Jurisdiction
Each Annual Conference commission should actively participate in its jurisdiction’s historical activities. The Archives and History Directory lists the various jurisdictional commissions, committees, and historical societies. Each jurisdiction is organized differently. Most meet once a year, and these meetings are valuable occasions for sharing information and building friendships. Several representatives from your commission should attend these events.
If your jurisdiction has a newsletter, be sure to contribute news from your Annual Conference on a regular basis. Whenever possible, attend events sponsored by your jurisdiction’s historical agencies. Work with your jurisdictional leadership on such matters as nominating places for Historic Site or Heritage Landmark status; planning workshops; organizing anniversary celebrations; publishing histories; and developing standards and procedures for your conference archives.
General Commission
The General Commission on Archives and History is mandated in The Book of Discipline to “do any and all things necessary to promote and care for the historical interest of The United Methodist Church.” The commission’s offices, a research library, and the archives of The United Methodist Church are housed on the campus of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.
The General Commission maintains and updates a website at www.gcah.org. The website reports on General Commission activities, publicizes new resources, and announces upcoming meetings and workshops.
Once a quadrennium, the General Council on Ministries sponsors jurisdictional training events. The chairperson from every Annual Conference Commission on Archives and History is invited to these workshops, which are led by staff of the General Commission on Archives and History. In addition, when schedules and finances permit, General Commission staff members lead workshops in Annual Conferences upon the invitation of Annual Conference commissions.
The commission publishes Methodist History, a quarterly journal. It also offers research grants and writing awards, develops program resources, and publishes a variety of pamphlets and booklets. Contact the commission for a current publication list.
The General Commission encourages you to call the offices in Madison or email gcah@gcah.org with your questions, concerns, and needs.