Bill Text: SC H5236 | 2019-2020 | 123rd General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: United Methodist Church and Boy Scouts of America
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 80-44)
Status: (Passed) 2020-02-19 - Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence [H5236 Detail]
Download: South_Carolina-2019-H5236-Introduced.html
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
TO RECOGNIZE THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AS IT CELEBRATES ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SCOUTING IN THE METHODIST CHURCH AND TO COMMEND THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF OUR NATION.
Whereas, John Wesley founded the Methodist movement in England in 1738, and it was brought to the American colonies and founded there as the Methodist Episcopal Church in December 1794; and
Whereas, in 1908, the Boy Scout movement was founded in Great Britain by Lieutenant General Lord Robert Baden-Powell; and
Whereas, brought to the United States by Chicago publisher W.D. Boyce, the Boy Scout movement was birthed in this great country on June 15, 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson officially signed Title 36 of Congress, officially chartering the Boy Scouts of America (BSA); and
Whereas, the BSA's stated purpose at its incorporation in 1916 was "to teach boys patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred values"; and
Whereas, in 1920, the Boy Scouts of America and the Methodist Episcopal Church entered into a formal agreement and celebrated the first Scout Sunday on the second Sunday of February; and
Whereas, on February 9, 2020, the United Methodist Church celebrated the centennial anniversary of its relationship with the Boy Scouts of America; and
Whereas, the current mission of the BSA is "to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law"; and
Whereas, in 2020, the United Methodist Church will be the largest sponsor of the BSA, with over 6,900 chartered units that serve more than 320,200 youth with the assistance of 118,000 adult volunteers; and
Whereas, the Scouting movement has made the world and our community a better place by saving lives, serving others, building world leaders, growing the next generation of STEM leaders, introducing youth to lifelong careers, developing character and good citizenship, and encouraging conservation and sustainability. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize the United Methodist Church as it celebrates one hundred years of Scouting in the Methodist Church and commend the United Methodist Church and the Boy Scouts of America for their commitment to the children and youth of our nation.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Bishop L. Jonathan Holston of the South Carolina United Methodist Conference.
