[RR] parent involvement

[cdr . jen]

From some of the back-channel posts I have received it is apparent that several churches have a transportation service which brings Rangers to and from urban areas to their church for Rangers.   The concerns are (and rightly so), that some kids come from an abusive and/or neglected homes and that parents or guardians of these Rangers probably should be not  be involved in the program or worse wouldn't even pass a criminal background check. That being the case, it may be possible to recruit other members of your church to "sponsor" a Ranger. Ironically the church will provide leaders with buses and other material resources, but not the personnel.   My main concern is the eventual burn out of the Ranger leaders. Speaking from personal experience, I have been a Buckaroo leader for over 8 years, and my son is 15 years old and has earned his GMA. I have yet to get parents of Buckaroos to step in -- mainly because they NEVER had to in the past, WHY the sudden policy change?   My argument is that I do not plan to be a Buckaroo leader "forever" and I have "held on" because I thought that if I left, the program would fall apart -- but if I am no longer effective in my ministry and am called to move on, then I will place it in God's hand and move on -- even if the unit does fall apart.   Cdr Jen