The African Methodist Episcopal Church, also known as the AME Church, is Methodist in its beliefs and was founded over 200 years ago to provide African Americans with a place of worship. AMEC members adhere to Bible-based doctrines similar to those of other Christian denominations.

African. The word African means that people of African descent and heritage organized the church. It does not mean that the church was founded in Africa, or that it was for persons of African descent only. It simply means that those Americans who founded it were of African descent, and we proudly recognize this fact. 

In 1787, Richard Allen, our founder, and a group of African Americans of African descent were forced to organize themselves into a separate group for their own spiritual, social, educational, and general growth and development. At that time the word Negro or colored had not yet come into general use about those of us who are now called American Negroes. All of our ancestors of that day were referred to as Africans. This particular group of Americans of African descent, under the leadership of Richard Allen, constituted the first and founding members of our church.

Methodist Our church is a member of the family of Methodist Churches. Richard Allen, our founder and the first active bishop, believed that no religious group or denomination could suit the needs of his people as well as Methodism. He was impressed with its emphasis upon the plain and simple gospel, which the unlearned could understand, and its orderly system of rules and regulations, which the underdeveloped needed. He felt that Methodism had what we needed to encourage us to make progress, to worship God freely, and to fill every office available in the church and throughout our entire community.

Episcopal. The word “Episcopal” refers to the form of government under which our church operates. The episcopal form of government means that the chief executive and administrative officers of our denomination are our Bishops. Their authority is given to them by the General Conference. Stated briefly, their responsibilities include overseeing the spiritual and temporal affairs of our church, such as presiding over annual conferences, making pastoral appointments, ordaining deacons and elders, organizing missions, and promoting the interests of the denomination.

Church. The Christian Church is a community of people who believe in God and who have accepted Jesus Christ as the Guide and Master of their lives. We who comprise the Christian Church believe that God, through Jesus Christ, can transform individuals in such a way that they desire to be like, think like, and act like Jesus in every area of their daily lives. We also believe that there is a divine power, referred to as the Holy Spirit, which enables the willing person to become a true and effective servant of God, as Jesus was a true and effective servant. 

Jesus Christ is the spiritual head of the Christian Church. The A.M.E. denomination and the local church of which you are a member represent an organized group of Christian believers who are studying, learning, growing, serving, and further developing themselves into effective Christian servants. This is a part of what it means to be a Christian.