Statement of the Relationship between

The United Methodist Church and the Boy Scouts of America

A statement of Relationship.....Our United Methodist Church joins in partnership with the Boy Scouts of America because of their aims: Duty to God, Duty to Country, and Duty to Self.

The Boy Scouts of America is a private not-for-profit corporation which was chartered by the United States Congress in 1910. Persons wishing to join the Boy Scouts of America must subscribe to the Scout oath and law which support the principles and aims. The private status of the BSA means that no one has a civil right to become a Boy Scout youth or leader any more to be a United Methodist.

Unit registration/membership for youth and adults is not lodged with the Boy Scouts of America. Rather, it resides with the charter partner, such as a local United Methodist Church. The charter agreement gives ownership and responsibility to the local church chartering the units. The local church can/should view its Scouting program as a means of outreach ministry with youth and with the community. Because the church "owns" the unit, it can lift the name of Christ in and through its Scouting units. Persons from other faiths other than Christian may participate but should be prepared to accept the church's participation in the BSA program as a straightforward attempt to evangelize for Jesus Christ.

Ownership carries with it the intentional responsibility of support by the church. The Scouting Program responsibility lies with a Scouting Coordinator elected by the charge conference (Discipline, 1992, paras.259, 264.2c, 202). The person serves as the registered charter organization representative to the local BSA council. The Scouting Coordinator also serves on the official governing board of the local church (one per church).

The local church is legally responsible for its BSA unit(s), including leadership selection, liability insurance for leaders (same as Sunday School, UMYF, etc..), and spiritual direction and growth development.

Our aim is that our Scouting ministry will be an invitation to children, youth, and their families to come to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Across the church, wonderful stories are told about the impact of Scouting ministry has had on the lives of youth and their adult leaders. The methods are hiking, camping, outdoor games, and other activities, but our aim is that our Scouting ministry will be an invitation to children, youth, and their families to come to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

...duty to God, duty to country and duty to self...

The Chartered Organization Agrees to:

• Conduct the Scouting program according to its own policies and guidelines as well as those of the Boy Scouts of America.
• Include the Scouting program as part of its overall program for youth and families.
• Appoint a chartered organization representative who is a member of the organization and will represent it to the Scouting district and serve as a voting member of the local Scout Council. (The chartered organization head or the chartered organization representative must approve all leader applications before submitting them to the local Scout council.)
• Select a committee of parents and members of the chartered organization (minimum of three) who will screen and select unit leaders who meet the organization's standards as well as the leadership standards of the BSA. (The committee chair must sign all leadership applications before submitting them to the chartered organization for approval.)
• Provide adequate facilities for the Scouting unit(s) to meet on a regular schedule with time and place reserved.
• Encourage the units to participate in outdoor experiences which are vital elements of Scouting.
  

The Boy Scout Council agrees to:

• Respect the aims and objectives of the organization and offer the resources of Scouting to help in meeting those objectives.
• Provide year-round training, service, and support to the organization and its unit(s).
• Provide training and program resources for the chartered organization representative as the primary communication link between the organization and the BSA.
• Provide techniques and methods for selecting quality unit leaders and then share in the approval process of those leaders. (The Scout executive or designee must approve all leader applications.)
• Provide primary general liability insurance to cover the chartered organization (local United Methodist congregation), its boards, officers, chartered organization representative, and employees against all personal liability judgements. This insurance includes attorney's fees and court cost as well as any judgement brought against the individual or organization. Unit leaders are covered in excess of any personal coverage they might have, or, if there is no personal coverage, the BSA insurance immediately picks up on a primary basis.
• Provide Camping facilities, service center, and full-time professional staff to assist the organization in every way possible.

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