Information Concerning Churches and Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Misconduct Litigation
Detailed Answers to Questions concerning Boy Scouts Sexual Abuse Litigation and Bankruptcy Settlement
TO: Pastors and Clerks of Session
FROM: Carl Wilton, Acting Stated Clerk
DATE: December 2, 2021
SUBJECT: Churches and Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Misconduct Litigation
Questions have been coming up about a recent spate of lawsuits against churches, arising from allegations of sexual misconduct in Boy Scout units related to those churches. Two factors have caused this recent legal activity: (1) the Boy Scouts of America’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in February, 2020 — after a flood of sexual-abuse lawsuits — which is currently in the courts in Delaware; and (2) a 2019 act of the New Jersey Legislature which suspended the statute of limitations for certain lawsuits alleging sexual abuse — a window which, as of November 30, 2021, has just closed.
In this memo Acting Stated Clerk addresses several concerns and questions we have been receiving concerning the Misconduct Litigation.
- How is it that some Presbyterian church are being caught up in the Boy Scout litigation?
- What do we know about the proposed BSA bankruptcy settlement agreement?
- We’ve filed “Proof of Claim” documents. What does that mean?
- We didn’t file Proof of Claim: how does that impact us?
- We’ve been named in a suit, and the alleged harm occurred prior to 1976: what can we do?
- What are the chances of a financial judgment being levied against our church, or the presbytery?
- Could the presbytery be financially harmed by these suits?
- Should we renew our BSA unit charter for next year?
- Does the BSA offer insurance against sexual-abuse lawsuits going forward?
- Who can I talk too?
Click here for Carl’s memo in detail. Boy Scout Memo from Acting Stated Clerk 2 Dec 2021
Questions and Answers Concerning the Boy Scout Bankruptcy and Sexual Abuse and Misconduct Lawsuits
December 1, 2021
Recently several congregations/sessions have had received information about the Boy Scout Bankruptcy plan and/or received notice that they have been named in a sexual abuse/misconduct suit relating to a Boy Scout Troop or Camp.
This resource sheet, compiled by Jeremy Campbell, Presbytery of Northeast New Jersey provides a quick over view of the following questions.
Introduction
What do we know about the proposed bankruptcy settlement agreement?
We received a Ballot for this settlement, what do we do?
We didn’t file Proof of Claim does this impact us?
We’ve been named in a suit, and the alleged harm occurred prior to 1976, what can we do?
Should we renew our Troop’s Charter next year?
Click here for Resource Sheet and contact information if you have more questions.
