Local Church
The Local Church consists of members of the body of Christ who make up the A.M.E. Zion Connection. The Pastor is ordained and appointed by the Bishop to a Local Church. Pastor is to be in charge and have oversight and preside over local membership.
Quarterly Conference – (meets every three months, 4 times a year)
The Presiding Elder appoints time and place of the Quarterly Conference. This Conference shall be composed of traveling ministers Local Elders, Deacons, Preachers, Exhorters, Class Leaders, Trustees, Stewards, Stewardess, Deaconess, all Missionary Departments, Superintendents of Church School, presidents of clubs, Secretary and Treasurer of Christian endeavor. All General Officers and ministers or any society formed and operating in the name of the local church are amenable to the Quarterly Conference.
1. To Examine into the character of all official members of the church.
2. Approval or disapproval of the character of the members of the Quarterly Conference.
3. Examination of Exhorters and Local Preachers, renewal or withdrawal of licenses and make
recommendations.
4. Recommendation of suitable candidates to the District and annual Conference for ordination.
5. To act as an Appellate Court, hearing appeals and determining appropriate remedy.
6. Election of delegates to the Annual and District Conferences
Class Leaders' Meeting –(meets once a month as a group)
Individual Class Leader meets with their members once a week to see how their soul is fairing, via seeing class member at church, phone call, email, etc.
Members' Meeting/Conference –Called by the Pastor of the local A.M.E. ZionChurch.
Any business to be attended to by the local Church not otherwise vested in the Steward’s meeting, Board of Trustees, Leaders Meeting or Quarterly Conference, the members in Full Connection shall be called together in a Member’s Conference to consider the matter.
The Pastor in charge shall have the sole right to make the call for and preside over the Member’s Conference.
1. Organizational Plans
2. Development Plans (update Budget)
3. Expansion Plans
4. Discuss Ideas and Plans that shall promote the general good of the fellowship.
DISTRICT CONFERENCE – (Meets once a year and is presided over by a Presiding Elder.)
The District Conference is a division of the Annual Conference. It is composed of all the traveling ministers, superannuated supernumerary, local Elders, Deacons, Local Preachers, Exhorters and all officers in the Missionary and Christian Education Department, Laymen Council Pres. etc.
The District Conference duties include looking into the spiritual andtemporal affairs of churches, schools and benevolent societies within its bounds; to inquire into the recommendation of the quarterly conference, grant new or renew local preacher’s licenses. The District Conference also examines preachers who are studying to be admitted to the Annual Conference.
The District Sunday School Convention is the name of the meeting where the church school’s organizations are separate from the District Conference. The District Directors of Christian Education Preside alternately under the leadership of the Presiding Elder.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Annual Conference is composed of a Bishop, all traveling ministers, and preachers in full connection, lay delegates duly elected from the various churches within its bounds, the missionary and education officers. The Bishop is the presiding officer.
The Annual Conference has power to make laws for its operation as long as those laws are not in conflict with the laws of the Connection. It can make other annual conferences with limitations, examine the domestic affairs of its missions, hear complaints against any of its members and dispose of them according to law. Support for the general church commitments comes from the Annual Conference.
It is divided into a convenient number of Presiding Elder Districts. It hears reports from Presiding Elders, Pastors, Delegates, District Officers of Missionary and Christian Education Departments, committee on audit and treasures. It receives the proportion for General Claims and the attendant levies. The Annual Conference admits ministers and assigns them, according to law, to their respective churches. The Annual Conference can drop Ministers that has not answered roll call. This body also elects Delegates to the General Conference.
GENERAL CONFERENCE
(Meets every four (4) years and is the supreme body of the Connection that makes laws, and church policy; approves the budget.)
The General Conference has twelve Bishops. The General Conference is the major gathering of the denomination which meets every four years beginning the first Wednesday in July (date subject to change) and lasting for two weeks at a place designated by a commission which sets the place two years before the sessions begin.
It is the law making body of the church which is empowered with the responsibility of making and changing or amending the laws that are changeable with special exceptions alluding to our articles of faith, doctrine and existing standards. The episcopacy shall not be done away with nor the plan of itinerancy. Laws granting trials to ministers and appeals shall remain intact. The same applies to our laity. Our general rules shall not be destroyed.
