Chancellor updates body on Scouting bankruptcy, need for church incorporation

Conference Chancellor Kay Crowe offers the Report of the Chancellor. Photo by Matt Brodie

GREENVILLE—Conference Chancellor Kay Crowe offered the Report of the Chancellor on Tuesday afternoon, updating the body on her work for the annual conference, which includes serving as a resource for lawyers representing the conference and churches in litigation; working with conference trustees by preparing leases, deeds, contracts and other documents; and assisting in drafting resolutions and resources for the conference and churches.

Crowe also shared that a 96-page ruling from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in the Boy Scout bankruptcy case was recently received. The decision may be appealed, but it has affirmed the complete bankruptcy plan, which Crowe called “very good news.”

As well, she continues to recommend that local churches incorporate as a South Carolina nonprofit corporation, but she noted that Section 2529 of the Book of Discipline must be complied with in that process. This section requires that the local churches must be organized and operated in compliance with the Book of Discipline and cannot sever the connectional relationship to the UMC without the consent of the Annual Conference.