Church History

Church History
The history of Pickett Chapel United Methodist Church in Lebanon, Tenn., goes back almost 200 years. Pickett Chapel is believed to be the oldest African American church building in the state of Tennessee. Photo from video by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Historic church tells story of slavery, triumph

Pickett Chapel has served both Black and white congregations over nearly 200 years. The fingerprints of enslaved people who built this church can still be seen today.
Human Sexuality
Jan Lawrence (left), head of Reconciling Ministries Network, and Ashley Boggan D., top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, hold up a Reconciling Congregations quilt during the Oct. 23 inauguration of The United Methodist Church’s new LGBTQ+ United Methodist Heritage Center in Madison, N.J. Photo by Crystal Caviness, courtesy of the Commission on Archives and History Facebook page.

New LGBTQ+ Heritage Center helps church remember

The United Methodist center’s opening described as “a call to us today and in the future to build a church where all people are seen, heard and valued.”
Social Concerns
Since the Church’s inception, Methodists have been actively involved in social and political matters in order to build a more peaceful and just world. Graphic by Laurens Glass, United Methodist Communications.

Ask The UMC: Is The United Methodist Church involved in politics?

Can United Methodists be politically active? The Social Principles offer guidance about the interaction of church and politics.
Church History
Ashley Boggan D. (left), top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, and the Rev. Molly Vetter, senior pastor of Westwood United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, talk about the new United Methodist Stories app unveiled by the agency during a press conference April 29 at General Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Photo by Crystal Caviness, United Methodist Communications.

New app will preserve United Methodist history

An app to collect stories about United Methodism was introduced during General Conference. The United Methodist Stories app has been tested at some recent events, and plans call for it soon to be open to all.

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