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In the face of a recent Supreme Court ruling, the Boy Scouts of America are looking to United Methodist churches for increased support as they try to live out their pledge to do their duty to God and country.

In May, churches throughout the denomination received an urgent request from Joseph Harris, general secretary of the Commission of United Methodist Men, calling upon them to open their doors to Scout troops that have been forced to stop meeting in public schools.

Harris explained that in 1999, 'the American Civil Liberties Union sued the federal government and others (Winker v. Chicago School Reform Board of Trustees) to compel public schools and government agencies to cease chartering traditional Scouting units ? Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops and Venturing crews.'

The chartering agreements between these Scouting units and public schools and government agencies now must be transferred to nongovernmental agencies, explained the Rev. Kenneth Lyons Jr., Scouting coordinator for the Baltimore-Washington Conference.

The United Methodist Church is an ideal chartering agency, said Lyons, who explained that a charter is a formal agreement that the church will provide meeting space, programming support and funding, if needed. There are more children and young people in the United Methodist Scouting program than in any other organization, he said.

Scouting statistics from December 2004 indicated that The United Methodist Church charters 12,200 Boy Scout units, with 392,000 youth meeting in 7,500 United Methodist churches.

'Regardless of our personal feelings concerning this ruling, as one door is being closed, another door can and should be opened by the churches of our conference,' Lyons said. 'The United Methodist Church recognizes the great value of faith-based youth organizations that build character and are deliberate in their community service.'

In addition, chartering Scouting groups and providing space in a church building often helps a church to grow, Harris reported. 'More than 50 percent of the youth who meet in United Methodist church-sponsored Scouting units come from unchurched families. What a potential for making disciples,' he said.

Lyons agreed. 'One door may have closed for these Scouts, but the open hearts, minds and doors of your church should come to their rescue. Contact your local Boy Scouts of America Council and ask if your church could be a Scout unit?s new home.'

For more information, see the National Association of United Methodist Scouters at http://naums.org/.