GCAH

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.”

Human Rights

The Rev. Calvin Hill, a Navajo holy man and pastor at First United Methodist Church in Newcastle, Wyo., puts cedar ashes on Doug Tzan, assistant dean at Wesley Theological Seminary, in a calling your name ceremony Sept. 11 during the 10th Historical Convocation at Bozeman United Methodist Church in Bozeman, Mont. The convocation featured a detailed report on The United Methodist Church’s involvement with U.S. boarding schools for Native American children. Photo by the Rev. Jeremy Smith.

Spotlighting UMC’s role in Indigenous boarding schools

A report on The United Methodist Church’s involvement with U.S. boarding schools for Native American children was presented at the 10th Historical Convocation. Remembrance and reconciliation is the goal of the initial research, but more work is planned.

Ecumenism

Ashley Boggan D., top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, gifts Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, with a John Wesley bobblehead Sept. 6 while in Italy for the European Methodist Historical Conference. Seated from left are the Rev. Matthew Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome; Boggan D., Ulrike Schuler with the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and Lara Herrmann, a student and Schuler’s granddaughter. Photo courtesy of Vatican Media.

Pope delighted with John Wesley bobblehead

Pope Francis came ‘face to bobblehead’ with Methodism founder John Wesley. Ashley Boggan D., top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, took advantage of a brief meeting with the pontiff to bestow a lighthearted gift.

Theology and Education

Ashley Boggan, the top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History, urged the Council of Bishops to do a new thing as John Wesley did. She said the resources of the past, such as Wesley's advice to Methodists, can be used to envision the future. Graphic courtesy of the General Commission on Archives and History.

Historian urges bishops: Reclaim ‘vile’ heritage

In presenting the history of the episcopacy in Methodism, a United Methodist historian challenged bishops to take a page from John Wesley’s playbook and submit to be “more vile.”

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now