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    United Methodists of Upper New YorkLiving the Gospel. Being God's Love.


    news article

    Boy Scouts of America charter agreement recommendations

    October 7, 2021 / By Pam Klotzbach (Chair of UNY Board of Trustees) and Peter Abdella (UNY Chancellor)

    Since early this year, the UMC Ad Hoc Committee, comprised of eight Conference chancellors, four general agency staff, and two Bishops, has been working on behalf of all Annual Conferences to negotiate a release for congregations from future lawsuits pertaining to any Boy Scout-related abuse injury from 1940 through 2020. These negotiations are ongoing and involve mediation with other groups involved in the BSA bankruptcy.

    The Boy Scouts of America and United Methodist leadership continue to work together to resolve matters related to BSA's financial restructuring and have agreed, in the best interest of the young people who participate in Scouting, to strongly recommend to United Methodist chartering organizations and Boy Scout Councils to extend existing charter agreements and facility use agreements in force at this time through March 31, 2022.

    For UNY congregations, this means whatever arrangement currently in place between the congregation and local scout troop, including charter agreements or facilities use agreements, is acceptable and can continue until March 31, 2022. Any work on initiating a new charter or renewing an old charter should be put off until after that date. It is hoped this extension will provide all parties sufficient time to resolve all the issues before us.

    Click here to read the full letter.

     


    With more than 100,000 members, United Methodists of Upper New York comprises of more than 675 local churches and New Faith Communities in 12 districts, covering 48,000 square miles in 49 of the 62 counties in New York state. Our vision is to “live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places."