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Why Was The African Methodist Episcopal Church Created?

In November , 1787, the colored people belonging to the Methodist Society in Philadelphia convened together in order to take into consideration the evils under which they labored, arising from unkind treatment by their white brethren, who considered them a nuisance in the house of worship, and even pulled them off their knees while in the act of prayer and ordered them to the back seats.  For these and other acts of unchristian conduct, they considered it their duty to devise a plan in order to build a house of their own in which they could worship God under their own vine and fig tree.

In or about April of 1816, the colored people at Baltimore and other places were treated in similar manner as those in Philadelphia, and they were compelled to seek places of worship for themselves, rather than go to law.  This induced the people to call a General Conference in April, 1816, to form a Connection.  Delegates appointed to represent different churches met those of Philadelphia and taking into consideration their grievances, and in order to secure their privilege and promote union among themselves, it was: Resolved,

“That the People of Philadlephia, Baltimore and other places who should unite with them, should become one body under the name and style of the African Methodist Church.”

A.  Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference whereby Christians are distinguished from others who are not baptized, but it is also a sign of regeneration or the new birth.

B. The baptism of young children is to be retained in the church.  We hold that all children are members of the Kingdom of God by virtue of he unconditional benefits of atonement.  They, therefore are entitled to baptism.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION