Our history
The Beginning of Our Denomination. . .
The seeds for the formation of the African Methodist Episcopal Church were sown in the midst of the great spiritual awakenings, the rise of Methodism and slavery in 18th century America. Africans, free and slave, attended the great camp meetings where thousands were converted. In 1758 two women became the first Africans to be baptized by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. Africans were charter members of the first American Methodist society in 1764.
In 1787, Reverend Richard Allen, the founder and first bishop of the A. M. E. Church, along with Absalom Jones, and a band of followers withdrew from the St. George’s Methodist Church in Philadelphia because of the “unkind treatment” and discrimination with which these worshippers of African descent faced. They felt they no longer could worship in a congregation that would not affirm them fully as children of God with equal potential and worth. Allen and the others began worshipping in a blacksmith shop. They founded the Free African Society, which was the beginning of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC).
Our Denominational Name . . .
AFRICAN – means that the church was organized by people of African descent and heritage. It does not mean that the church was founded in Africa or that it is for people of African descent only. It does mean that those Americans who founded it were of African descent and we proudly recognize this fact. We welcome all who worship Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
METHODIST – refers to the church’s membership in the family of Methodist churches. Richard Allen, the founder and first bishop, felt that the form and format of Methodism would best suit the needs of the African community at that time.
EPISCOPAL – refers to the form of government under which the church operates. The Episcopal form of government means that the chief executive and administrative officers of our denomination are our bishops. Their authority is given them by the General Conference, elected representatives of the entire denomination. Their responsibilities are to oversee the spiritual and temporal affairs of the church
Our Local Church . . .
We are named for the town that Jesus loved. Jesus was anointed three times in Bethany. It was in Bethany that Jesus raised Lazarus from the Dead. And Luke records Bethany as the place of Jesus’ ascension (Luke 24:50-51). Our name reflects our belief that it is still one of His favorite places. His magnified presence during our worship moments confirms it.
Bethany African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded by the Reverend Patricia A. W. Long in 1999. The church worshipped in Forestville High School until April 2009.
The Reverend David Darryl Robinson, Sr. was appointed Pastor in April 2004. and by the grace of God, we were able to purchase a building at 1014 IAGO AVE in Capitol Heights, MD in September of 2007. On Palm Sunday 2009, we held our first worship service there.
Reverend Roslyn C. Roberts was appointed as the new pastor of Bethany on April 25, 2025 at the conclusion of the 75th Session of the Washington Annual Conference. She and the congregation of Bethany are excited about the new heights that the Lord is going to take them to in this season of “Let’s Go”.
