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African-American denominations derived from the Wesleyan tradition
COMBATTING RACISM
African-American denominations derived from the Wesleyan tradition
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The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church
The AME Church was founded in 1787 when Richard Allen, a deacon in the Methodist Episcopal Church, led African Americans out of St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. Allen was consecrated as first bishop in 1816 by a conference of five churches from Philadelphia to Baltimore. The 3.5 million-member denomination has 20 districts, each with its own bishop: 13 are based in the United States, mostly in the South; seven are based in Africa. The denomination supports a dozen colleges and seminaries.
The origins of this church can be traced to discriminatory practices within John Street Methodist Church in New York City. Many black Christians left to form their own churches. The first church founded by the AME Zion Church was built in 1800 in Harlem and is considered the Mother church. One of the founders was William Hamilton, a prominent orator and abolitionist. The 1.2 millionmember denomination has churches on all continents except Australia. It has nine episcopal areas in the U.S. and three in Africa.
The Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church
The CME church was organized in 1870 by 41 former slave members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South in Jackson, Tenn. The 1.2 million-member denomination is organized into eleven episcopal districts, nine in the United States and two in Africa. Its theological school is Phillips School of Theology, part of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. The denomination sponsors four colleges in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas. The headquarters and publishing operations are located in Memphis, Tenn.
