The General Commission on Archives and History (GCAH) is committed to preserving the historical record of the United Methodist Church while respecting the privacy and personal rights of individuals who participate in our oral history projects.
By participating in an oral history recording with GCAH, you acknowledge and agree that the recording will become part of the archival collection maintained by the General Commission on Archives and History. These recordings may be preserved indefinitely for historical, educational, and research purposes.
In most cases, a 25-year hold will be placed on the audio recordings to protect the privacy of participants and those mentioned in the recordings. This means that the audio will not be publicly available until 25 years from the date of recording, unless otherwise stipulated by GCAH.
If a participant wishes to waive the 25-year hold and allow immediate or earlier access to the audio recording, they may submit a written request. GCAH retains full discretion to approve or deny such requests based on its institutional guidelines, mission, and the nature of the content in the recordings. Approval for early access may also be subject to further conditions or restrictions as deemed necessary by GCAH.
Once accessible, the oral histories may be used for:
All uses will be consistent with the terms of this policy and any additional conditions set by the participant and GCAH.
GCAH takes the security of your personal data seriously. All recordings will be securely stored and managed in accordance with professional archival standards. Access to recordings during the restricted period will be limited to authorized personnel involved in the preservation and management of the collection.
GCAH reserves the right to modify this privacy policy as necessary to meet the evolving needs of the organization and its stakeholders. Any changes will be communicated in a timely manner.
For questions or concerns about this privacy policy, or to discuss waiving the 25-year hold, please contact us at:
General Commission on Archives and History (GCAH)
36 Madison Ave
Madison, NJ 07940
PO Box 127