The Disciples of Christ Historical Society’s Board of Trustees, meeting in March, decided to issue a temporary pause in congregational collecting as it undertakes a significant update to its Collection Development Policy. The number of congregational records offered to DCHS has steadily increased in recent years, pushing the limits of our capacity as a collecting institution, both in terms of space and staffing. This new reality makes it difficult to responsibly steward and sustainably preserve the historical materials entrusted to us. As we seek to be true to our mission, we must reimagine our collecting practices.  

The DCHS Board of Trustees is in the middle of a yearlong process of doing just that—working toward a new collecting policy that is both sustainable and aligned with our mission and vision. A collecting policy is an important tool for every library, archives, and museum, serving as a strategic and thoughtful guide for determining what to collect. In our case, it empowers us to curate a collection that holds the stories of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in all their diversity and complexity.

The pause, effective immediately, will last through September 2025. During this time, we are not accepting donations of historical records, photographs, or other materials from congregations.   

“This temporary pause allows us time and space to transition toward more intentional collecting practices,” said Colleen McFarland Rademaker, Senior Archivist, adding, “As we update our policy, we want to ensure we are collecting with care, equity, and purpose.”

While the physical intake of materials is on hold, the Historical Society encourages congregations and other prospective donors to complete the Donation Inquiry Form available through our website. Filling out this form initiates a conversation with us to work toward a shared understanding of the needs of the donor, the needs of the materials, and the needs of the DCHS collection. Based on this shared understanding, we discern together what should come to DCHS, what should go elsewhere, and what can be responsibly released. 

President Joel Brown remarked, “We take very seriously the sacred trust congregations place in us when they donate their historical records. We treat these materials not just as artifacts but as embodiments of the witness and spiritual memory of our churches. This temporary pause is not a retreat from that calling but a necessary step toward faithfully living into it. We remain deeply grateful for the partnership of congregations across the streams of the Stone-Campbell movement, and we look forward to returning to congregational collecting later this year, renewed and better equipped.”