Christian Methodist Episcopal Church facts for kids

The Christian Methodist Episcopal (C.M.E.) Church is a Christian group. It started in the Southern United States. This church was formed by African Americans after the Civil War. It is a major church group.

The CME Church began on December 16, 1870. It was formed in Jackson, Tennessee. Forty-one people who were formerly enslaved started it. They had the support of their former church leaders. They wanted to create their own church group. This would let them choose their own leaders. They could also pick their own ministers.

They first called their group the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America. In 1954, they changed the name. It became the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Today, the CME Church welcomes people of all backgrounds. It follows Wesleyan-Arminian beliefs.

Chalk Level C.M.E. Church in Harnett County, North Carolina

How the CME Church Works

In the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, bishops are the main leaders. They are chosen by votes from church members. Bishops serve for life until they are 74 years old. Then they retire.

What Bishops Do

Bishops have many important jobs. They choose pastors for local churches. They also perform ordinations. This means they officially make people ministers. Bishops also make sure the church's beliefs are followed.

General Conference

The General Conference is a big meeting. It happens every four years. Both church leaders and regular members attend. This is where new bishops can be chosen.

Church Growth

In 2006, there were about 850,000 members. They met in 3,500 churches. By 2021, the CME Church had grown. It now has over 1.5 million members. These members are across the United States. The church also has groups in Haiti, Jamaica, and fourteen African nations.

What the CME Church Believes

The main beliefs of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church are in a book. It is called The Articles of Religion. These articles came from the Church of England. John Wesley, who started Methodism, made them shorter. He did this for Methodists in America in 1784.

Songs and Readings in Church

Sunday services in the CME Church often include Responsive Readings. These are from the scripture. A leader reads a line from the Bible. Then everyone in the church reads a response.

Responsive Readings Book

The CME Responsive Readings are in a book. It is called The Hymnal of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. This book has songs from 1 to 545. The Responsive Readings are from 546 to 604. The official readings come from the King James Version of the Bible.

CME Church Symbol

CME Connectional Emblem

The official symbol of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is called the Connectional Emblem. It was first used in 1970. The church officially adopted it in 1974.

What the Symbol Means

A person named Will E. Chambers designed the symbol. It shows the church's place in the world. It also shows its connection to God's people.

• The World Globe shows that God's work is everywhere.
• The Skyline shows the church cares about people. It cares about problems in cities. It also cares about people feeling far from God.
• The Weather Vane means the church needs to be flexible. It must meet people's needs today.
• The Cross has two parts. The upright part shows our connection with God. The horizontal part shows our connection with each other. The whole Cross shows victory through Jesus Christ.

Working with Other Churches

Since the early 1900s, the CME Church has wanted to join with other churches. These other churches are also African American Methodist groups. They have similar beliefs.

Past Merger Talks

In 1918, leaders from the CME Church met with other groups. These were the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) Church. They met in Birmingham, Alabama. They agreed to try and merge. This plan was approved by the CME Church. But it did not get enough support from all the church groups.

Later, in the late 1900s, the CME Church talked again with the AME Zion Church. In 1986, the CME Church agreed to a union. In 1988, the AME Zion Church also agreed. In 1999, bishops from both churches started planning for a merger again.

Full Communion Today

In May 2012, the CME Church joined in "full communion" with several other churches. These included the United Methodist Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and African Methodist Episcopal Church. This means they agree to:

• Recognize each other's churches.
• Share religious ceremonies.
• Support each other's leaders and ministries.

Important Bishops

Many important leaders have served the CME Church. Here are a few:

• 1st Bishop William H. Miles (1828-1892)
• 5th Bishop Isaac Lane, D. D. (1834–1937)
• 59th Bishop Teresa E. Jefferson-Snorton (born 1955)
• Bishop Denise Anders-Modest

In 2010, the church chose its first woman bishop, Teresa E. Jefferson-Snorton. In 2022, the church chose its second woman bishop, Denise Anders-Modest. Bishop Jefferson-Snorton was also the first woman to give a major speech at the General Conference.

Colleges

The CME Church supports several colleges:

• Lane College, in Jackson, Tennessee
• Paine College, in Augusta, Georgia
• Miles College, in Birmingham, Alabama
• Texas College, in Tyler, Texas
• Phillips School of Theology, in Atlanta, Georgia

See also

• Churches Uniting in Christ
• Religion in Black America
• African Methodist Episcopal Church
• African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church