News

A bankruptcy judge on September 8, 2022, granted the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) approval of its $2.5 billion reorganization plan, which will allow the organization to settle tens of thousands of sexual abuse claims. As a part of the settlement agreement in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) bankruptcy case, The United Methodist Church agreed to contribute $30 million to a $3 billion Survivor Trust Fund that will receive contributions from the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), insurance companies and ...

UMC portion of Boy Scouts' bankruptcy ruling approved United Methodist Communications Office of Public Information FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 1, 2022 A 281-page ruling last Friday in the Boy Scouts of America's (BSA) bankruptcy proceedings indicates that most of the reorganization plan meets the criteria of bankruptcy law and is constitutional. The ruling approves the United Methodist portion of the settlement, but there are several more matters the BSA must address for the plan to be ...

United Methodist leaders and the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) have reached an agreement about new Affiliation and Facility Use Agreements between congregations, scouting units and the BSA.  Over the last year, leaders of The United Methodist Church engaged in the Boy Scouts of America reorganization because of sexual abuse in scouting programs over the last 80 years. United Methodist Leaders and the BSA each have worked toward ending sexual abuse and the number of cases have decreased ...

Men’s & Scouting Ministries: General Commission on United Methodist Men FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  June 14, 2022 Nashville, TN – The long-anticipated wait is coming to an end as a new era of Scouting ministry in The United Methodist Church makes its way forward. A highly skilled team of chancellors, insurance risk advisors, and UMC leaders have forged a path through a difficult landscape to provide a safer way for Scouting ministry to continue within local United Methodist churches. After months of ...

A Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Bankruptcy and United Methodist Church (UMC) informational webinar was co-hosted by Bishop John Schol, Greater New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania and BSA Leadership Team, and Roger Mosby, Chief Scout Executive on February 17, 2022.  The purpose of this webinar was to share updates and collect questions about actions needed from Boy Scouts of America chartering United Methodist congregations. You can view, download and share the resources including the video ...

United Methodist Communications Office of Public Information FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 14, 2022 United Methodist leaders have reached an agreement with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to extend existing UMC-sponsored Scouting charters through June 30, 2022 to provide for uninterrupted ministry with young people through Scouting. The charters were previously extended to March 31, 2022 as legal proceedings continue in the BSA's bankruptcy case, particularly as the trial for confirmation has ...

United Methodist Communications Office of Public Information FOR RELEASE December 21, 2021 12:30 pm ET   United Methodists reach settlement in Boy Scouts’ Bankruptcy Case United Methodist leaders have reached a settlement in the matter of the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) pending bankruptcy proceedings. Upon final court approval, the settlement would absolve any claims of sexual abuse that may have occurred in congregation-sponsored Scouting programs.  Under the terms of the settlement, United...

United Methodist Communications Office of Public Information FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 2, 2021 A United Methodist Ad Hoc Committee is encouraging congregations to vote against a proposed Boy Scouts of America (BSA) reorganization plan, following months of negotiations that have failed to yield a settlement thus far. United Methodist local churches that have chartered Scout troops or Cub packs where abuse may have occurred are vulnerable to lawsuits and claims because they are not receiving ...

Topic: Boy Scout Bankruptcy - If you/your church is a Charter Organization and have received a packet from Boy Scouts of America regarding their bankruptcy – please follow this procedure: If you received an Opt Out Form - Do Not Opt Out – Do Nothing Now. Shred/Destroy/Marker Out this page in the packet. (Likely Page 10). Wait for direction that will be coming from General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) later this month. If you received a Ballot – Do Nothing Now. Hold the ballot as...

Some local churches and charter organizations have received Disclosure Statement Packages from the Boy Scouts of America. Soon, The General Council of Finance & Administration of The United Methodist Church will provide resources to the Conference to assist local churches through this process. If your church does not receive the Packet, you can safely ignore this update. If you do receive the packet, do not take any action at this time. In the coming days, many United Methodist churches will ...

United Methodist Communications Office of Public Information FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 12, 2021 United Methodist churches that have sponsored Boy Scout troops can expect to receive a “disclosure statement package” from the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) regarding its pending bankruptcy proceeding in the near future. The mailing seeks to summarize for chartered organizations how the BSA’s proposed plan of reorganization will affect those organizations’ legal rights with respect to ...

To Chartering Churches and the Iowa Conference of The United Methodist Church,   Sometimes there is a need to change a practice to achieve desired results. Today, those working on the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy and resolving more than 5,200 abuse claims since 1940 against United Methodist congregations are recommending a modification in how UM congregations charter with Scout troops and Cub packs.   Several months ago, it was recommended that congregations pause the rechartering process ...

For Immediate Release August 26, 2021 THE IOWA ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH RESPONDS TO THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA BANKRUPTCY CASE Des Moines, Iowa: The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is overwhelmed with potential liability exposure from sexual assault allegations nationwide. The BSA has filed for bankruptcy protection. Under both of the proposed plans that the BSA has suggested as a way to continue after the bankruptcy, they are leaving their Chartered Organizations out on a ...

Dear Iowa United Methodists:  We write this letter with heavy hearts.  The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is overwhelmed with potential liability exposure from sexual assault allegations nationwide. The BSA has filed for bankruptcy protection. Under both of the proposed plans that the BSA has suggested as a way to continue after the bankruptcy, they are leaving their Chartered Organizations out on a limb by themselves. The Chartered Organizations are the local churches, schools, and civic groups ...