New resource to help your congregation preserve its history

CANADA – Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) has developed a new resource to help congregations record and preserve their church’s local history: the Congregational Archives Quick Guide. 

“Archives contain documents, photographs, and other materials that are meant to be preserved forever,” the new guide notes. “The reason archives are kept are to support legal rights and accountability; aid in future planning and decision-making; and preserve history to enhance research and understanding of past events and relationships. Scripture tells us very clearly that we are to remember God’s many gifts of mercy and love to us (Luke 1:1-4).” 

But knowing what to keep and how to keep it is a perennial question for congregations. To help congregations navigate these questions, the Congregational Archivist Quick Guide provides clear, concise directions on what to keep and what not to keep in your church’s archives, as well as how to prepare materials for storage and in what ways to store them. 

The new guide is being emailed to all congregations in LCC. You can also find it online on the Congregational Resources webpage (PDF Here).

The new guide was developed by LCC’s Archives Committee. The committee continues to develop congregational resources as well as to explore options for synod’s national archival needs (see the Archives committee update on page 2 of The Standard – January/February 2025). 

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