If your congregation has ever had a charter with the BSA — troop, pack, or crew — please read this important alert from Bishop David Bard. The deadline for action is November 16, 2020.
BISHOP DAVID BARD
Michigan Area
This letter is directed to all congregations in the Michigan Conference, which are, or ever have been, chartering organizations for a troop, pack, or crew of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).
The United Methodist Church is now the largest chartering organization of the BSA. As we are in the process of gathering a list of such congregations, this is being sent to everyone in the Michigan Conference. However, if your congregation is not now and never has been a BSA chartering organization, you may disregard this notice.
As most of you know, the BSA has been subject to many claims and lawsuits alleging sexual abuse, many of the claims going back 30 years. BSA filed for bankruptcy protection in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware this past February to manage these claims and lawsuits. Ultimately, there will probably be a fund set up to manage them and cover damages. We hope and pray for as much healing and justice in this process as is possible.
However, most lawsuits by individuals were also named as a defendant, the local congregation, which was the chartering organization. Part of the legal complexity of this is that these congregations then may have a claim for indemnification against the BSA or the BSA local council.
The deadline for filing all creditors’ claims, including these unknown and unasserted claims for indemnification, is November 16, 2020, at 5:00 pm.
If your congregation is or has ever been a BSA chartering organization, I am contacting you to inform you of this BSA bankruptcy and the necessity to file a proof of claim by November 16th. These claims will be for contingent, unknown, and unliquidated amounts. Failure to file a claim will permanently bar you from filing this type of claim after November 16, 2020. Your claim will be barred even if the victim waits years before bringing their own claim and trying to collect damages from your church.
This letter is merely to inform you of these developments and alert you that action will be required by you before November 16th. I will be in touch with another letter to you shortly with further information.
If you have any questions, please contact my office.
Last Updated on October 31, 2023