African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME)

A historical and descriptive introduction. Local practice varies; the examples below are not a judgment of a community’s faithfulness.

When and how it began

Richard Allen and other Black Methodist leaders organized the AME Church in 1816, following earlier efforts to secure independent worship and resist racial discrimination. Bethel Church in Philadelphia was central to this history. The separation concerned racial exclusion, not rejection of Methodist theology.

Beliefs and practices

The church combines Wesleyan theology, sacramental worship, and episcopal leadership with a historic commitment to education, dignity, and social justice.

A typical worship service

Worship may include hymns, prayers, Scripture, preaching, and Communion, with either liturgical or contemporary forms.

What the worship space looks like

An altar or Communion table, pulpit, font, and cross are common; meeting spaces vary widely.

Branches and differences

Bishops oversee episcopal districts. The AME Church and African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church are separate denominations with different institutional histories.

Explore related profiles

Methodist and Wesleyan churches

Sources & further reading

Historical overviews support the account of origins. Official church documents describe the community’s own beliefs and practice.

Reviewed September 24, 2026. Broad family descriptions do not settle local policies or every contested point of history.