I get asked that question all the time. Why is someone who loves Scouting, serves in it, and wants it to grow, making changes? Why should we not recharter? Why are some Councils not accepting the BSA National Council and United Methodist agreement? Why is often the most challenging question to answer. Change is difficult for most people if they do not understand why.

For a Future

The Updated Affiliation Agreement is a negotiated agreement designed to provide Scouting with the most stable footing for the future. After the first round, the question was asked to legal counsel, “What can we not do?” There were only two things: Provide the EIN for banking and sign approvals for adults. The Updated Affiliation Agreement reflects that answer. We are committing to do everything we can do safely. We want Scouting to succeed.

Many Scout Executives recognize the need for an agreement that provides this structure. Bankruptcy is only one of two kinds: liquidation or restructuring. Just as the BSA Youth Protection Rules have changed dramatically, partner relationships need to change so we can be true partners.

A Few Things to Consider

There are some unique factors we are dealing with that most people have not thought about but are critical when considering the charter document.

Adults Approvals

BSA does not share the Ineligible Volunteer File. BSA asks charter partners to approve and monitor adults yet will not let the charter partner know if BSA has had previous problems with an adult. The Ineligible Volunteer File goes beyond the legal background check and into reported violations of YPT that may not be illegal. BSA has the ultimate knowledge and decision on membership regardless of any charter input. So why would a BSA Council not be willing to approve adults? That remains a requirement in the traditional charter that ended up being a liability within the BSA bankruptcy. It will continue to be a liability if we return to the old charter.

Conduct The Program

Traditional Chartering requires the church to conduct the program of Scouting. In effect, the Scouting program becomes a curriculum for the youth and adults participating. Many of our churches are getting older and smaller. While I wish for the 1970s for church and Scouting membership, I am glad we are far from that same peak season of abuse. Why would a Council want to go back? People who care for kids cannot go back to the good old days when abuse was more frequent and chartering was the thing. It is near impossible for most churches to have a presence at every activity. Yet this is a minimum requirement for conducting the program. Churches can be actively involved in the ministry without taking the liability to provide direct oversight of the program. (If you believe what Councils have said, they know this oversight is not being done anyway. Why would a Council want partners to sign a contract that they believe and express is not being fulfilled? It is not Trustworthy, loyal, or brave. We are being honest in the relationship.)

Insurance

The not-for-profit insurance market is hardening. Multiple insurance groups will not allow a church to charter and still receive its church insurance. The church has many missions. BSA is a highly valued one of those missions. If the United Methodist Church puts Scouting Ministries above all others and charters, we set the other ministries at risk of not being insured. The BSA bankruptcy is taking more the $1.2 Billion out of the insurance market assets. It makes sense that this motivates changes in the market. We can use the Affiliation Agreement or Facilities Use Agreement to stay in ministry without risking it all. 

A Long Term Commitment

These are the three most compelling challenges. We are not walking away from Scouting but walking toward the next generation of Scouting. A Scouting where BSA, who approves every membership and writes the rules for all activities, will take the responsibility that comes with these two privileges. A Scouting where the church will have contracts that fit our society and our church. The church will be free to engage with whole heart and depth of conviction, without risking every ministry. Some churches have kept the contract and the promise of Scouting. For these, I am deeply grateful. Our current work is to make Scouting strong for the vast majority that wants Scouting but honestly cannot keep the old contract.

Moving Forward

Charter extensions run through Dec. 31. This allows for dealing with any hiccups that might come up before the charter grace period is over.

If your Council is unwilling to accept the Updated Affiliation Agreement for stronger Scouting, then the Scout unit will need to identify another charter partner to provide the EIN. The church can hold/insure the physical property simplifying any changes. This is an opportunity to build community. Look for a charter partner with whom the unit and the church have contact. Examples are the Lions, VFW, Kiwanis, Moose Lodges, and many others. 

A Resource Page

All the documents are for download.  

ww.MethodistScouter.org/a-new-agreement/ 

Scouting is Worth Making Stronger Partnerships

Most importantly, no youth read these agreements. They should not have to either. It is the adult part of us setting the path for them to enjoy Scouting. Change can be hard, but these few changes are worth it!

While in California, I worked with Scouters, pastors, and a District Executive. We worked through what the challenges for the ministry are from a church perspective. We took an honest look at what we can do contractually and as a ministry.

It can be hard to realize the church has been in decline for decades. It doesn’t feel good. We care about the church. But our church is greying and shrinking. It is even harder for our church to be an honest partner in the local contract that Scouting needs. Conducting the program does mean presence at every campout. The older you get the harder it is to sleep in a tent. The fewer the members the smaller the presence at anything.

We do have a few new options. These free the church to honor the commitments and engage. Many will engage deeply with the community, regardless of the documents, through Scouting. They love to share time with youth and live into that calling. That is ministry!

In all our conversations, there was one question. It nearly took me off my feet. Not for its audacity but for its earnestness. It came from a non-member who has served at a United Methodist Church for a long time. The community the church is in has changed dramatically. The congregation has not. The historic Scout Troop has changed and reflects the community. It is an incredibly visible witness of a church in a community.

He asked, “What can our Scouts do to help the church?” This Troop already donates thousands of dollar to the church, do service projects for and with the church, and support the church fundraisers through service. They are also afraid of the decline of the church. The partnership has been amazing and long. But what happens when the church dies?

