Heritage Sunday - What Is It?
Heritage Sunday shall be observed on Aldersgate Day (May 24), or the Sunday preceding that date (this year it is May 22). The day provides an opportunity for reflection on heritage, celebration of where the Church has been, how it understands itself as it shapes us today, and the meaning of Christian conferencing. Heritage Sunday calls the Church to remember the past by committing itself to the continuing call of God.
-FROM 264.1, THE BOOK OF DISCIPLINE
The United Methodist Church’s General Commission on Archives and History named the theme for Heritage Sunday 2022 is “Splits, Separations, and Reconciliations.” From now through the remainder of the year, the General Commission on Archives and History (GCAH) will be producing and releasing a number of resources to help the denomination better understand the multifaceted and multi- faced history of the Methodist movement in a global context. From the original split from the Church of England in 1784 to smaller splits over the last 250 years, we’ll examine how and why various schisms happened. We’ll also look at different mergers and attempts at reconciliation to learn how Methodists come (back) together. And we’ll do all of this with Wesley’s words as a guide.
““If there be any word in the English tongue as ambiguous and indeterminate in its meaning as the word Church, it is one that is nearly allied to it — the word Schism.” ”
For more information about Heritage Sunday and this year’s theme, visit www.gcah.org.