A spiritual battle. That’s how the pastor of St. Stephen Community AME Church described the challenges facing his congregation. I want to tell you more about this church. St. Stephen Community AME Church is located in Harlem. It has a history marked by both faith and adversity.
The story of St. Stephen Community AME Church involves a real estate deal. The church sold properties on Frederick Douglass Boulevard to developers. This included their old movie theater home since 1965. The plan was to build a luxury condominium tower. The developers agreed to build an 18000-square-foot space for the church. They would also include a 2400-square-foot retail space.
However, the new church space remained unfinished. Construction stopped and a legal battle ensued. St. Stephen Community AME Church sued the developers. The church cited issues like mold and a collapsed ceiling. The developers claimed the church made unreasonable demands for more money.
The congregation of St. Stephen Community AME Church suffered during this time. Services were held in the basement of another church. Programs for foster children and the homeless were put on hold. The church’s membership declined significantly.
Despite these hardships, the pastor of St. Stephen Community AME Church remains hopeful. He believes the lawsuit will be settled. He hopes the church can finally be completed. He emphasizes faith over sight.
St. Stephen Community AME Church is part of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The AMEC has a rich history. It began in Philadelphia in 1787. Richard Allen and Absalom Jones were key figures. The AMEC grew out of the Free African Society. This society was formed after racial discrimination at St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church. Black members were pulled off their knees while praying.
Richard Allen led the effort to form an independent black congregation. In 1794, Bethel AME Church was dedicated. Allen became its pastor. He fought for the right of his congregation to exist independently. Other black Methodist communities faced similar racism. Allen called them to Philadelphia. They formed a new Wesleyan denomination called the AME.
Before the Civil War, the AMEC spread through the Northeast and Midwest. After the Civil War, it expanded rapidly into the South. AME clergy moved into the collapsing Confederacy. They sought to bring newly freed slaves into their denomination. The AMEC also spread to the Pacific Coast and Africa.
Today, the African Methodist Episcopal Church has a global presence. It exists in many countries. It continues to uphold its distinctive theology and practices. It addresses the plight of those oppressed by racism and other injustices. St. Stephen Community AME Church in Harlem embodies this spirit. It stands as a testament to faith and perseverance in the face of adversity.
The story of St. Stephen Community AME Church is not just about a building. It’s about the people. It’s about their faith. It is about their struggle and their hope for the future.