About Us
History of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
In 1796, the African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in New York Cityby James Varick, Abraham Thompson, William Miller and others. The church was an outgrowth of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was necessitated because of discrimination and denial of religious liberty.
The founders of the church determined that this denomination would dedicate itself to the liberation of the human spirit. The early society was known as the "Freedom Church." Spiritual, social and economic emancipation were the hallmarks of their faith. It boasts as some of its members, James Varick, Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglas, Sojourner Truth to name a few.
The organization and structure of the church is discovered in the interpretation of its name.
African - denoted that the church would be led by the sons and daughters of Africa. The promotion of equality and parity among the human family would be their goal.
Methodist - John and Charles Wesley, the founders of Methodism, emphasized the need for order and consistency in personal and public professions of faith.
Epsicopal - The denomination is supervised by Bishops who are elected by the general church. The jurisdictions of these Bishops comprise an international connection. At present the A.M.E. Zion church is operative on five continents.
Zion - The term most frequently used in the Bible to describe the church of God. Zion was added to the name in 1848 to distinguish the denomination from other African Methodist bodies.
Explanation of the Official Logo
The triangle represents the God head, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit called the Holy Trinity. The "V" symbolizes victory under the leadership of James Varick. The Latin Cross represents Christianity the World over. "A" refers to the African background. "M" for the Methodist to the doctrine about God and Christ to which we adhere. "E" means we are an Episcopa Church overseen by Church Fathers, called Bishops. And "Z" for Zion, God's holy hill for our branch of Methdism.
