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Name:
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Dates:
Founded: April 9, 1799
Profile:
The African Methodist Episcopal Church is the oldest African-American Christian denomination
in the United States. It was created by Richard Allen, the first black man to be ordained in
the Methodist Episcopal Church, because of the discrimination and even physical abuse he
and other freed blacks had to endure at the hands of white Christians during religious services.
In 1787 Allen and some others made a formal break with the Methodist Episcopal Church and founded the Free African Society; however, this group gradually moved away from Allen's theological position and became increasingly associated with Quaker ideas, something which displeased Allen greatly and caused him to found a new church altogether. In 1799 six black Methodist congregations came together and founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church, consecrating Richard Allen as their first bishop.
Richard Allen had a very strong personality and could be single-minded in the pursuit of his goals, leading to any number of conflicts with other religious leaders. As a result, many black congregations broke away from the A.M.E church or refused to join altogether. When he died, however, the A.M.E. church comprised over 7,000 members in congregations throughout the United States. They even sent out foreign missions to Canada, the Caribbean, and West Africa; by 1990 four of A.M.E.'s administrative districts were located in Africa.
After the Civil War the A.M.E. sent many missionaries South to help the newly freed blacks. There the reception was mixed; some were put off by the traditionally staid religious services while others appreciated not only the A.M.E.'s strong organization but its independence from white control. Today the A.M.E. can claim well over two million members in more then 6,000 congregations, making it the largest black denomination in America.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
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