Early years
Who founded the AME Church, what year and where
What year was the AME Church established formally as a denomination
The AME Church was founded by Richard Allen in 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The AME Church was established formally as a denomination in 1816. This was the first National Black Church in the United States.
REF: 2016-AMEC Discipline Page 11
What is the name of the Bishop of the 11th Episcopal District of the AME Church
When will he retire
What is the Supervisor's name
The Right Rev. Frank Madison Reid, III is the bishop of the 11th Episcopal District
He was elected and consecrated the 138th bishop and will retire 2024
The supervisor's name is Marlaa' Hall-Reid
Ref: 2016- AMEC Discipline Page 720 and AMEC History Web
How many conferences does the AME Church have and name them (Hint: begin with church conference)
There are five (5) conferences in the AME church: Church, Quarterly, District, Annual, General
Ref: 2016 Discipline Page 816
What is the Steward Board in the AME Church?
The number of stewards for each church shall not be fewer than ___nor more than ____.
Stewards are nominated how often?
Stewards are nominated by the ________ and confirmed by the ______ _______.
The Steward Board is the "pastor's cabinet" and spiritual lay leaders of the AME church. It is the highest office in the local church held by laypersons.
Not fewer than (3) nor more than (19).
Nominated for a term of one year but the same person may be nominated annually.
Nominated by the pastor and confirmed by the Quarterly Conference
Ref: 2016-AMEC Discipline Page 85,86 and The Role of the AMEC Stewards handbook
What is the AME Church motto
God our Father, Christ our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit our Comforter, Humankind our Family.
Ref: 2016- AMEC Discipline Page 707
Who was the first person elected a bishop of the AME church and in what year
Daniel Coker, born Isaac Wright was the first elected bishop of the AME Church
Coker was elected by the delegates at the first General Conference in Philadelphia in 1816, but he deferred to Richard Allen. Therefore, Coker was the first person elected bishop but Richard Allen was the first person elected and consecrated.
Ref: AMEC History web
How many women have been elected as Bishops in the AME church
Which one retired at the 2021 General Conference
Five (5) women have been elected as Bishops of the AME Church.
1. Rev. Vashti M. McKenzie
2. Rev. Carolyn Tyler Guidry
3. Rev. Sarah Frances Taylor Davis
4. Rev. E. Anne Henning Byfield
5. Rev Francine A. Brookins
Bishop Vashti McKenzie retired at the 2021 General Conference
Ref: 2016- AME Discipline Page 717-719 and AMEC History web
What is the highest conference and the Supreme governing body of the AME church, when does it meet and where is the next one
The General Conference is the highest conference and Supreme governing body of the AMEC which meets every 4 years and the next one is scheduled for July 3-10,2024 in Cincinnati, Oh
Ref: 2016-AMEC Discipline 159, 160, 252 and AMEC web
What are the duties of the Trustee Board
The trustees manage all the temporal concerns of the church. (Example: take care of all church property)
Ref: 2016-AMEC Discipline Page 89
Name the six (6) conferences that make up the Eleventh Episcopal District
Florida Conference, Central Conference, South Conference, West Coast Conference, East Conference, and the Bahamas Conference
Ref: 2016- AMEC Discipline Page 283
When and where was Richard Allen Born
How much did Richard Allen pay for his freedom
Richard Allen was born a slave on February 14,1760 in Philadelphia, PA
In 1780 Allen bought his freedom at a cost of $2,000 continental dollars by working extra jobs on his own time over a period of five years.
Ref: AMEC History web
Name the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and fourth elected and consecrated Bishops of the AME Church
1. Richard Allen 2. Morris Brown 3. Edward Waters 4. William Paul Quinn
These bishops also have Institutions of Higher Education named after them:
Allen University-Columbia, SC and Richard Allen Chapel-Dallas, TX
Morris Brown College - Atlanta, GA
Edward Waters College - Jacksonville, FL
Paul Quinn College - Dallas, TX
Ref: 2016-AMEC Discipline Page 3 and Page 728-729
At what conference are pastors asked by the presiding elder Disciplinary Questions related to their church. (Example: Are there any appeals from the members of the church? How many persons have been received as new members? How many members have died this quarter?)
