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 confirmed.
Press Releases
From the Bishop: Graciously Moving Forward
Dear Friends,
I confess my heart aches and grieves where we find ourselves. Our beloved church holds a diversity of opinions, and I understand that some sisters and brothers feel they must leave our Connection for the sake of their conscience concerning issues of human sexuality.
As a believer facing hard realities, I draw strength from the Holy Spirit’s gift of hope for us all. I pray that any disaffiliation will occur graciously while we in the NC Conference continue to take our stewardship responsibilities seriously. I pray that we will each work throughout this process to neither disparage nor judge anyone.
I want to thank each of you for your patience and, more importantly, for your prayers through this process. Our Conference Trustees, Chancellor, Treasurer, Cabinet, and Office of Church Transformation Ministries are finalizing a plan for any church wishing to disaffiliate. We will release this plan on May 17.
I will call a special session of Annual Conference in the fall of 2022 to address any requests of disaffiliation so as not to impede any churches desiring to separate. We will focus on any subsequent requests for disaffiliation at the June 2023 Annual Conference.
May the love of Christ inspire us, guide us, and give us peace.
Bishop Leonard E. Fairley
Villegas Joins Conference Staff as Director of Youth Ministries
Bishop Leonard E. Fairley announces the appointment of the Rev. Jason Villegas as part-time Director of Youth Ministries, effective July 1, 2022. In this new position, his primary responsibility will be to build strong relationships between the Conference Youth Ministries Chairperson, Conference Council on Youth Ministry (which includes youth and adult members), District Youth Coordinators, Youth Operations Team, and local church youth workers to foster collaborative and effective connectional youth ministry.
The position serves to direct and vision Conference Youth Ministry, holding at its core youth discipleship development, anti-racism, diversity, and empowering ministry that reaches our communities where youth live. Rev. Villegas will also serve in a staff role on the Conference Connectional Table.
Director of Connectional Ministries, Steve Taylor, said, “Jason brings experience, exuberance, solid leadership, deep Christian discipleship, and a passion for sharing the love of Jesus to all youth. Jason always asks, ‘Who are the youth among us who we fail to see or exclude?’ I am deeply grateful that Jason will serve as Director of Youth Ministries.”
Rev. Villegas is the current pastor of Murfreesboro United Methodist Church in Hertford County and previously served full-time in two other rural churches. He will continue to serve Murfreesboro part-time.
He serves on the Hispanic-Latinx Ministries Committee of our Conference and has served on the Conference’s Missions Committee/Board of Missions, The Refugee and Immigration Committee, and led the Immigration Ministry Task Force.
He graduated from Duke Divinity School in 2013 with a Master of Divinity and a Certificate in Prison Studies after receiving his bachelor’s degree from Chowan University. He is currently in the Rural Ministry Fellowship cohort of the Doctor of Ministry program at Duke Divinity School.
As a racially mixed Caucasian-Latino-Native American, Jason intentionally inhabits the liminal space between these cultures. He’s particularly interested in reimagining how the American Church can both atone for the harm it’s caused and continue to be reborn in a way that seeks justice and freedom through love and grace. To this end, he thinks that our current moment of service to God and humanity, like the funeral service, is a “service of death and resurrection,” where we see the old’s demise and wait for the birth of the new.
Learn more about Rev. Jason Villegas in his episode of Deep Reckonings, called “Deep Understanding.”
Find Jason on social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Recently Mailed BSA Documents
We have been notified that churches are receiving a new document related to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) settlement (view a PDF of the document). The judge reopened voting because of recent changes in the plan. As there is no change in the recommendation related to the BSA proposal, churches should disregard the documents and take no further action.
Please email boyscouts@nccumc.org with any questions.
Update on New BSA Relationship Agreements
The United Methodist Church Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Leadership Team has recommended a new relationship statement to the BSA leadership to replace charters. A team of five United Methodists is now negotiating this agreement with the BSA. The five include two chancellors, an insurance expert, a United Methodist Men staff person, and a bishop. The new relationship agreement will more fully clarify the role of UM Congregations, outline liability insurances the BSA must provide and a facilities use agreement.
