HERITAGE SUNDAY
May 23, 2010
“New Places for New People and Renewing Existing Congregations: Our Heritage”

Introduction by GCAH General Secretary, Robert J. 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.

The theme for Heritage Sunday, 2010, as set by the General Commission, is “New Places for New People and Renewing Existing Congregations: Our Heritage.” This theme will undergird the denominational emphasis on Four Areas of Foci affirmed by the General Conference arising out of work done by the General Secretaries of all the agencies, the Council of Bishops, and the Connectional Table. The themes for the coming years of the quadrennium are:
2011: Ministry with the Poor: Our Heritage
2012: Health Ministries: Our Heritage.

Each of these areas of focus are legitimate heirs of Wesley, Otterbein and Albright. Heritage Sunday will be a time that congregations can remember the vital ministries that have marked our church and its predecessor churches and find inspiration and insight for engaging in these ministries today for the sake of the future. By mid-winter, this site will have resources for planning worship and historical background for enriching the observance.

The Area of Focus forming the theme for 2010 is “New Places for New People and Renewing Existing Congregations: Our Heritage.” Setting this theme for Heritage Sunday 2010, will call for reflection about how Methodism and other evangelical movements spread across the world and what our heritage can teach us and inspire us to do today.