AME Zion

African Methodist Episcopal Zion

American Methodist Episcopal Zion

Started in New York when African Americans within the John Street Church were treated as second class citizens.

They were denied ordinationThey were forced to sit in segregated pewsThey had limited access to the Methodist clergyThey had limited access to communion

AME Zion

In response to this treatment Peter Williams and William Miller founded the African Chapel in 1796.

Later the chapel was renamed Zion Church and the members became know as the Zionites.

In 1801 the church, with the help of a white minister by the name of John McClaskey the church was incorporated as the African Methodist Episcopal Church of New York.

AME Zion

The first pastor was James Varick who later became the first black African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church bishop.

At their first annual conference in June 21, 1821 they membership voted to separate from the white-controlled Methodist Episcopal Church.

They also decided not to affiliate with AME Church in Philadelphia and voted to add Zion to their name to distinguish themselves from AME.