Pure and undefiled religion before God and the father is this; to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
James 1:27

In America, it is generally conceded that Methodism first shed its light in the city of New York. About the year 1765 when a plot of ground on John Street was leased and two years later purchased and the first chapel built. During the entire early struggle of the new organization, Black people figure prominently in Methodism even to devoting of the building for the first organization. Between the years 1765 and 1796 the number of Black members increased greatly. So much so that caste prejudice forbade their taking the Sacrament until the white families were all served. This and the desire for other church privileges denied them induced them to organize among themselves.

The first church organized in 1796 and built in 1800 was called Zion. The founders chose this name because, “it was the name most frequently used in the Bible to designate the church of God,” even Zion Hill before there was worship house. Among the leaders of the movement was James Varick, who was the first Bishop and to whom is attributed the founding father of the Zion Church. Zion church was incorporated in 1801 by the name “The African Methodist Episcopal church in New York”. Methodist Episcopal was always in the title to exhibit the retention of the doctrine and form of church government under which the denomination originated. “African” was prefixed to the rest of the title of this church because it was to be controlled by descendants of Africa, in the interest of humanity, regardless of race, color, sex or condition. Therefore, these people of African descent, with an indubitable in the Fatherland and abiding love of kinship, desired to maintain their identity, their ancient cultures and background for posterity. Because another organization came into existence around the same time, with the same title, and so much confusion was brought about, the General Conference of 1848 voted to make Zion a part of the denomination name, henceforth, to be know as the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. From the very outset the Zion Church has been in the forefront in the battle for full citizenship and freedom in this country. The AME Zion Church encompasses all the United States, Canada, Caribbean Islands, England, Africa, India and South America, and it is under the supervision of twelve (12) elected Bishops. The New York Conference, of which we are a part, is a part of the North Eastern Episcopal Area. This Episcopal Area includes New York, Western New York, New England and The Bahamas Conferences.

Through the years the AME Zion Church has provided educational opportunities for young people by establishing schools on a secondary as well as college level. Full-time educational programs continue to be offered by Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC, Hood Theological Seminary also in Salisbury, NC, Clinton Junior College in Rock Hill, SC, Lomax-Hannon Junior College in Greenville, AL and the AME Zion Community College, Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa.

The Symbol of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church

THE TRIANGLE – Representing the God Head, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, called the Holy Trinity, forms the equilateral triangle.

THE ECCLESIASTICAL COLOR – Sign of the mood of a church festival. Within recent years the interpretation of black has changed to encompass a texture the whole life – all colors blended, melted together – joy, sadness, struggle, faith, hope and finally life eternal.

THE RED CROSS – Is used with power, love, glory and honor as associated with our Lord’s passion, suffering and Christian zeal.

THE LATIN CROSS – Is one of the most accepted symbols of Christianity the world over. The plain cross empty symbolizes, “He is not here. He has risen victoriously.”

“A” – The letter “A” (African) in black represents our African background
and suggests the cradle of civilization from whence comes all races, colors and creeds.

“E” – The letter “E” (Episcopal) means we are a church overseen by Church Fathers, called Bishops. Purple, so often worn by our Episcopacy denotes kingly authority in Godly judgment, the union of love and pain in humility.

“M” – The letter “M” (Methodist) refers to the doctrine about God and Christ to which we adhere. It is in Green, the universal color of growth, progress and hope.

“V” – Widely used symbol of victory. The “V” represents a church born victoriously under the leadership of James Varick, our first Bishop.

“Z” – The letter “Z” (Zion) represents God’s holy hill. It stands for our branch of Methodism which is a separate entity from our sister Churches like: AME, CME, and ME. True to God, “true blue”, it is symbolic of heaven and sincerity.