What AME’s Believe

In conceiving Methodism, John Wesley adapted 25 of 39 Articles of Religion from the Anglican Church.  Some of the articles he rejected aimed at distinguishing and distancing the Anglican Church from Roman Catholicism, e.g., the sacrements, rejection of mass, and celibate clergy. In the organizational process of the Methodist Church in  the United States of the historical Christman Conference of Baltimore in 1784, these 25 articles were adopted. They remain the basic tenets for Methodism. The AME Church adopted 24 Articles from the Methodist Church. Article 23 was added to reflect the African Methodist’s attitude toward national government, making a total of 25 Articles. The articles are biblically based and some scriptures are provided for your reference. These articles are quoted as they appear in the 2016 Discipline. We affirm the Apostles’ Creed and accept the Articles of Religion as defined in the Doctrine and Discipline of the AME Church. Please click here to read them in their entirety.

The Historical Preamble

The African Methodist Episcopal Church, whose founders affirmed their humanity in the face of slavery and racism, stands in defense of disadvantaged and oppressed peoples in the 21st century. From the origins of the Free African Society through the involvement of the AME clergy and lay in the Civil War of the 1860s and the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, the AMEC has preached salvation from sin and deliverance from bondage. The mission expanded to others within the African Diasporas in the Americas, Africa, the Carribean and Europe.  Whether in schools, seminaries, hospitals or social-services centers, the AME Church has lived the gospel outside its sanctuaries. This mandate still informs its ministry, vision and mission in the Church’s third century of existence.

The Mission

The Mission of the AME Church is to minister to the social, spiritual and physical development of all people.

The Vision

At every level of the Connection and in every local church, the AME Church shall engage in carrying out the spirit of the original Free African Society, out of which the AME Church evolved: that is, to seek out and save the lost and to serve the needy. It is also the duty of the church to continue to encourage all members to become involved in all aspects of church training.

The Purposes

The ultimate purposes are:
    1) to make available God’s biblical principles,
    2) to sread Christ’s liberating gospel and
    3) to provide continuing programs that will enhance the entire social development of all people.

The Objectives

In order to meet the needs at every level of the Connection and in every local church, the AME Church shall implement strategies to train all members in
    1) Christian Discipleship
    2) Christian leadership
    3) current teaching methods and materials
    4) the history and significance of the AME Church
    5) God’s biblical principles
    6) social development, all of which should be applied to daily living.