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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, as now constituted, was organized in New York City in October, 1796 in a cabinet-maker's shop, members having withdrawn from the John Street Methodist Episcopal Church of this city after Black members of the church increased and the desire grew for holding meetings of their own, stimulated by discrimination and humiliation in worship.
  
The A.M.E. Zion Church has been organizing and continuing member communion since the earliest days of the ecumenical movement in Methodism and the World Church. The underlying philosophy of the A.M.E. Zion Church is found in the open door membership policy, freedom for all irrespective of race, color or condition, who claim Jesus as Lord.
  
The founding fathers, who made the connection possible promoted congregational singing of hymns and sacred music to help stimulate all people to sing in all services and contribute a revival of spirituality in worship through the power of sacred song upon the heart, thus it would aid many to turn to salvation who may be moved more by the persuasion of the Gospel in appropriate song than by other agencies, because it is people in song repreaching the sermon which Protestantism submits as the most powerful Gospel and soul-saving influence moved by the Holy Spirit.
  
The first A.M.E. Zion Church was built in New York City at Leonard and Church Streets in 1801; presently there are over 5,000 churches located on five continents with over 1 million members.
 

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