December 1, 2025
Dear friend,
As The United Methodist Church continues to live out the church’s mission in the world, the work of the General Commission on Archives and History (GCAH) couldn’t be more pressing and imperative. This past year as the wider church has sought a more faithful path for moving forward, GCAH has been working hard to preserve our past for the sake of God’s plans for us and for the world. I am honored to update you on some of that progress that we have made and cast vision for what’s next for the church’s beloved agency.
This past year we have:
- Engaged in a significant and extensive year-long inventory of our archives and materials;
- Continued in our work of digitizing historical materials for access and review;
- Hired new team members to help address the changing nature of the church;
- Preached, taught, lectured, and spoken at conferences, events, churches, and meetings throughout the world to educate people on the work of GCAH;
- Supported the work of Annual Conferences throughout the connection as they seek to navigate the waters of a post-disaffiliation church and signaled how to be faithful to that part of our history;
- Written, recorded, and disseminated courses on events in Methodist history and how those events impact us today;
- Celebrated the work of the church as it re-organizes and works to better adapt how ministry is done throughout the world.
As we look to 2026 and the fuller and broader future that we anticipate, we know we cannot accomplish all we plan to do without your faithful and charitable help. We are writing to ask you to consider the ways that God might be calling you to support the work of GCAH in the next year, and especially on Giving Tuesday, December 2. When you give on Giving Tuesday, your gift is eligible for a matching gift grant, which means your generous donation will be doubled.
By giving online you can support the work of the General Commission on Archives and History right now. We are grateful for your partnership in the telling of stories that deepen our faith, ground our identity, and give purpose to the future of The United Methodist Church. You can also mail your check to the address below.
On behalf of all of us here at GCAH, thank you. We know we can't do this work without your help. We wish you a blessed Advent season.
In hope,
Dr. Ashley Boggan
General Secretary
General Commission on Archives and History