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THE WORK OF THE DOCTRINE AND DISCIPLINE OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

WHY METHODISM? Richard Allen Was born February 14, 1760 Converted 1777 Licensed to preach 1782 Ordained Deacon 1799 by Bishop Francis Asbury

THE FREE AFRICAN SOCIETY The Free African Society was organized by Richard Allen and Absalom Jones, April 12, 1787. “A society without regard to religious tenets, provided, the persons lived an orderly and sober life, in order to support one another in sickness and for the benefit of their widows and fatherless children.” (This was NOT a religious body)

THE FREE AFRICAN SOCIETY Richard Allen and others persons of African descent who were members of St Georges’ Methodist Church withdrew and walked out in November 1787, after being pulled from their knees during prayer. They had just finished building the church balcony for which they provided the funds and the labor for construction.

THE FIRST GENERAL CONFERENCE The First General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church convened April 7 – 11, 1816, in Philadelphia, PA, under the mantra that has appeared in the Historical Statement of every Book of Discipline beginning with the first in 1817, until the most recent 2021,

THE FIRST GENERAL CONFERENCE “About this time, the colored people at Baltimore and other places were treated in a similar manner as those in Philadelphia…This induced the people to call a General Conference in April 1816, to form a Connection. (It was resolved) “That the people of Philadelphia, Baltimore, and other places who should unite with them, should become one body under the name and style of The African Methodist Episcopal Church.”

THE FIRST GENERAL CONFERENCE April 7, 1816, the General Conference was called to order by Richard Allen, with 15 ministers in attendance, and lay persons.

THE FIRST GENERAL CONFERENCE April 9, 1816, election of a Bishop took place. Rev. Daniel Coker was first elected but declined to accept the office for unknown reasons. Rev. Richard Allen was then elected and set apart to serve as Bishop. Richard Allen was ordained Elder and consecrated Bishop by a “Presbytery” of five ministers that included Absalom Jones, the first Black minister ordained by the Church of England.

THE FIRST GENERAL CONFERENCE April 11, 1816, in Richard Allen’s first address to the delegation, he noted that the Newly Constituted Church has two options for religious denominations with which they can affiliate – Methodist or Church of England. He then offered his preference:

THE FIRST GENERAL CONFERENCE

“We (Allen and Jones) were in favor of being attached to the Methodist Connection; for I was confident that there was no religious sect or denomination would suit the capacity of the Colored people as well; for plain simple gospel suits best for my people; for unlearned can understand; and the reason Methodist is so successful in awakening and conversion of the Colored people, the plain doctrine and having a good discipline.”

THE FIRST GENERAL CONFERENCE Richard Allen’s preference for Methodism was NOT based upon the treatment that the fledging group had experienced at St Georges’ or at the hands of American Methodist Church officials, but upon the foundational tenets of John Benjamin Wesley’s Methodism.

JOHN BENJAMIN WESLEY Was born in 1703, the fifteenth child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley His father was Rector of Epworth Church (Church of England) Ordained Priest at Christ Church (Church of England)

INFLUENCES The Holy Club organized at Lincoln College, Oxford, with the goal of personal holiness. Strict practices: pray three times a day; fast two times per week; meditate one hour daily; recite a Collect; observe all Holy Days; keep a diary; rehearse conversations; examine yourself for signs of grace.

INFLUENCES Methodist by definition: “One who lives according to methodist laid down in the Bible.” A name of derision by fellow students: “By rule they eat by rule they drink By rule they do all things but think Accuse the priests of lose behavior To get more in the laymen’s favor Method alone must guide them all When themselves ‘methodist’ they call.”

INFLUENCES Monrovian (devout German Christians) LOVE FEAST True Conversion took place for John Wesley on May 24, 1738, at 8:45 p.m., at a Meeting House on Aldersgate Street, when “his heart became strangely warmed.” “Peculiar incitements to holiness – distained by the city folk because of the ‘enthusiasm’ with which he preached / embraced by ‘colliers’ (common folk/laborers/thugs!).

INFLUENCES Orders of Ministry in keeping with the Alexandrian Model – There are only two Orders of ministry – Presbyters (Elders) and Deacons. A “presbytery” (group of ministers) select from among themselves one who performs a “governance role/with a set of responsibilities to be Bishop. This is NOT a separate Order. Those so selected/elected are Primus inter pares (Lt) – First among equals.

INFLUENCES The Conference – A time to “confer” and out of those “conversations” came “doctrinal minutes or the Catechism of Faith and General Rules for membership. 24 of the Articles of Religion were taken from the Church of England.

