Welcome to
Bethel Chapel A.M.E.C
of Lebanon, Ohio
“Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up
the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the
repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.”
Isaiah 58:12
Our Mission
To minister to the social, spiritual and physical development of all people by carrying the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed.
LAY ORGANIZATION
YOUNG PEOPLE’S DIVISION
WOMEN’S MISSIONARY
About the A.M.E. Church
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.
The Mission of the AME Church is to minister to the social, spiritual, and physical development of all people.
THE VISION
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.
THE PURPOSES
The ultimate purposes are:
- 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.
THE OBJECTIVE
In order to meet the needs of every level of the Connection and in every local church, the AME Church shall implement strategies to train all members in: (1) Christian discipleship, (2) Christian leadership, (3) current teaching methods and materials, (4) the history and significance of the AME Church, (5) God’s biblical principles, and (6) social development to which all should be applied to daily living.
“God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer,
the Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family.”
Bishop Daniel A. Payne proposed to the 1856 General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church convening in Cincinnati, Ohio that the episcopal seal should include the denominational creedal statement, God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, Man Our Brother. This declaration of A.M.E. faith identity became the denominational motto until 1908, when a surge of pentecostalism in 1906 in Los Angeles at the Azusa Street mission, the former site of First A.M.E. Church, convinced African Methodists to alter the motto. Hence, the 1908 General Conference meeting in Norfolk, Virginia placed on the published minutes, God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, the Holy Ghost Our Comforter, Man Our Brother.
The 1912 General Conference convening in Kansas City, Missouri retained the altered statement of A.M.E. belief. The centennial General Conference of 1916 meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, however, made no reference to new the A.M.E. motto, and since that time Bishop Payne’s original formulation of the motto appeared on all denominational documents and published materials.
At the 2008 General Conference in St. Louis, Missouri an inclusive motto was adopted and now declares God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family. The evolution of our motto demonstrates that African Methodists engage in ongoing assessments of our theology and how God speaks to us in changing circumstances.
Dennis C. Dickerson
Retired General Officer