Heritage Sunday: May 21, 2023

Dr. Ashley Boggan D., General Secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History, has announced the theme for Heritage Sunday 2023: “Local Church Histories: The Cornerstone of our Faith.” The United Methodist Church celebrates Heritage Sunday annually on Aldersgate Sunday when it falls on May 24 or the Sunday preceding the 24th; this year’s date is May 21.

“Each congregation has a story, one rich with history and details of ministry to its community and one another,” Boggan explains. “We want to recognize that our shared stories undergird our denomination and serve as the foundation of our connectionalsim."

To celebrate the 2023 theme, the General Commission on Archives and History is asking local churches to submit their histories to GCAH for consideration to be chosen as one of a dozen histories to be highlighted on the agency website, social media channels and in Heritage Sunday resources. Church histories may be submitted in a variety of formats, including written, video, audio, timeline or another creative form. Please send all submissions to aboggan@gcah.org and type “Local Church History” in the subject line. Submissions are due March 1.

“Every congregation contributes to the overarching narrative of United Methodism,” Boggan says. “We look forward to learning what local churches across the denomination have discovered and to share their stories with others.”

Additional resources to support Heritage Sunday will be available at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.