news article

Boy Scouts of America charter agreement follow up

October 12, 2021 / By Pam Klotzbach (Chair of UNY Board of Trustees) and Peter Abdella (UNY Chancellor)

As a follow-up to the letter you received last week, Pam Klotzbach (Chair of UNY Board of Trustees) and Peter Abdella (UNY Chancellor) want you to know that the denomination's UMC Ad Hoc Committee, which is working to negotiate a release for UMC congregations and Conferences from future lawsuits pertaining to any Boy Scouts of America (BSA)-related abuse injuries, has informed them that the BSA's reorganization plan will be released this month.

As interested parties to this plan, UM congregations who are or have been a chartered organization and those who filed a proof of claim in November 2020 will likely receive a ballot to approve the adoption of the plan. These same UM congregations may receive an opt-out form relating to various options for chartered organizations in the bankruptcy.

If your congregation receives such a ballot and/or op- out form, you are asked to hold onto it until further instructions are received. Once the Conference has received information and recommendations from the UMC Ad Hoc Committee, Pam and Peter will provide you with guidance on how to proceed. They anticipate offering Zoom webinar sessions to equip congregations to complete their ballots and/or other forms.

Click here to read Pam and Peter’s official letter on UNY letterhead.