Amazing Councils using the Updated Affiliation Agreement that we cannot wait to grow!
Mountaineer Area Council, Greater Alaska Area Council, Bay-Lakes Council, Voyageurs Area Council, Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council, Heart of New England Council, Tidewater Council, and more…
Click here for more resources as they become available: http://www.methodistscouter.org/a-new-agreement/
Men’s & Scouting Ministries: General Commission on United Methodist Men
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 15, 2022
- The bankruptcy court has approved the restructuring plan.
- The plan will be appealed. It will take to work its way through the district court.
- The Judge laid a path for the plan in the district court.
- The United Methodist Settlement is a key to supporting Scouting.
- United Methodists have a solid way to move forward in ministry safely.
Court Update
On September 8th, Judge Silverstein gave her approval to the Boy Scouts of America restructuring plan. There are appeals expected to be dealt with by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Judge Silverstein wrote a 281-page opinion with 250 footnotes preparing the way for the district court. This does mean the restructuring plan has a solid opportunity to move forward. If it does, it will include the United Methodist Entities Settlement.
The United Methodist Settlement
The judge’s opinion offered, “No one objects to the contribution of the United Methodist entities.” The commitment is to help heal and support the ministry. “Not only do the contributions further fund the Settlement Trust…their commitment to continue to work with Scouting helps to ensure both the future of Scouting and the contribution of the Settlement Growth Payment to the Settlement Trust.”
Relationship
Through the General Commission on United Methodist Men, the commitment was made to support Scouting and growth in Scouting through 2036. GCUMM supports safe Scouting for youth, adults, and our churches.
A solid Way Forward in Ministry
To support youth having additional positive contact with the church and growth opportunities, GCUMM is actively seeking to support the negotiated agreements with BSA. Each provides a clarified indemnity and defined insurance. The roles and responsibilities do shift. The role of the church to share faith and support youth growth does not change.
Boy Scouts of America Councils need to restructure and work through the relationship. Time is needed to make the changes. Dec. 31, 2022, is the deadline for completing changes to the relationship documents. Until the changes are completed, an interim agreement through the GCUMM extends all insurance and indemnification identified in the new agreements.
Steven Scheid, Director of the Center for Scouting Ministries, shared, “Scouting builds the wells of skills and leadership. The church helps fill the well with living water. That is why we Scout.”
Thank you for serving in United Methodist Scouting!
Contact:
gcumm@gcumm.org
Ph: (615) 620-7266
Then Join us in the Fall for The United Methodist Service Conference
From September 25 to October 1st, United Methodist Scouters are invited to attend a special opportunity. What could be better than fellowship, answers for a United Methodist Scouting future, and the opportunity to serve?
THE CHAPEL PARABLE
There was a beautiful chapel built on the edge of the Sangre de Christo Mountains. The wooden cross rises to the West. A sunset service opens the time for youth to leave the civilized world behind: a simple reminder of creation breathed in existence by a creator. In the stillness, the rocks call out. The buffalo and deer pass by with casual grace. The great creator paints the sky.
As the season ends, the winter falls upon the pews. Now, empty of the youth they once held. The wood begins to crack. Splinters rise. Soon the chapel is no longer inviting. At the edge of the mountains, the cross still rises to the West. God still casts the paint and shadows in stunning hues each evening. Youth will come again.
Along came a congregation with love for the next generation and worship. They saw some of the old wood was good; much was to be replaced. A revival of song broke out as the work went on. A cry was heard from the hills. “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth; Do you not see it?”
THE INVITATION
Please come. Join the fellowship. We will learn together, work together, and begin a new thing for the Lord. This United Methodist Service Conference is a great opportunity for us to revive the chapel, revive the ministry, and hear the Lord in a new thing.
Please plan to join us!
Thank you for living into the call of ministry.
“The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.” – Psalm 103:6 NIV
Connecting with Your Scouting Family
“During my first conference, I met Scouters from around the country throughout the week. We became a Scouting family that still reach out to each other today for sharing resources on projects six years later.”
Amanda, 31, Missouri Annual Conference, Venturing & Scouts BSA
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