African - the church is organized by people of African descent and heritage.  This does not mean that the church is only open to Africans or African-Americans, it is simply a recognition of the African-American founders. 

Methodist - the church is part of the family of Methodist Churches.  The Methodist Church family recommends that religion be presented in a simple and organized way. 

Episcopal - the church is organized according to the Episcopal form of government.  This means that Bishops are the head officers of our denomination.

Church -  the church is part of the Christian Church which is an assembly of believers that have accepted Jesus as their personal savior and their intercessor to God.  This means that Jesus is the example of how we should live our daily lives.  Furthermore, we believe in the power of the Holy Spirit as a helper to someone willing to become a true servant of God.  Jesus Christ is the spiritual head of the Christian Church.

The AME Church, or AMEC, was founded in 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Like many religious groups, the founding of the AME Church was the result of serious controversy.  Even in church, African-Americans were treated as second-class citizens.

 
At Philadelphia's St. George AME Church, the prayers of African-American members were interrupted with requests that they move to give the White members priority seating.  After this incident, the Black members of St. George vowed never to worship again under such oppressive circumstances. 
 

A group of African-Americans, led by Richard Allen, began a movement to organize a church where racial discrimination would not hinder their ability to openly worship the Lord.  The new church retained the basic Methodist principles which are as follows: 

Most members of Richard Allen's group were illiterate and had very little money.  Even with these obstacles, the group managed to organize Bethel AME Church by purchasing an old blacksmith shop and moving it to the corner of Sixth and Lombard streets in Philadelphia.  Gradually, more African-based churches were organized along the east coast in Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and many other states.  In 1816, the AME church was officially formed as an denomination. Richard Allen served as the first bishop of the AME church.  Today, Bethel AME is one of Philadelphia's historic shrines and AME members span the globe under the common doctrine of "God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, Man Our Brother."  Richard Allen believed that Methodism had the necessary elements to promote progress, worship God openly, and occupy every available office in the church and in the overall community.