History of African Methodist Episcopal Church

The AMEC grew out of the Free African Society (FAS) which Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and others established in Philadelphia in 1787. When officials at St. George’s MEC pulled blacks off their knees while praying, FAS members discovered just how far American Methodists would go to enforce racial discrimination against African Americans. Hence, these members of St. George’s made plans to transform their mutual aid society into an African congregation. Although most wanted to affiliate with the Protestant Episcopal Church, Allen led a small group who resolved to remain Methodists. In 1794 Bethel AME was dedicated with Allen as pastor. To establish Bethel’s independence from interfering white Methodists, Allen, a former Delaware slave, successfully sued in the Pennsylvania courts in 1807 and 1815 for the right of his congregation to exist as an independent institution. Because black Methodists in other middle Atlantic communities encountered racism and desired religious autonomy, Allen called them to meet in Philadelphia to form a new Wesleyan denomination, the AME.

3rd EPISCOPAL DISTRICT ame cHURCH

Mt. Vernon Ave is a servant church in the 3rd Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Under the Episcopal Leadership of The Rt. Rev. Errenous E. McCloud, Jr., the 127th elected Bishop in the AME Church. Our Episcopal Supervisor is Patricia Russell-McCloud, ESQ.

Ohio /South Ohio annual Conference

Mt. Vernon Ave is in the Ohio / South Ohio Conference of the 3rd district which covers Columbus, Springfield and Xenia Ohio. Our Presiding Elder is the Rev. Dr. Betty Holley.