WHAT WE BELIVE

The African Methodist Episcopal Church, founded in 1816, is the oldest denomination in the world established by people of African descent and from its very beginning has welcomed persons of all races.  As African Methodists, our belief system follows Wesleyan doctrine.  Our belief system is encapsulated in the Apostle's Creed (also known as the Affirmation of Faith). Our denomination was not founded because of doctrinal differences, but instead in protest against unequal treatment in worship, a practice not in line with Methodist doctrine and beliefs.

Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. The third day he arose from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the church universal; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and life everlasting. AMEN.

A.M.E. CHURCH MOTTO & MISSION

“God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family.”

The Mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is to minister to the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and environmental needs of all people by spreading Christ’s liberating gospel through word and deed. At every level of our church, we shall engage in carrying out our mission and purpose. We shall seek out and save the lost, and serve the needy through a continuing program of: 1) preaching the gospel, (2) feeding the hungry, (3) clothing the naked, (4) housing the homeless, (5) cheering the fallen, (6) providing jobs for the jobless, (7) administering to the needs of those in prisons, hospitals, nursing homes, asylums and mental institutions, senior citizens' homes; caring for the sick, the shut-in, the mentally and socially disturbed, and (8) encouraging thrift and economic advancement

Our Affirmation to Faith:
Apostle's  Creed


I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead; and buried. The third day he arose from the dead' he ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Church Universal, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

The A.M.E. Motto:

"God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family."


A.M.E. Mission:


The Mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is to minister to the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and environmental needs of all people by spreading Christ's liberating gospel through word and deed. At every level of the Connection and in every local church, the African Methodist Episcopal Church shall engage in carrying out the spirit of the original Free African Society, out of which the A.M.E. Church evolved: that is, to seek out and save the lost, and serve the needy through a continuing program of
(1) preaching the gospel,
(2) feeding the hungry,
(3) clothing the naked,
(4) housing the homeless, 
(5) cheering the fallen,
(6) providing jobs for the jobless,
(7) administering to the needs of those in prisons, hospitals, nursing homes, asylums and mental institutions, senior citizens' homes; caring for the sick, the shut-in, the mentally and socially disturbed, and
(8) encouraging thrift and economic advancement.


The Twenty Five Articles of Religion:

1. The Holy Trinity
 - We experience the one God through the three aspects of His personality;  namely, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
2. The Incarnation of Christ - In Christ there are two natures, The Divine and the Human joined together in one person.
3. The Resurrection of Christ - Christ truly arose from the dead and ascended into heaven.
4. The Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit is of one substance with the Father and the Son.
5. The Holy Scriptures - The Bible contains all we need to know to be saved.
6. The Old Testament - The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; in both the Old and the New Testament eternal life is offered to mankind.
7. "Original Sin" - This corruption of the nature of every man is called "Original Sin."  It goes back to Adam, the first man.
8. Free Will - Every person is free to choose right or wrong; but even if you choose right, you must have God's help to live a good and holy life.
9. The Justifcation of Man - We are saved by faith in Christ and by that faith alone. Good works cannot save us.
10. Good Works - Good works are fruits of our faith in Christ
11. Works of Supererogation - The belief one can do more good than God requires is called "works of supererogation."
12. Sin After Justification - Christians who truly repent receive God's forgiveness and rise again to a good and holy life.
13. The Church - The Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men and women in which the pure word of God is preached and the sacraments duly administered.
14. Purgatory - we do not believe in the idea of purgatory, which is the doctrine that here is a place other than heaven or hell where souls go to be cleansed.
15. Familiar Speech - Public worship and the sacraments should be conducted in a language the people can understand.
16. The Sacraments - There are only two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
17. Baptism - Baptism is the sign of regeneration or the new birth.
18. The Lord's Supper - The supper of the Lord is a symbol of Christ's suffering and death for us.
19. Communion in Both Kinds - Both the bread and wine are to be given to the people in the Lord's Supper.
20. The Sacrifice of Christ - The sacrifice of Christ is for the sins of the whole world, both original and actual.
21. The Marriage of Ministers - The ministers of Christ are not commanded by God's law to abstain from marriage.
22. Rites and Ceremonies of the Church - It is not necessary that the rites and ceremonies should in all places be the same or exactly alike.
23. The Government of the United States - All righteous government should be supported and defended by Christians.
24. Christian Men's Goods - Christians have a right to own private property. However, every man should give liberally of his possessions to
help others.
25. A Christian Man's Oath - Christians should not swear. They may take oath, however, as may be required by the courts of the land.