PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The African Methodist Episcopal Church, founded by a freed slave who created a new religion rather than endure racism from white worshippers, is marking its bicentennial in its birthplace of Philadelphia.
As many as 30,000 people are estimated to be in the city for the AME Church’s general conference, which started July 6 and runs to July 13. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton stopped by the conference Friday, courting the black voting bloc that will be key to her success in November.
From its roots more than 200 years ago, the African Methodist Episcopal Church has been embedded in the struggle for freedom and equality, and draws on its rich past to remain a powerful political and religious force in American culture.
“There’s a recognition that this is a denomination that represents African-American excellence, independence and autonomy,” said AME historian Christina Dickerson Cousin. “The AME Church is pretty much as old as the country itself. What other African-American institution can say that?”
Today, the AME Church boasts more than 2.5 million members, with 6,200 congregations in 39 countries. It began with a handful of free blacks determined to start their own church, rather than endure the indignities of racism.