Archives & History

We Look Backwards To See Our Future!

By providing a home for our historical records we can service the many needs of our annual conference and local churches. A vigorous archives and history program gives direction for future ministries by illuminating succesfful ministries that worked in the past but have present day relevance, give guidance on what to keep for posterity and potential legal issues, setting up and implementing digital records repository which has lasting value. By supporting your CAH helps every UMC member in the conference claim
a rich heritage.

Our Objectives as Defined by The Book of Discipline ¶641

Collect, Preserve and Make Accessible the Historical Records of the Conference and Local Churches.
Assist Churches in Preservation and Management of Their Records, Compile Histories and Celebrate Their Heritage.
Provide a Fire-Safe Repository of Archives Records.
Nominate potential national historical Landmarks While Designating Our Own Conference Sites and Landmarks.
Work with the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference and its local churches on all historical observations.
Establish records management programs for both the conference and local churches
Engage with sister denominations to uplift our common Wesleyan heritage.
Help ethnic churches to establish viable history programs in order to develop their own unique ministry of memory.

A Commission on Archives and History (CAH) is an important partner in the ongoing ministry of our church. No organization, whether it be spiritual or secular, can afford to experience amnesia about its past. When we untether ourselves from our historical roots, we become adrift in a world of ever increasing changes and misinformation. A vibrant CAH not only serves as the conference’s attic, but it also informs its ministry to be relevant to present day situations. Genuine memories that are clear can reliably articulate our future church mission by avoiding past errors while giving legitimacy to past successes. History that is vibrantly manifested in our churches which directly supports making disciples who are heirs to the “Endless Line of Splendor” that is the United Methodist Church.