop 373, chartered at Sandy Ridge A.M.E. Zion Church in Landis, North Carolina (NC Central Council, Rowan District). According to troop notes, Troop 373 was first chartered in 1958 and last chartered in 2013. Leadership included Mr. Frank Long (committee chairman), Mr. Kenneth Norton, Mr. James Wilkie, and Mr. Franklin Caldwell.

The troop maintained a long tradition of outdoor formation: scouts attended summer camp at Camp John J. Barnhardt for 30 consecutive years and participated in the (World) Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill three times. Notes also record that James Wilkie and Kenneth Norton hiked with two boys in Cimarron, New Mexico—reflecting the high-adventure spirit associated with Philmont and the wider Scouting tradition.

Scouting as Ministry: Documents, Programs, and Events
The materials collected around Rev. Robinson’s work reveal a carefully thought-out strategy for embedding Scouting into the life of The A.M.E. Zion Church. These were not random or isolated efforts; they formed a coordinated ministry approach.

Directories and Structure
Directories of A.M.E. Zion Scout units document which congregations were chartered with Boy Scout troops, how those units were organized at the conference and district levels, and which pastors and lay leaders were serving as Scoutmasters, chaplains, or coordinators.

These lists made it possible to:
• Identify strong units that could serve as models.
• Recognize pastors and congregations that were especially supportive of Scouting.
• Provide targeted training and resources where the Scout ministry was emerging or needed strengthening.

Correspondence and Partnerships
Letters between Rev. Robinson and BSA officials show a constant push to:
• Obtain literature and training materials tailored to urban and African American contexts.
• Ensure that A.M.E. Zion churches had access to leadership development courses, especially for pastors and lay leaders who might be new to Scouting.
• Advocate for the church’s needs in national forums, particularly in the Religious Relationships Committee, where denominations discussed how to better support faith-based Scout programs.

Christian Education Conventions and Special Events Program plans from national Christian Education Conventions show how Scouts were woven into major church gatherings:
• Scouts served as marshals, ushers, and honor guards at worship services and plenary sessions.
• Special workshops highlighted Scouting as a tool for youth outreach and evangelism.
• Ceremonies honored pastors, congregations, and troops that had distinguished themselves in Scout work, including recognitions like the Bishop’s Award of Excellence.

Outcomes and Wider Impact
The impact of this Boy Scout ministry can be seen on several levels. Within The A.M.E. Zion Church, Scouting helped:
• Develop leadership among boys and young men who might later serve as church officers, clergy, or community leaders.
• Provide structured mentoring and positive peer groups in neighborhoods where youth were often vulnerable to negative influences.
• Connect spiritual formation with practical skills: camping, first aid, community service, and civic engagement.

In the Wider Community
Rev. Robinson’s work extended beyond denominational boundaries. His involvement in Job Corps, higher education, and civic organizations mirrored the leadership skills cultivated in Scouting. As an educator and administrator, he understood that the same traits valued in Scouts—trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, and reverence—were critical for success in the classroom, the workplace, and public life. His organization of the first Black African troop in Seshego symbolized the global reach of this vision: African American Christian leadership helping build youth programs in a newly democratic South Africa, rooted in both local culture and a shared Scouting heritage.

Looking Ahead: A Call to Action
The closing recommendations emerging from Rev. Robinson’s work are as relevant now as when they were first written. They call The A.M.E. Zion Church—and indeed any congregation serious about holistic youth ministry—to consider several commitments:
• Establish a functional Boy Scout unit in every Annual Conference. This does not mean every local church will charter a troop, but it does mean that every conference should have a visible, active Scout presence supported by trained leaders and chaplains.
• Use A.M.E. Zion camps for Scout ministry. Denominational camps and retreat centers offer natural settings for campouts, leadership weekends, and spiritual retreats that integrate Scout programming with Christian worship and teaching.
• Include Scouts in major denominational events. Just as Scouts have served as marshals, honor guards, and participants in Christian Education Conventions, so too should they be present at anniversaries, convocation services, and general conferences. Visibility breeds awareness, support, and new volunteers.
• Invest in leadership training. Pastors, youth leaders, and laypersons need ongoing training in both Scouting and Christian education. This dual investment ensures that Scout units are not just technically compliant, but spiritually grounded.

Conclusion: Completing the Circle
The story of the Boy Scouts of America is, in many ways, a story of journeys: from England to the United States, from South Africa to North America and back again. Through the ministry of Rev. Harold O. Robinson and the commitment of The A.M.E. Zion Church, that story becomes richer, more honest, and more complete.

By recognizing the African roots of Scouting, honoring the Black experience in the movement, and embracing Scouting as a tool for Christian discipleship, the A.M.E. Zion Church shows what it means to “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God” in ministry to young people. The challenge before us now is simple but profound: to pick up that legacy, to support the Scouts.