IRVING, Texas ––The number of Scouts chartered by United Methodist churches increased for the second year in a row, according to a recent report by the Boy Scouts of America.

At the end of 2010, 371,499 Scouts were participating in 11,237 Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops and Venturing crews sponsored by United Methodist churches across America. The number of Scouts is up about 1,000 from the 2009 report and the 2009 figure was up some 3,000 Scouts.

The UMC continues to have the second highest number of youth in chartered units. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leads all religious organizations with 412,720 young people. The Roman Catholic Church ranks third with 286,733 young people in troops, packs and crews.

The total number of young people in Boy Scout units is 2.74 million at the end of 2010; that figure is down about 500,000 from 2009. Most of the losses came from troops sponsored by civic and educational organizations.