Presently there has been confusion between rechartering and renewing membership. A letter below from Roger Mosby, Chief Scouting Executive, and Bishop John Schol will help to clarify the differences. This is very important to know and understand if you host Scout Troops now or in the future. Please share this letter with your Scout leadership.
The pause in renewing charters has been extended until June 30, 2022, to provide more time for completing the agreement, planning, and transition. But all congregations are to renew the membership of the scouts and volunteers. The letter below describes this more fully.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at boyscouts@nccumc.org.
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Dear United Methodist Church and BSA Scouting Community,
The United Methodist Church and the Boy Scouts of America have worked together to develop the character and values of youth through a more than 100-year relationship. The young people have become leaders in communities, education, industry, and public service. Building on the foundation of the Scout Oath and Law, young people have also grown in their duty to God, country, and self. On behalf of the Boy Scouts of America and The United Methodist Church, we thank you, the leaders who serve to further the aims of Scouting and support and develop young people.
Charter Renewal Is Now Extended Through June 30, 2022
The UMC and the BSA are continuing to develop a long-term solution regarding the church’s relationship with Scouting in service to youth. As we move forward, we recognize that changes are needed. We are thankful that we are working together to improve the program and safety of Scouting for future generations of young people.
To plan for and carry out the new relationship agreements, the leadership of BSA and the UMC have agreed that it is best for all, and especially Scouts, to extend the effectiveness of all existing charters from March 31, 2022, through June 30, 2022. This will provide for uninterrupted ministry with young people through Scouting.
Membership Renewal Should Be Moving Forward
We are also reaching out jointly today for an additional and very important reason: namely, to be clear that the annual membership renewal process for all youth and adults who participate in Scouting programs should be moving forward, notwithstanding our agreement to continue the pause on charter renewal through June 2022. Charter renewal and membership renewal are related but distinct processes. Charter renewal focuses on the organization-to-organization relationship. This relationship is extended without any action required. Membership renewal involves the relationship between individual Scouts and volunteers and the BSA.
It is critically important that all present Scout units and local councils continue forward with membership renewal. Maintaining active membership registrations for all Scouts and volunteers is critical for a number of reasons, including the following:
- Membership ensures that the Scouts and volunteers are covered by the insurance BSA maintains.
- Membership entitles Scouts and volunteers to receive literature and communications from the BSA.
- Membership renewal for adult volunteers ensures that they have complied with the BSA Youth Protection training requirements, that their background checks are current, and that they can otherwise safely support our youth in the program.
In short, annual membership renewal is a vital step in allowing Scouting to continue, without interruption and safely, while we continue to address how best to structure the UMC’s relationship with Scouting over the longer term. Consequently, every pack, troop, and crew should renew their memberships immediately by working with local council representatives to re-register all active participants. Local council representatives stand ready to support and help streamline the process, so that Scouting activities may continue without interruption.
If you have any questions, please contact Steven Scheid at The United Methodist Church at sscheid@gcumm.org or your local council representative. Thank you for your support of Scouting and your attention to this important matter. We look forward to our continued ministry to the youth of our nation.
Keep the faith!
Bishop John Schol
UMC Leadership Team Chair
Yours in Scouting,
Roger C. Mosby
Chief Scout Executive
New Bible Study Podcast: “God’s Gift of Scripture with Belton Joyner”
Belton Joyner has enriched and enlivened our study of scripture with his insightful writing over the years. Now, we’re offering a new way for you to engage with the Bible Study: an audio version of his weekly commentary, narrated by Belton himself. “God’s Gift of Scripture with Belton Joyner” is a new way for you or your group to utilize this Bible Study.
You can find “God’s Gift of Scripture with Belton Joyner” along with our other podcasts (Deep Reckonings, Voices, and more) at our NCCUMC.fm podcast page.
All of our podcasts are also available in our NC Conference app. Listen and subscribe today!