INTRODUCTION
With approximately 6,000 congregations and 2.5 million members in 41 countries on 5 continents (North & South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia), the African Methodist Episcopal Church is a global denomination. The 5th Episcopal District encompasses 15 states in the U.S. west of the Mississippi (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming), and is one of 20 Episcopal Districts worldwide. With hundreds of churches and thousands of members, the 5th Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church is a vibrant connection of Christians who share a rich and deep history and heritage. With its roots running back to 1787, the A.M.E. Church is the first independent black denomination founded in the Western hemisphere.
OUR BELIEFSTHE APOSTLE’S CREED I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, AND IN JESUS CHRISH HIS ONLY SON OUR LORD WHO WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY, SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DEAD, AND BURIED. THE THIRD DAY HE AROSE FROM THE DEAD, HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND SITTETH AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY; FROM THENCE HE SHALL COME TO JUDGE THE QUICK AND THE DEAD. I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL, THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY AND LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN |
OUR NAME
BETHEL
The word “Bethel” in Hebrew means House of God.
AFRICAN
The word “African” means that the Church was organized by people of African descent and heritage. In 1816 the Church was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and although its members are predominantly of African descent, the doors of the A.M.E. Church are open to all people of all nations regardless of race or color.
METHODIST
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
“Episcopal” refers to the form of government under which the Church operates. The chief executive and administrative officers of the A.M.E. denomination are the bishops of the Church.
The word “Bethel” in Hebrew means House of God.
AFRICAN
The word “African” means that the Church was organized by people of African descent and heritage. In 1816 the Church was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and although its members are predominantly of African descent, the doors of the A.M.E. Church are open to all people of all nations regardless of race or color.
METHODIST
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
“Episcopal” refers to the form of government under which the Church operates. The chief executive and administrative officers of the A.M.E. denomination are the bishops of the Church.
OUR HISTORY
Omaha, Nebraska, Tuesday evening, March 7, 1922. The Northside A.M.E. Mission met at the home of Mr. & Mrs. E.G. Scott, 2513 N. 28th Avenue, for the purpose of being organized into a permanent A.M.E. Church. After recording all letters presented to Presiding Elder Fredrick Divers, he called the meeting to order with a prayer, hymn, and a scripture. That scripture was Philippians 2 with special attention given to the verse 5; "let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus..." A recording secretary was appointed. There were 12 members eligible to vote in accordance with the laws of the AME Church. After discussions, the name Bethel was chosen, as it is the name of the Mother Church. Following three months of probation mandated by the AME church, thirteen more people were added to the roll. The church continued to meet in several locations until the purchase of the building at 2428 Franklin Street. Bethel continued to grow in membership, through the years, under various pastors.
In 1962, under the pastoral leadership of Rev. William A. Fowler, an educational wing was added to the church. In addition to our use, the wing housed "Project Chance", a federally funded program for children with disabilities.
Bethel has been blessed to be benefactors of gifts (property), from deceased members. The property includes the parking lot and the double lots on the west side of the church. The plan was to expand and renovate the church. However after a structural assessment and a review of city building codes, we didn't meet the criteria for expanding and renovating at the current location. As a result of the monetary gifts received, in June 2015, God blessed us with the ability to purchase a building at 3737 Lake Street. When renovations are completed, this will be our new edifice. It is approximately 3 miles from our current location. We will remain in the North Omaha Community.
In 1962, under the pastoral leadership of Rev. William A. Fowler, an educational wing was added to the church. In addition to our use, the wing housed "Project Chance", a federally funded program for children with disabilities.
Bethel has been blessed to be benefactors of gifts (property), from deceased members. The property includes the parking lot and the double lots on the west side of the church. The plan was to expand and renovate the church. However after a structural assessment and a review of city building codes, we didn't meet the criteria for expanding and renovating at the current location. As a result of the monetary gifts received, in June 2015, God blessed us with the ability to purchase a building at 3737 Lake Street. When renovations are completed, this will be our new edifice. It is approximately 3 miles from our current location. We will remain in the North Omaha Community.
The Mission of Bethel A.M.E. Church is to minister to the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and environmental needs of all people by spreading Christ's liberating gospel through word and deed.
AME MOTTO
The original motto of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1856, God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, Man Our Brother, was included in the creedal statement of the denomination, and on the Episcopal Seal. In 2008, the motto was revised to God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, The Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family to reflect the times, and to be more inclusive.
Daniel Alexander Payne, the sixth Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Charleston, South Carolina on February 24, 1811 to free colored parents, London and Martha Payne.
He attended a private school in Charleston, South Carolina and Gettysburg Seminary in Pennsylvania. He also did a great deal of studying on his own. Payne was the first Bishop to have formal theological seminary training. He, more than any other individual, is responsible for the A.M.E. Church’s attention toward trained ministry.
Bishop Payne was ordained an elder in the Lutheran Church in 1837. He was admitted to the Philadelphia Annual Conference in 1842. He pastored churches in Washington, New York and Baltimore. He was elected the Historiographer of the A.M.E Church in 1848. Payne was elected a Bishop at the General Conference in New York City on May 7, 1852. During his tenure, he presided over the 1st, 3rd , 2nd and 7th Districts. He organized the South Carolina Conference in 1865, and founded Wilberforce University in 1856 where he became the first Black President of a college in America. Payne served as the President of Wilberforce University for 13 years.
He was an author of considerable merit. His book, “History of the A.M.E. Church”, is his greatest work and has been an authoritative source of history of the first 75 years of the Connectional Church. Bishop Payne spent twenty years gathering material for his book.
Payne was married to Eliza Clark Payne. He was the father of one child and the stepfather of four children- Julia, John, Laura, Augusta and Peter.
Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne died on November 2, 1893.
The original motto of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1856, God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, Man Our Brother, was included in the creedal statement of the denomination, and on the Episcopal Seal. In 2008, the motto was revised to God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, The Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family to reflect the times, and to be more inclusive.
Daniel Alexander Payne, the sixth Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Charleston, South Carolina on February 24, 1811 to free colored parents, London and Martha Payne.
He attended a private school in Charleston, South Carolina and Gettysburg Seminary in Pennsylvania. He also did a great deal of studying on his own. Payne was the first Bishop to have formal theological seminary training. He, more than any other individual, is responsible for the A.M.E. Church’s attention toward trained ministry.
Bishop Payne was ordained an elder in the Lutheran Church in 1837. He was admitted to the Philadelphia Annual Conference in 1842. He pastored churches in Washington, New York and Baltimore. He was elected the Historiographer of the A.M.E Church in 1848. Payne was elected a Bishop at the General Conference in New York City on May 7, 1852. During his tenure, he presided over the 1st, 3rd , 2nd and 7th Districts. He organized the South Carolina Conference in 1865, and founded Wilberforce University in 1856 where he became the first Black President of a college in America. Payne served as the President of Wilberforce University for 13 years.
He was an author of considerable merit. His book, “History of the A.M.E. Church”, is his greatest work and has been an authoritative source of history of the first 75 years of the Connectional Church. Bishop Payne spent twenty years gathering material for his book.
Payne was married to Eliza Clark Payne. He was the father of one child and the stepfather of four children- Julia, John, Laura, Augusta and Peter.
Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne died on November 2, 1893.