Local Church Historians' School

Are you ready to discover, document, and share your local church's story?

LCHS is an intensive, self-paced course wherein you'll learn from leading Methodist scholars, archivists, and historians.

Through this course you'll gain the skills to discover, document, and share the stories of your local church community. Connecting with your cohort, you'll establish and build relationships with fellow Wesleyan time-travelers. Working alongside you, GCAH offers expert teachers, diverse content, innovative ways to think about our past, and ongoing support for your local ministries and personal vocation.

You and your congregation will benefit from a renewed historical awareness, exposure to unique stories, and a call to deeper connection with those around you, both past and present. Once completed, you will receive a certificate from GCAH.

If you register, please join the mailing list below in order to receive important updates from your instructors. There is no other way to contact students if they opt out of receiving emails from the LCHS.

Guided or Non-Guided?

$225

Guided/Certified Local Church Historians' School

The guided version of this course offers 3 CEUs and certification as a Local Church Historian, accredited by the General Commission on Archives and History. What do you get for the price?

3 Continuing Education Units (see below on what a CEU is)
Certification as a Local Church Historian with the GCAH stamp of approval
Two live webinars with practicing Local Church Historians, archivists, and the General Secretary of Archives and History with an opportunity for Q/A to ask any and all questions (annually aim for Nov & Feb)
A one-on-one assessment to ensure that key concepts were absorbed (not a test, just a conversation!)
Feedback on your developing program of history
Potential for promotion of your program of history via the General Commission on Archives and History's website and/or social media page
Local Church Historians' tshirt!
Discount on your first year's membership to the Historical Society of The United Methodist Church (up to a $50 value which includes a e-subscription to Methodist History, the academic journal of GCAH, and Historians' Digest, the newsletter of the HSUMC)

What are the Benefits of CEUs?

CEUs are required in many fields to ensure professionals keep their skills current.

A CEU provides a permanent record for the completion of a credited educational experience. For pastors/professionals looking to promote effective ministry, the benefits of CEUs include:

Develop essential professional skills
Foster fruitful ministry
Learn new ideologies and best practices associated with your field
Provides ongoing spiritual growth
Demonstrate your dedication to your calling
Satisfy professional requirements to continue working

Pricing

$75 / per CEU - A single CEU (1.0) is a unit of credit calculated by one CEU for every 10 hours of structured participation (training event, workshop, e-learning course, etc.).

FREE

Free, non-guided, non-certified Local Church Historians' School

This free version has the same course content as the Guided/Certified version, but without the one-on-one guidance from annual conference archivists, the live webinars, and the associated discounts.

From graduates of LCHS

"This was an invaluable course for me. Thanks to the LCHS Committee the information that I have received will be applied to our church’s Archives. We have a great deal of work to due and hope we can call on this committee with any questions."

"The course was excellent for opening my eyes as to how to create a top-notch history program!"