African Methodist Episcopal ChurchDepartment of Christian Education

“WHY AM I,

A.M.E.The Right Reverend John R. Bryant

Presiding Prelate of the 4th Episcopal DistrictSenior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

The Rev. Dr. James F. Miller, 4th Episcopal District Director of Christian EducationThe Rev. Ernest J. Garrison,4th Episcopal District Church School Superintendent

Bro. Jerry Givan, Michigan Conference Director of Christian Education

The Rev. Ernest J. Garrison, Facilitator

“WHY AM I A.M.E.”

• PURPOSE:To examine our doctrine its uniqueness to other Christian denominations

• GOAL:To appreciate and discuss our uniqueness to the point of a better understanding of our mission as African Methodists

• OBJECTIVE:

To empower, equip and engage the mission within us.

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“WHY AM I A.M.E.”

• BELIEVE:Christian in that we believe in GOD that has given us our Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ.

• FAITH:Methodist which only means our method of

worship through the evangelical faith which ishaving saving grace in our Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ.

• DENOMINATION:African Methodist Episcopal

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“WHY AM I A.M.E.

First of all, we need to establish three major truths as the basis of our discussion:I. A.M.E. is a denomination within the Christian Faith.II. A.M.E. is not better than any other denomination, rather it is unique, based

on its mission and collective individuals calling

III. A.M.E. is a denomination that is made up of people of similar spiritual gifts, talents and divine appointed missions since 1787.

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“WHY AM I A.M.E.

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:

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“WHY AM I A.M.E.

(1) preaching the gospel:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and

of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded

you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20

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“WHY AM I A.M.E.(1) preaching the gospel:

“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

2 Timothy 4:2-5

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“WHY AM I A.M.E.

(2) feeding the hungry

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, Matthew 25:35

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“WHY AM I A.M.E.

(3) clothing the naked:

“I needed clothes and you clothed me,……………….”

Matthew 25:36

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“WHY AM I A.M.E.

(4) housing the homeless:

“I was a stranger and you invited me in.”

Matthew 25:35

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“WHY AM I A.M.E.

(5) cheering the fallen:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from GOD.”

2 Corinthians 1:4

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“WHY AM I A.M.E.

(6) providing jobs for the jobless:

“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

2 Thessalonians 3:10

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“WHY AM I A.M.E.

(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:

“… I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

Matthew 25: 35

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“WHY AM I A.M.E.

(8) encourage thrift and economic advancement:

“Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.”

Matthew 25: 27

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“WHY AM I A.M.E.

Our name further explains us:

African: Our denomination was founded by people of African decent in 1787.

This does not mean others are not welcome, rather a historic foundation in our name.

Methodist: Our faith and doctrine is Methodist.

Episcopal: Our form of government is with Bishop, Elders and Deacons or the Apostolic accession. 15

“WHY AM I A.M.E.

We are the first Incorporated Black Church in America (1816) with a unique organization:

Episcopal Districts:

We have 20 Episcopal District comprising of the Continental United States, Canada and

India1-13, the continent of African 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 with the Islands and

Europe as District 16 16

“WHY AM I A.M.E.

We are the first Incorporated Black Church in American (1816) with a unique organization:

Annual Conference:

These are geographic areas that arecomprised of Churches of a specific location that meets annually with a

Bishop jurisdiction.17

“WHY AM I A.M.E.

We are the first Incorporated Black Church in American (1816) with a unique organization:

Presiding Elders District:

These are geographic areas that arecomprised of Churches of a specific location that is supervised by an Presiding Elder in the absence of the Bishop.

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“WHY AM I A.M.E.

We are the first Incorporated Black Church in American (1816) with a unique organization:

Local Church:

Each local Church is Sheppard by

an Itinerate Elder (usually) that is

appointed pastor by the Presiding

Bishop.19