Methodist refers to the church's membership in the family of Methodist churches. Richard Allen, the founder and first active bishop, felt that the form and format of methodism would best suit the needs of the African community.
Episcopal refers to the form of government under which the church operates. The episcopal form of government means that the chief executive and administrative officers of our denomination are our bishops. Their authority is given them by the General Conference, elected representatives of the entire denomination. Their responsibilities are to oversee the spiritual and temporal affairs of the church, including presiding over annual conferences, making pastoral appointments, ordaining deacons and elders, organizing missions, and generally promoting the interest of the denomination.
Church refers to the "Christian Church," which is a community of people who believe in God and who have accepted jesus Christ as the guiding example of their lives. We also believe in the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, who enables the believer to become a true and effective servant of God. Jesus Christ is the spiritual head of the Christian Church.
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