African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church - Timeline Event
Time Period
1821
Description
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church was a response to racial discrimination and segregation. John’s Street Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in New York did not allow blacks to preach or vote during conferences. In 1796, Peter Williams, James Varick, George Collins and Christopher Rush led blacks out of John Street Church and began holding separate meetings, with the permission of Francis Asbury, under the church name Zion. After name changes and debates regarding incorporation and leadership, they officially formed the AMEZ in 1821 in New York City. James Varick became the first bishop.
Today, it is the second largest African-American Methodist denomination (behind the African Methodist Episcopal Church), with approximately 1.4 million members.
Today, it is the second largest African-American Methodist denomination (behind the African Methodist Episcopal Church), with approximately 1.4 million members.
Interactive Timeline(s)
Browse Related Timeline Entries
Religious Groups
Methodist/Pietist Family: Other ARDA LinksMethodist/Pietist Family: Religious Family Tree
Biographies
Asbury, FrancisRelated Dictionary Terms
African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), Asbury, Francis (1745-1816), Bishop, Church, Denomination, Member, ZionPhotographs
First AME Zion Church, NYC- Library of Congress, LC-USZ61-1257
James Varick portrait- Hathi Trust- from One Hundred Years of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church by J. W. Hood
AMEZ publishing house- Hathi Trust- from One Hundred Years of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church by J. W. Hood
Book/Journal Source(s)
Reid, Daniel, Robert Linder, Bruce Shelley, and Harry Stout, 1990. Dictionary of Christianity in America Downers Grove, IL.Web Page Contributor
Benjamin T. GurrentzAffliated with: Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D. in Sociology
