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Local Churches

History
A African Methodist Episcopal Zion church, or even AME Zion Church, was officially formed around 1848, but operated for the total years prior to so. A church may be traced back to the John Street Methodist Church of New York City. As a consequence acts of open discrimination (like black parishoners being forced to leave worship), several black Christians left to form their own churches. A foremost church founded per AME Zion Church was built around 1800 and was named Zion. These early churches were however a share of the Methodist church, although the congregations remained separate.

A fledgling church grew & before long multiple churches were formed according to a original congregation. These churches were attended by melanise congregants, however ministered to by whiten Episcopalian ministers. Within 1820, six of the churches met to ordain James Varick as an elder. The debate raged in the white-dominated Methodist church over a possibility of blacken ministers. This debate concluded in July 30, 1822 when James Varick was ordained the number 1 bishop of the AME Zion church. Note
A AME Zion Church is different from either a African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Structure
a general conference is the supreme administrative unit of the church (s. 1988). Between meetings of a conference, the church is administered per Board of Bishops. A denomination operates Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC, and two junior colleges. It's missionaries move around N & South Us, Africa, & a Carribean area (s. 1988). The Church Today
A church grew apace using a ordination of melanize ministers, however was mostly confined to a northern United States until the guide of the American Civil War. In todays world, a AME Zion church when about One.Two million members by using outreach activities within several areas around the world.

Sources of Information

World Book encyclopedia 1988.

Historical Catechism of the A. M. E. Zion Church
By Bishop C.R. Harris. Question-and-answer format. Full text of booklet published in 1922 which explains the history and doctrines of the A.M.E. Zion Church.

The Anthology of Zion Methodism
A quick reference compiled by W.H. Davenport.

One Hundred Years of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Book by J.W. Hood, published in 1895. Includes many portraits.

Sketch of the Early History of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
1914 book by Bishop J.W. Hood.

History of the A. M. E. Zion Church in America
Full text of compendium by Bishop John Jamison Moore. First published in 1884.

A Short Account of the Rise and Progress of the African M. E. Church in America
Bishop Christopher Rush examines the history of the A.M.E. and A.M.E. Zion churches, and the rivalry between them.

York-Chester District of the A.M.E. Zion SC Conference
Sub-section of the South Atlantic Episcopal District. Overview, committees, elders, events and churches.