HERITAGE SUNDAY
May 18, 2008
“Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Social Creed”
Introduction by GCAH General Secretary, Robert Williams
In 2004, the General Conference, upon recommendation of the General Commission on Archives and History, changed the date of Heritage Sunday from that nearest April 23 to May 24 or the Sunday preceding. April 23 reminded the church of the merger of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church on April 23, 1968. But May 24 reminded the church of John Wesley’s “heart warming experience” at a Moravian prayer meeting on Aldersgate Street in 1738. This seemed to capture a rich legacy of renewal, revival, conversion, and the beginnings of a movement that included the Otterbein, Albright, and Boehm legacy as well. Organizational merger seemed less important to the General Commission than the power of faith in the lives of persons leading to transformation of society.
In 1908, the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church adopted a Social Creed for the first time, standing squarely in the legacy of John Wesley’s ministry to the poor, the prisoner, and the needy in society. We celebrate that event in 2008.
The resources that are provided here come from several sources. The article by Donald Gorrell appeared first in Methodist History. The article for Interpreter magazine by David Foster will appear in an upcoming issue and highlights the influence of the Social Creed on the socially responsible investment practices of the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits. Many of the resources are from Neil Christie, Assistant General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society. The devotional writings on the Social Creed are from Joyce C. Day, Minister of Adult Discipleship, St. James United Methodist Church, Greenville, NC. The website for the General Board of Church and Society www.umc-gbcs.org has many worship and liturgical resources.
Appropriate hymns can be found in The United Methodist Hymnal from number 425 to 449 which is the section on Social Holiness. Especially important in the years leading up to the Social Creed was the Frank Mason North hymn, “Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life” written in 1903. In The Faith We Sing, the hymns on Social Holiness are from 2170 to 2190.
Below is a listing of the initial offerings available to help you prepare for your church's Heritage Sunday celebration in 2008. Some churches may find it difficult to observe Heritage Sunday on May 18th so please feel free to find another Sunday in 2008 to plan your worship service. Click on any of the following links for helpful information:
Planning even further ahead? The Heritage Sunday 2009 theme will be the Global Reach of United Methodism-Asia.
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