The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church: The Rationale and Policies upon which Maintenance of its Colleges is Based

Abstract

The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was founded in 1796 by a small group of African descent who withdrew from John Street Methodist Church in New York City. Twenty years after the issuance of the Declaration of Independence, these sturdy courageous founding fathers made a bold stroke for freedom of assembly, worship and opportunities without discrimination or proscription in church. In 1801 the Zion Church was incorporated as the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Later, Zion was added to the corporate name. James Varick, a founder, was elected the first Superintendent (Bishop) in 1822. With dauntless prophetic vision it has struggled on expanding the denomination in practically all of the States with a large Negro population, and in the District of Columbia. It also has conferences in Liberia, East Ghana, West Ghana, Nigeria, South America, and Virgin Islands. It is one of the largest Negro Methodist bodies and has produced thru the years some amazing leaders on the American and African scenes. It has a constituency of approximately 700,000 divided into twelve episcopal districts, two of which are in Africa. A native African from Monrovia, Liberia, was recently elected a bishop. For 164 years, the denomination has furnished a galaxy of distinguished national leaders in church, state, abolition, and education. There was continuous and progressive concern for education from the beginning. Most of the early churches provided room(s) for classes. Several abortive efforts to establish an institution of higher education were made. In 1879, Zion Wesley Institute at Concord, North Carolina was incorporated. Classes began in 1880 in the parsonage of the Rev. (afterwards Bishop) C. R. Harris who with Bishop J. W. Hood were among the founders. Later the name was changed to Zion Wesley College. Bishop J. W. Hood appointed Dr. Joseph Charles Price a delegate 'to the Ecumenical Methodist Conference at London, England, in 1881. He persuaded Dr. Price to tour Europe in interest of the institution following the Ecumenical Conference. Nearly $10,000.00 was raised. The white people of Salisbury offered and paid $1,000.00 on purchase of land for the relocation of the institution at Salisbury. Dr. Price became its first president and the first session at Salisbury opened in October 1882. The name of the institution was changed to Livingstone College in 1885. Like many other institutions the primary motivation, in the beginning, was the missionary urge to help provide educational opportuniti s for