The General Conference elects bishops and assigns them to their Districts. It tries, expels, impeaches or disrobes Bishops, elects General officers, guards the destiny of the Connection, hears and receives reports of departments and regulates the work, discipline and polity of each. There is no appeal from the General Conference. In the interim of the General Conference, the Bishops govern the church and interpret its laws and mandate.
The Local Church consists of members of the body of Christ who make up the A.M.E. Zion Connection. The Pastor is ordained and appointed by the Bishop to a Local Church. Pastor is to be in charge and have oversight and preside over local membership.
Quarterly Conference – (meets every three months, 4 times a year)
The Presiding Elder appoints time and place of the Quarterly Conference. This Conference shall be composed of traveling ministers Local Elders, Deacons, Preachers, Exhorters, Class Leaders, Trustees, Stewards, Stewardess, Deaconess, all Missionary Departments, Superintendents of Church School, presidents of clubs, Secretary and Treasurer of Christian endeavor. All General Officers and ministers or any society formed and operating in the name of the local church are amenable to the Quarterly Conference.
1. To Examine into the character of all official members of the church.
2. Approval or disapproval of the character of the members of the Quarterly Conference.
3. Examination of Exhorters and Local Preachers, renewal or withdrawal of licenses and make
recommendations.
4. Recommendation of suitable candidates to the District and annual Conference for ordination.
5. To act as an Appellate Court, hearing appeals and determining appropriate remedy.
6. Election of delegates to the Annual and District Conferences
Class Leaders' Meeting –(meets once a month as a group)
Individual Class Leader meets with their members once a week to see how their soul is fairing, via seeing class member at church, phone call, email, etc.
Members' Meeting/Conference –Called by the Pastor of the local A.M.E. ZionChurch.
Any business to be attended to by the local Church not otherwise vested in the Steward’s meeting, Board of Trustees, Leaders Meeting or Quarterly Conference, the members in Full Connection shall be called together in a Member’s Conference to consider the matter.
The Pastor in charge shall have the sole right to make the call for and preside over the Member’s Conference.
1. Organizational Plans
2. Development Plans (update Budget)
3. Expansion Plans
4. Discuss Ideas and Plans that shall promote the general good of the fellowship.
DISTRICT CONFERENCE – (Meets once a year and is presided over by a Presiding Elder.)
The District Conference is a division of the Annual Conference. It is composed of all the traveling ministers, superannuated supernumerary, local Elders, Deacons, Local Preachers, Exhorters and all officers in the Missionary and Christian Education Department, Laymen Council Pres. etc.
The District Conference duties include looking into the spiritual andtemporal affairs of churches, schools and benevolent societies within its bounds; to inquire into the recommendation of the quarterly conference, grant new or renew local preacher’s licenses. The District Conference also examines preachers who are studying to be admitted to the Annual Conference.
The District Sunday School Convention is the name of the meeting where the church school’s organizations are separate from the District Conference. The District Directors of Christian Education Preside alternately under the leadership of the Presiding Elder.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Annual Conference is composed of a Bishop, all traveling ministers, and preachers in full connection, lay delegates duly elected from the various churches within its bounds, the missionary and education officers. The Bishop is the presiding officer.
The Annual Conference has power to make laws for its operation as long as those laws are not in conflict with the laws of the Connection. It can make other annual conferences with limitations, examine the domestic affairs of its missions, hear complaints against any of its members and dispose of them according to law. Support for the general church commitments comes from the Annual Conference.
It is divided into a convenient number of Presiding Elder Districts. It hears reports from Presiding Elders, Pastors, Delegates, District Officers of Missionary and Christian Education Departments, committee on audit and treasures. It receives the proportion for General Claims and the attendant levies. The Annual Conference admits ministers and assigns them, according to law, to their respective churches. The Annual Conference can drop Ministers that has not answered roll call. This body also elects Delegates to the General Conference.
GENERAL CONFERENCE
(Meets every four (4) years and is the supreme body of the Connection that makes laws, and church policy; approves the budget.)
The General Conference has twelve Bishops. The General Conference is the major gathering of the denomination which meets every four years beginning the first Wednesday in July (date subject to change) and lasting for two weeks at a place designated by a commission which sets the place two years before the sessions begin.
It is the law making body of the church which is empowered with the responsibility of making and changing or amending the laws that are changeable with special exceptions alluding to our articles of faith, doctrine and existing standards. The episcopacy shall not be done away with nor the plan of itinerancy. Laws granting trials to ministers and appeals shall remain intact. The same applies to our laity. Our general rules shall not be destroyed.
