The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church stands as a historic denomination with theological foundations that have guided millions of believers for over two centuries. Understanding what the AME church believes requires exploring the doctrinal statements that shape its identity and practice.
Mary Venable Vaughn's book, Members' Class 102: A Manual for African Methodist Episcopal Church Members, provides an accessible window into these core beliefs, drawing on the official Book of Discipline to present the church's faith in clear, understandable terms for all readers. From the nature of God to the meaning of sacraments, the AME Church's teachings offer a comprehensive vision of Christian faith rooted in Scripture and tradition. Learn the core beliefs by reading this article today.
The Foundation of AME Faith
At the heart of AME belief stands the historic Christian confession of the Holy Trinity. Article 1 of the Articles of Religion affirms faith in "one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible." Within this unity of the Godhead exist three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. This Trinitarian foundation shapes everything else the church believes and practices.
The church's motto beautifully summarizes this core conviction: "God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family." This concise statement captures both the iconic vertical relationship with God and the ongoing horizontal relationship with humanity that flows from it. The AME faith thus encompasses both devotion to God and commitment to human community.
Scripture and Salvation
The AME Church maintains that all things necessary for a person’s salvation can be found in the Holy Scripture. This principle, articulated in Article 5 of the Articles of Religion, establishes the Bible as the ultimate authority for faith and practice. Nothing not found in Scripture may be required as an article of faith. The church receives as canonical both the books of the Old and New Testaments, as they have been commonly received throughout Christian history.
Regarding salvation, the church teaches that humanity's condition after the fall of Adam is such that individuals cannot, by themselves, prepare to call upon God and renew their faith. Salvation comes through grace alone. This doctrine of justification by faith offers comfort to people.
Yet faith does not stand alone. Article 10 affirms that "good works, which are the fruit of faith, and follow after justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God's judgments; yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and spring out of a true and lively faith." Good works thus function as evidence of living faith, much as a tree is known by its fruit. This balanced understanding of AME church moral teachings emphasizes both grace and the transformed life that grace produces.
The Church and Its Sacraments
Article 13 defines the visible church as "a congregation of faithful men, in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the sacraments duly administered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same." This definition emphasizes both Word and Sacrament as essential marks of the church's life.
Regarding the sacraments, the church teaches that they are "certain signs of grace, and God's good will towards us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in Him." The AME Church recognizes two sacraments ordained by Christ in the Gospel: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. The five rites commonly called sacraments by some traditions—Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreme Unction—are not counted as Gospel sacraments, as they lack visible signs or ceremonies ordained by God.
AME church worship beliefs thus center on these two dominical sacraments, understood as means of grace rather than mere rituals.
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Baptism, according to Article 17, is "not only a sign of profession, and mark of difference; but it is also a sign of regeneration, or the new birth." The church retains the practice of baptizing young children, affirming that this ancient practice belongs properly to the church's life.
The Lord's Supper holds an equally important place in AME faith. Article 18 teaches that this sacrament is "not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another, but rather is a Sacrament of our redemption by Christ's death." For those who rightly, worthily, and with faith receive it, "the bread which we break is a partaking of the body of Christ; and likewise the cup of blessing is a partaking of the blood of Christ."
The church explicitly rejects the doctrine of transubstantiation—the change of the substance of bread and wine. Instead, the body of Christ is received "only after a heavenly and spiritual manner," and the means of reception is faith. This understanding shapes how the AME church's core values approach worship with reverence and theological precision.
Sin, Grace, and Christian Living
The AME Church's Articles of Religion address the reality of sin with unflinching honesty. Article 7 describes original sin as "the corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually." This teaching acknowledges the depth of human brokenness while pointing toward the remedy found in Christ.
Yet the church does not teach that sin after justification is unforgivable. Article 12 affirms that "not every sin willingly committed after justification is the sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable." The grant of repentance remains available to those who fall into sin after justification. This balanced teaching avoids both the error of those who claim believers cannot sin and those who deny forgiveness to the truly penitent. AME church faith and works find harmony in this understanding. Good works do not earn salvation but flow from it, and believers who stumble may rise again through repentance and grace.
The Church's Mission in the World
The AME Church's understanding of its mission flows directly from its core beliefs. The official statement of mission declares: "The Mission of the AME Church is to minister to the social, spiritual, and physical development of all people." This comprehensive vision reflects the conviction that the gospel addresses every dimension of human need.
The church's objectives include training members in Christian discipleship, leadership, teaching methods, church history, biblical principles, and social development—all to be applied to daily living. These practical aims demonstrate that AME church moral teachings are not abstract but intended to shape how believers live in the world.
A Greater Understanding
Understanding what the AME church believes reveals a rich theological tradition grounded in Scripture, shaped by Methodist heritage, and responsive to the African American experience.
Mary Venable Vaughn's Member's Class 102 makes these teachings accessible for new members seeking to understand their spiritual home and for longtime members desiring deeper engagement with their church's heritage. So, grab your copy of the book today! For other queries about AME church, its teachings and processes, visit maryvv.com.
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