About St. Paul AME

The word 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 was for persons of African descent only. The church’s roots are of the family of Methodist churches. Methodism provides an orderly system of rules and regulations and places emphasis on a plain and simple gospel. Episcopal refers to the form of government under which the church operates. The chief executive and administrative officers of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination are the Bishops of the church.

Our Beliefs

Methodist in terms of its basic doctrine and order of worship. The split from the main branch of the Methodist Church was not a result of doctrinal differences but rather the result of a time of slavery, oppression and the dehumanization of people of African descent and many of these un-Christian practices were brought into the church, forcing Richard Allen and a group of fellow worshippers of color to form a splinter denomination of the Methodist Church.

Our Purposes

Molding believers

Make available God’s biblical principles,

Spread Christ’s liberating gospel, and

Provide continuing programs which will enhance the entire social development of all people.

Our Motto & Vision

God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family

At every level of the Connection and in every local church, the AME Church shall engage in carrying out the spirit of the original Free African Society, out of which the AME Church evolved: that is, to seek out and save the lost, and to serve the needy. It is also the duty of Church to continue to encourage all members to become involved in all aspects of church training.