The General Conference elects bishops and assigns them to their Districts. It tries, expels, impeaches or disrobes Bishops, elects General officers, guards the destiny of the Connection, hears and receives reports of departments and regulates the work, discipline and polity of each. There is no appeal from the General Conference. In the interim of the General Conference, the Bishops govern the church and interpret its laws and mandate.
THE CONNECTION:
EPISCOPAL DISTRICTS - There are twelve (12) and are sometimes called 'Episcopal Areas'. Each presided over by a Bishop. We have twelve (12) active Bishops. We have over 6,600 churches worldwide. We are located on 5 continents. (North America, South America, Africa, Europe and Asia).
BOARD OF BISHOPS - Meets twice a year; oversees the general supervision of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, which also includes hearing the reports of our General Officers and the report from each President our six (6) Church supported schools
CONNECTIONAL COUNCIL - is composed of all Bishops, General Officers, and Administrative Board Members meets once a year, and receives reports and suggestions made by each the Board.
GENERAL OFFICERS – Elected at the General Conference to oversee the operation of the Departments of the Connection. There are 13 General Officers and the Connection pays their salaries. Each post is elected every 4 years.
EPISCOPAL DISTRICTS - There are twelve (12) and are sometimes called 'Episcopal Areas'. Each presided over by a Bishop. We have twelve (12) active Bishops. We have over 6,600 churches worldwide. We are located on 5 continents. (North America, South America, Africa, Europe and Asia).
BOARD OF BISHOPS - Meets twice a year; oversees the general supervision of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, which also includes hearing the reports of our General Officers and the report from each President our six (6) Church supported schools
CONNECTIONAL COUNCIL - is composed of all Bishops, General Officers, and Administrative Board Members meets once a year, and receives reports and suggestions made by each the Board.
GENERAL OFFICERS – Elected at the General Conference to oversee the operation of the Departments of the Connection. There are 13 General Officers and the Connection pays their salaries. Each post is elected every 4 years.
OUR ASSESSMENTS
Each member of the local church is called on to pay money set aside for our support of the CONNECTION.
1. Class or Quarterly Dues - Paid to your Class Leader for the Quarterly Conference. (helps pay the
Presiding Elder's salary on a quarterly basis)
2. General Claims - paid to your Class Leader. Each dollar is broken down in this manner: 44 cents
to educational institutions; 15 cents to operate departments of the Connection; 13 cents for
the Pension Fund and death benefits; 4 cents for widows and rural ministers; 4 cents pays our
General Officers and operates their offices; 4 cents pays for our Bishops and their offic needs;
3 cents operates our Publishing House; 2 cents for Harriet Tubman House and camps, and 1 cent
reserve. These figures are not exact, but are very close.
3. District Askings – Helps with the general expense of the District office.
The Methodist tradition requires that the local church, support the Connection. The Connection, at the General Conference, determines what amount each conference must pay and, in turn, the conference determines what each local church must pay. These amounts are determined by the number of persons on the rolls of each church.
If each member does not carry his or her own weight, other members are burdened with a heavier load. It is so very important that every member of the local church help by carrying their own share of the responsibility to support the local church and, in turn, support the Connection.
Each member of the local church is called on to pay money set aside for our support of the CONNECTION.
1. Class or Quarterly Dues - Paid to your Class Leader for the Quarterly Conference. (helps pay the
Presiding Elder's salary on a quarterly basis)
2. General Claims - paid to your Class Leader. Each dollar is broken down in this manner: 44 cents
to educational institutions; 15 cents to operate departments of the Connection; 13 cents for
the Pension Fund and death benefits; 4 cents for widows and rural ministers; 4 cents pays our
General Officers and operates their offices; 4 cents pays for our Bishops and their offic needs;
3 cents operates our Publishing House; 2 cents for Harriet Tubman House and camps, and 1 cent
reserve. These figures are not exact, but are very close.
3. District Askings – Helps with the general expense of the District office.
The Methodist tradition requires that the local church, support the Connection. The Connection, at the General Conference, determines what amount each conference must pay and, in turn, the conference determines what each local church must pay. These amounts are determined by the number of persons on the rolls of each church.
If each member does not carry his or her own weight, other members are burdened with a heavier load. It is so very important that every member of the local church help by carrying their own share of the responsibility to support the local church and, in turn, support the Connection.