Christian Methodist Episcopal Church facts for kids

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (often called C.M.E.C.) is a Christian church group in the United States. It follows the Methodist way of believing and practicing faith. While it started mainly for African Americans, people from all backgrounds are now part of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The church believes in Wesleyan-Arminian theology, which is a way of understanding God's grace and human choice.

How the Church Started

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church began on December 16, 1870. It was formed in Jackson, Tennessee. Forty-one people who had been enslaved started the church. They had the support of their former white church leaders.

These founders wanted to create their own church group. This would allow them to choose their own leaders. They could also make their own rules. They chose their own bishops and ministers. This was done without needing approval from the white-led church.

They first named their group the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America. The church used this name for many years. In 1954, the church changed its name to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

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

How the Church Is Organized

In the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, bishops are the main leaders. They are chosen by votes from "delegates." Delegates are people who represent different parts of the church. Bishops serve for life until they turn 74, when they retire.

Bishops have important jobs. They choose pastors to lead local churches. They also perform ordinations, which is a special ceremony to make someone a minister. Bishops also make sure the church's doctrines (beliefs) and rules are followed.

The General Conference is a big meeting held every four years. It includes an equal number of clergy (ministers) and lay delegates (church members who are not ministers). New bishops can be elected at this conference. In each Annual Conference, CME bishops serve for four-year terms. Both men and women can be bishops in the CME Church.

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

What the Church Believes

The main beliefs of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church are found in "The Articles of Religion." These articles are like a list of core beliefs. They came from the Church of England.

John Wesley, who started Methodism, shortened these articles in 1784. He did this for Methodists in America. These articles guide the church's teachings and practices.

Hymns and Responsive Readings

Sunday worship services in the CME Church often include a Responsive Reading. This is when a leader reads a line from the Bible. Then, everyone in the church reads a response together.

These readings are not just random Bible passages. They are put together by topic. Often, one Responsive Reading will use parts from several different Bible passages.

The official CME Responsive Readings are in The Hymnal of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. This book contains songs (items 1–545) and Responsive Readings (items 546–604). The readings use text from the King James Version of the Bible.

The CME Church Symbol

CME Connectional Emblem

The official symbol of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is called the "Connectional Emblem." Bishop B. Julian Smith first approved it in 1970. This was for the Centennial General Conference in Memphis. The church officially adopted it in 1974.

Will E. Chambers designed the logo. It shows how the church connects with people in a changing world. It also shows its relationship with God.

The logo has four main parts:

• The World Globe stands for God's world, where the church does its work.
• The Skyline shows the church cares about human problems in cities. It also shows concern for people feeling separated from God and each other.
• The Weather Vane means the church needs to be flexible. It must change to meet the needs of people today.
• The Cross has two parts. The up-and-down bar shows the need for a good relationship between people and God. The side-to-side bar shows the need for good relationships between people. The whole Cross is a sign of victory through Jesus Christ.

Working with Other Churches

Since the early 1900s, the CME Church has thought about joining with other African American Methodist churches. These churches have very similar beliefs and practices.

In 1918, leaders from the CME Church, the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) Church met. They met in Birmingham, Alabama. They agreed to suggest that their churches merge. The CME General Conference approved this "Birmingham Plan." However, it did not get enough support from all the church's smaller groups.

Later, in the late 1900s, the CME Church talked again with the AME Zion Church about merging. In 1986, CME General Conference delegates approved the idea of a union. AME Zion delegates gave their approval in 1988. Bishops from both churches discussed it again in 1999. They set a plan for a future merger.

In May 2012, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church joined in "full communion" with several other churches. These included the United Methodist Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, African Union Methodist Protestant Church, African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Union American Methodist Episcopal Church. This means they agreed to recognize each other's churches. They also share sacraments and respect each other's ministers and ministries.

Important Bishops

• 1st Bishop William H. Miles (1828–1892)
• 2nd Bishop Richard H. Vanderhorst (1813–1872)
• 3rd Bishop Joseph A. Beebe (1832–1902)
• 4th Bishop Lucius Henry Holsey, D. D. (1842–1920)
• 5th Bishop Isaac Lane, D. D. (1834–1937)
• 6th Bishop Robert S. Williams, D. D. (1858–1832)
• 7th Bishop Elijah Cottrell, D. D. (1853–1937)
• 8th Bishop Charles Henry Phillips, D.D. (1858–1951)
• 59th Bishop Teresa E. Jefferson-Snorton (1st woman bishop) (1955–)
• Bishop Denise Anders-Modest (2nd woman bishop)

The church elected its first woman bishop in 2010. In 2022, the church elected its second woman bishop. Bishop Jefferson-Snorton was also the first woman to give the "episcopal address." This is an important speech given at the General Conference every four years.

Colleges

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is connected to several colleges:

• Homer College, Homer, Louisiana (not a true college)
• Lane College, Jackson Tennessee
• Paine College, Augusta, Georgia
• Miles College, Birmingham, Alabama
• Texas College, Tyler, Texas
• Phillips School of Theology, Atlanta, Georgia

See also

• Churches Uniting in Christ
• Religion in Black America
• Civil rights movement (1865–1896)
• Methodist Episcopal Church, South
• African Methodist Episcopal Church
• African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church