Also known as the AME Zion Church or AMEZ, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is a historically black Methodist denomination headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Officially formed in New York City in 1821, the church body had actually operated for a couple of decades before that time. Its roots go back to 1796, when several black members of John Street Methodist Church in New York City left to form their own churches due to racial discrimination by white members of the church.
The first church built by AME Zion Church was formed in 1800, and named Zion. Originally, these black churches were still part of the Methodist Episcopal Church denomination, although they operated independently. Soon multiple congregations were formed, mostly from black parishioners leaving the John Street Church. Although the membership of these churches were African-American, they were ministered to by ordained white Methodist ministers.
In 1820, six of these churches met to ordain James Varick, an African-American member, as an elder. The following year, Varick was named the first General Superintendent of the AME Zion Church, and the first bishop of the denomination in 1822, an act that was not without controversy among the white-dominated Methodist Episcopal Church.
The denomination incorporated Zion into its name to differentiate it from the African Methodist Episcopal Church which, although it had similar beginnings and shared a Methodist theology, was unrelated.
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was heavily involved in anti-slavery activity, becoming known as the Freedom Church.The new denomination spread quickly through the Northern states and, after the American Civil War, it spread to the South. By 1880, there were fifteen Southern conferences.
AMEZ remained smaller than AME because many of its ministers did not have the authority to perform marriages, and there was a tendency to avoid political roles. In general, its leadership was weaker than AME.
However, the denomination was one of the first to ordain women, and Bishop Alexander Walters was a co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1909. Another of its bishops, James Walker Hood, was Grand Master for the entire South of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge, a secular organization that strengthened the black community.
The church has also placed heavy emphasis on education, organization an extensive Sunday School network and founding several institutions of higher education. Today, the denomination operates Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina, as well as Hood Seminary, and two junior colleges.
The denomination's missionaries are active in North America, South America, Africa, and the Caribbean, and has conducted missions work in England, India, and elsewhere.
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is similar in doctrine and practice to the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and has negotiated with the CME about a possible merger. The AME Zion Church is in full communion with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Union Methodist Protestant Church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, the Union American Methodist Episcopal Church, and the United Methodist Church.
The focus of websites listed in this category is on the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and may include denominational sites, affiliate agencies, councils, associations, corporations, or organizations, as well as informational sites. Sites representing local congregations, however, should be submitted to the Local & Global category representing the church's location.
Recommended Resources
Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the publishing house also operates as the James Varick Bookstore. Its online catalog lists a variety of printed and other resources for the American Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, including logo products, pamphlets, church supplies, Sunday School literature, study books and other Christian books, cards, and certificates, which may be purchased online.
http://www.amezpublishinghouse.com/
American Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
The AME Zion Church is a historically black Christian denomination based in the United States. Its history, heritage, mission, and Episcopal districts are listed, along with its board of bishops, general officers, departments, councils, and administrative personnel. Scheduled meetings and events are posted to the site, and links to AMEZ-affiliated sites are featured, including schools, colleges, and seminaries affiliated with the denomination.
http://www.amez.org/
Christian Education Department
Created to promote and supervise the training of leaders for the American Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, so as to equip them to disciple the entire membership, the department’s goals and objectives are outlined, along with its strategic priorities, teacher’s guides, and an overview of its age-specific training programs, commission members, administrative contacts, and a calendar of programs and events.
http://www.cedamezion.com/
With campuses in Salisbury, North Carolina and Greenville, Alabama, Hood Theological Seminary was founded in 1879 as part of Livingstone College, but is now independent, and sponsored by the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. Its affiliations, degrees and programs, tuition and fees, campus life programs, and alumni services are put forth.
https://www.hoodseminary.edu/
Women's Home and Overseas Missionary Society
The WH&OMS is the largest and oldest of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church organizations. Created in 1880, the Society supports overseas church-planting ventures by the denomination, with its flagship overseas mission church in Brewerville, Liberia. Mission imperatives and emphasis are specified, its leadership and administrative contacts are posted, along with a calendar of events and other resources.
http://whoms.org/
