This group is comprised of members of America's first free organized black church. The African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded on April 12, 1787 and incorporated on April 9, 1816.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church has a unique and glorious history. It is unique in that it is the first major religious denomination in the Western World that had its origin over sociological rather than theological beliefs and differences. The Church was born in protest against slaveryagainst dehumanization of African people, brought to the American continent as cheap labor.The Mission of the African Methodist Episcopal 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. At every level of the Connection and in every local church, the African Methodist Episcopal 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 serve the needy.

Today the AME Church comprises 3 million members, 8,000 ministers, and over 6,200 congregations in 20 Episcopal districts and hosts 115 annual conferences.