Presiding Elders ask pastors these Disciplinary Questions at the Quarterly Conference
Ref: 2016-AMEC Discipline Page 292-294
What are the main functions of the stewardesses
The main duties of the Stewardesses are to assist the Stewards in the discharge of their duties relative to the rituals of baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Ref: 2016-AMEC Discipline Page 92
What is the AME Discipline and when was the first edition published
The AME Discipline is a book containing the laws and doctrine of the AME Church. The First edition was published in 1817 by Richard Allen and Jacob Tapisco.
Ref: 2016- AMEC Discipline Page 1 and AMEC History web
What is the name of the forerunner of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (Hint: FAS)
The AMEC grew out of the Free African Society (FAS) which Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and others established in Philadelphia in 1787 after walking out of predominantly white St. George's Methodist Episcopal church because of discrimination.
The FAS was America's first black mutual aid society that served the spiritual, economic and social needs of fugitive slaves and other African Americans in the city.
Ref: 2016-AMEC Discipline Page 16 and 709
Bishops are elected for how long
A bishop may not be assigned to the same episcopal district for more than _____ consecutive quadrennium's (4 year terms)
Bishops are elected for life but are required to retire at age 75 (from active assignment).
No more than two consecutive quadrennium's (total 8 years)
2016-AMEC Discipline Page 167 and AMEC History web
At what conference are the pastors and presiding elders given their appointments
(Pastors are appointed to a church and a Presiding Elder is appointed over a District, (example: Tampa District, Lakeland District, St. Petersburg District)
How long are these appointments
Pastors and Presiding Elders are given their appointments at the Annual Conference by the Presiding Bishop
The assignments are for one year
2016-AMEC Discipline Page 147, 152,164
What does WMS mean?
What does YPD mean?
What does RAYAC mean?
What does SOA mean?
What does YAR mean?
WMS: Women's Missionary Society
YPD: Young People's and Children's Division
RAYAC: Richard Allen Young Adult Council
SOA: Sons of Allen
YAR: Young Adult Representative
Ref: 2016- AMEC Discipline Page 812 and 479
What does our name AME mean
AFRICAN - Means that the church was organized by people of African descent and heritage. It does not mean that the church was founded in Africa or that it is for people of African descent only. It does mean that those Americans who founded it were of African descent and we proudly recognize this fact. We welcome all who worship Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
METHODIST - Refers to the church's membership in the family of Methodist churches. Richard Allen, the founder and first bishop, felt that the form and format of Methodism would best suit the needs of the African community at that time.
EPISCOPAL - Refers to the form of government under which the church operates. The Episcopal form of government means that the chief executive and administrative officers of our denomination are our bishops. Their authority is given them by the General Conference, elected representatives of the entire denomination. Their responsibilities are to oversee the spiritual and temporal affairs of the church.
Ref: AMEC History web
What is the name of the first AME Church in the United States and where is it located
What three (3) people are entombed there
Bethel AME Church lovingly known as "Mother Bethel" African Methodist Episcopal Church, is the first AME Church in the nation and was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1794 by Richard Allen
Bishop Richard Allen, his wife Sarah Allen and Bishop Morris Brown are entombed in the basement of "Mother Bethel".
Ref: 2016 -AMEC Discipline Page 16 and AMEC History web
Who is the senior bishop of the AME Church and where does he preside
(Senior Bishop: The oldest, active bishop, in point of election, shall be known as the Senior Bishop for ceremonial purposes only.)
Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr, (Elected 115) is the senior bishop and presently presides in the 10 Episcopal District (Texas)
Ref: 2016-AMEC Discipline Page 173, 717 and AMEC web
Who presides over the annual conference
The bishop presides over the Annual Conference
Ref: 2016- AMEC Discipline Page 164
The mission of this organization is to teach, train and nurture adults, young adults, college students, teenagers and children in God's Word, preparing them for Christian services by emphasizing Christian principles
This is the mission of the Church School in the local church
Ref: 2016-AMEC Discipline Page 95
What is the official doctrinal stewardship rule for giving in the AME Church
Tithing is the official stewardship position of the AME Church.
Ref: 2016- AMEC Discipline Page 53