I hear Scouting asking, “What can we do to help the church?” at a time when the legal and episcopal strain is extremely high. They want the United Methodist Church to thrive not just survive. Think about that for a bit.

There is an old saying, “It takes two to tango.” I got curious and searched for the origins of the expression. In 1952, a song titled “Takes Two to Tango” was released by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning. One of my favorite musicians of all time, Louis Armstrong, recorded it on a 45 rpm record. Take a moment and enjoy listening. A link is below.

There are all kinds of things we can do solo. But if we want to be in the dance together, it will take two. The dancers that make Scouting work are local churches and local councils. The BSA would never have grown into such an amazing organization without partners who embraced their steps for the last 100 years. The dance was a concerted effort of movements. Each partner moved with the other, sometimes in tandem and sometimes in opposition. Each brought richness to the movements.

The music has changed. The irony of dance partners is that they dance to the music but they don’t play the music. The music comes from others. In our case, the music comes from legislatures changing laws, courts making rulings, and lawyers engaging in legal battles. The music has not stopped. The movements have changed to a new tune.

I agree that “our ability to serve kids is paramount.” I also agree that the solo dance is not the way. We love Scouting. We want to stay in partnership. Maybe it is time to learn the Waltz or to Swing Dance together, please.

We are ready. Councils, may we have this dance?

Devoted United Methodist and Scouter, Cliff Coan attended the United Methodist Service Conference. Our average age was just over 67 years old. But even with a bit of creak in the bones, tremendous work was done to revive the chapels.

We spent time in prayer and communion. We shared thoughts about the challenges that lie ahead and behind us. Cliff shared his thoughts with me. I share these pearls with you.

In front of a conference of United Methodist Scouters, I once delivered a speech based on a Ted Talk by Tim Harford (you can watch his speech here) about how frustration can make us more creative, I only dimly guessed at the time how appropriate my presentation would be in 2022’s world of lawsuits and schisms.

Harford’s talk related how, in 1975, a 17-year-old girl persuaded famous jazz pianist Keith Jarret to schedule a concert in Cologne, Germany. Due to a miscommunication, the piano onstage that rainy night was a dilapidated rehearsal model — totally unfit for a musician of Jarret’s caliber.

He almost refused to perform, but perhaps moved by the young girl’s pleas, the jazz improvisationalist sat down at the junk piano, embraces and works with the mess, and . . . it’s magic!

Jarret’s producer had decided to record this concert as a cautionary tale. — “If you don’t give Keith the right piano, this is what you get.” They never expected that the music would be releasable as an album, let alone “The Köln Concert” album, which became the bestselling jazz piano album of all time.

Jarret didn’t just produce a decent performance because he’s a genius. He delivered what many people think of as his best performance — partly because of the challenges of a less-than-perfect situation.

Another venue that showcases working with less-than-perfect situations is “Forged in Fire” a “reality competition” I enjoy watching. It challenges master smiths who create knives, swords, axes, etc.

These competitors are experts — everyone knows they can take the best steel, the best handle material, the best forge — and produce a great knife.

One of the first scenes in every episode is where the judges introduce the competitors, then unveil the type of blade they will be making for the competition — but more importantly, the hosts unveil the raw materials the competitors will be using to make the knife.

And the materials are usually something completely unexpected — like, for instance, an old motorcycle, or a bunch of gardening tools, a three-inch ball bearing, or pieces of a car.

You see, the thing is, these competitors are experts — everyone knows they can take the best steel, the best handle material, the best forge, and produce a great knife. They are being challenged to perform under less-than-the-best conditions.

Mostly, the competitors hate it.

But just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it isn’t helping you.

Even though it may not seem true, disruptions, challenges, and hardships can help us solve problems. They force us to become more creative.

If you’re of a certain mindset, you could say that God likes to take even more impossible odds than broken pianos or rusty pieces of garden tools and show off his ability to produce artistry. Or He may just want us to trust Him to give us the creativity and inspiration to fashion a work of art. I don’t know His reasons — that’s way above my pay grade.

So, here we are today — figuratively seated in front of a broken piano that was once a finely-tuned mechanism for Scout units and United Methodist Churches to operate together, with a pile of rusty car parts at our disposal.

With the help of God, we have an opportunity to forge a new masterpiece, to create our best work of art for the youth of the future.

Like Jarret and the competitive knife smiths, we may hate the disruptions — but just because we don’t like it doesn’t mean it won’t help us come through stronger and better.

If we keep up the old idea that it is “youth protection”, we fail to realize the depth of the challenge.

Protecting youth from sexual and other abuse is a critical mission for those who serve youth. The harms done go far beyond the moment. Trust and hope are destroyed. Spiritual harm is a seldom recognized consequence. We have an obligation to follow practices that prevent the opportunity for abuse before it happens.

It is also adult protection. When we prevent situations where abuse could happen, we also avoid the impression that something could have happened. Adults need protection from accusations. But there is only one way to do that. Do not be in situations where abuse could happen to start with. We trust victims and should. So stay away from the possibility.

Those who serve in organizations carry the standard of the organization with or without a specific position. Abuse reflects on the organization rather the organization was able to stop it or not. All organizations will be eventually held to the standard of protection.

Historical service is being held to today’s standard. Think about the long future as you act. It will impact the youth, adults, and organizations.

It is time to start recognizing a simple truth.

It is Youth, Adult, and Organization Protection.