THE DOCTRINE AND DISCIPLINE Structure - Historically: 01

Articles of Religion

Rules of Band Societies (Doctrinal Minutes) Conferences and Conventions Preachers before the Annual Conference

Methodist Polity - HM Turner - Best Practices Sacramental Services

THE DOCTRINE AND DISCIPLINE Revision and update to the Doctrine and Discipline of the AME Church 01

Instructions

Template

LEGISLATION Instructions for preparing Legislation to be presented to the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Each Bill must adhere to the following format, answering the questions of What? Where? How? Why?

LEGISLATION Title (What?) Assign a Title/Subject to the matter (What?) presented. The Title/Subject should be concise, yet clear, typically one line.

LEGISLATION Reference (Where?) Indicate all sections (Where?) in the current Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2008 that are impacted by the proposal legislation. Include Part, Section, Article and page number(s).

LEGISLATION Intent (How?) Explain (How?) the proposed legislation will impact the Church. Objectives, Changes, Additions, etc...

LEGISLATION Rationale (Why?) (Why?) are these changes / medications /additional necessary? Please elaborate.

LEGISLATION Text The text of the Bill should be printed “double space” exactly as it is to appear in the Revised Discipline. Each line should be numbered (1, 2, 3, etc.)

LEGISLATION How Much - Budgetary Impact Estimated cost of implementation.

LEGISLATION The DISCIPLINE requires that proposed legislation be in the hands of the General Secretary ninety (90) days prior to the opening of the General Conference. Legislation may be mailed to the Office of the General Secretary in hardcopy text. Or the Bill may be transmitted electronically via an online form.

LEGISLATION TEMPLATE To submit legislation, please save this document to your computer, enter the information requested below, and then email a copy to the General Secretary. Bill Number Title Reference Intent Rationale

LEGISLATION Online Review Revisions Committee Three General Conference Readings / On Screen Review refreshed daily Sample Legislation Compilation Committee

SAMPLE BILL 1. Title 2. Trustee Board Nomination Flexibity 3. 4. First and Last Name 5. Gerald Cooper 6. 7. Email 8. gacooper40@gmail.com 9. 10. Page Reference in Current AME Discipline 11. p. 99 12. PART V. Section I.A.2.b.3) d) 13. 14. Intent 15. To provide flexibility in the process for nominating local church trustees.

SAMPLE BILL 16. Rationale 17. Some churches face the challenge of not having enough willing or 18. suitable members for the pastor to nominate twice the number of 19. trustees to be elected. Churches in this predicament will either elect a 20. Trustee Board that is too small to efficiently serve the congregation, 21. resort to various means of circumventing the law, or ignore the law 22. altogether . Additionally, some pastors and congregations would 23. wecome the opportunity for members to hasve greater input into who is 24. nominated to serve on the Trustee Board. The proposed revision: 25. Preserves the pastor’s authority to nominate twice the number to be 26. elected, 27. Preserves the right of members to have options to choose from when 28. electing trustees, and 29. Provide an opportunity for members to make nominations if the pastor 30. nominates fewer than twice the nubmer to be elected.

SAMPLE BILL 31. Curret Text 32. Part V. Section I.A.2.b.3) d) 33. The minister at the meeting for election shall nominate twice the number 34. of persons to be elected. Said persons shall have given consent in 35. writing for their names to be placed in nomination. 36. 37. Amended Text 38. The pastor shall nominate the number of trustees to be elected and may 39. nominate up to twice the number to be elected. Said nominees shall have 40. given consent in writing for their names to be placed in nomination. If the 41. pastor nominates fewer than twice the number to be elected, the pastor shall 42. accept nominations from the floor, but the total number of nominees shall 43. not exceed twice the number to be elected. Persons nominated from the 44. floor must be present to accept the nomination or shall have previously 45. consented in writing to be nominated. If there are no nominations from the 46. floor, or if the total number of nominees is less than twice the number to be 47. elected, the election shall proceed with those candidates who have been 48. duly nominated.

SAMPLE BILL 49. Approved 50. No 51. 52. Read Full Amendment

SAMPLE BILL

LEGISLATION Compilation Committee Revisions Committee Four (4) Bishops, Chairperson of the Revisions Committee; Secretaries of the Revisions Committee; the General Secretary; the Treasurer; and one (1) member from each Episcopal District. Duties Collect and assemble all adopted legislation of the General Conference, present the same in the exact manner and form as adopted to the duly authorized printer as per The Book of Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS