The Boston-Hartford District AME Church commemorated on Feb. 15 the birth and life of Bp. Richard Allen, the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Tribute to Bp. Richard Allen

The Facebook page of Boston-Hartford District AME Church posted about the birthday of Bp. Richard Allen.

According to the post, "Richard Allen born into slavery on February 14, 1760 was a minister, educator, writer, and one of America's most active and influential black leaders."

The pastor founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) in 1794 as the first independent black denomination in the country, opening the first church in Philadelphia, Pa.

Boston-Hartford District AME Church

The Boston-Hartford District AME Church District page says it is a part of the New England Annual Conference of the First Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The church came from the merger of the Boston and the Springfield Districts, with Rev. Peter Bernard Walker serving as its first Presiding Elder.

Jocelyn Kahn Hart Lovelace

Presiding Elder Rev. Jocelyn Kahn Hart Lovelace leads the district. The church page says that the reverend is an experienced member and leader of the AME, starting her journey as a pastor at the Bethel A.M.E. Church of Reading, Pa., in 1993.

The church appointed Reverend Lovelace in 2016, leading the 24 churches under the district. Before, she served as the Presiding Elder of the Philadelphia District, during which she assisted in the first merger at the Philadelphia Annual Conference.

The pastor is known for being an active part of her community, serving on several boards and committees that address important social issues. These efforts include being a part of the founding members of Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope or NOAH and establishing AMEmerge in West Philadelphia.

A renowned academic, the presiding elder holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from High Point College. She also has a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from Kutztown University and a Master of Divinity degree in Theology from Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center.

African Methodist Episcopal Church

According to the African Methodist Episcopal Church or AMEC website, it started in 1787 as an offshoot of the Free African Society. On the church page, it said that the creation of the church came from the need for African Americans to protect themselves from racial discrimination perpetuated by American Methodists.

Even though the group wanted to be a part of the Protestant Episcopal Church, Richard Allen and a small group of people wanted to stay in the Methodist faith.

 

The organization has since become a sizable denomination with 28 Episcopal Districts in over 39 countries.

Beliefs of African Methodist Episcopal Church

The church page says that the motto of the AMEC is "God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family."

As such, the core of the faith lies within God as existent in the persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As such, the church follows the belief of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

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