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Welcome to the website of the

African Methodist Episcopal Church in Namibia

           Namibia Annual Conference         

           15th Episcopal District

Our site is currently under construction

          Will be launched soon!!!

 

 
Text Box: Our Leaders Rt. Rev. Bishop Wilfred J. Messiah Episcopal Supervisor, Mother Carol Messiah Rev. A Biwa, Presiding Elder: Keetmanshoop District Rev. William A. Balie, Presiding Elder: Windhoek District Rev. Daniel Schmidt, Presiding Elder: Lüderitz District Rev. Willem S. Hanse, Presiding Elder: Hoachanas District Rev. N J Simon, Presiding Elder: Gibeon District

History of the AME Church in Namibia

Namibia, a former German protectorate since 1884 and South African colony (5th province) since 1918, was formerly known as Southwest Africa (SWA). The German colonizers christened the natives into the German-based Rhymish Missionary Society, a complete religious organ of German Imperialism.

 

The Namibians faced a identical crisis to that of the slaves in the Methodist Church in the USA, that resulted in the formation of the AME Church by Bishop Richard Allen. Not only were Namibians viewed as inferior citizens in the their own country of birth, but the educational opportunities were limited and Missionary Schools would not allow Africans to school beyond Class 2. Africans would not be ordained pastors to advance beyond the position of Evangelist as the "white missionaries could not entrust sacraments in the black hands".

 

It was in the beginning of 1946 that an article had appeared in the South Africa daily newspaper "Die Beeld" that the German Rhynish Missionary Society is to be sold to the all-white Dutch Reformed Church. Alarmed by these and many other reports a group from mostly southern Namibia had decided to break-away from the RMS. It was no easy decision as the missionaries had collaborated with the colonisers to suppress any opposition with severe violence and detentions.

 

It was on July 3rd, 1946 that the fathers took the decision to finally severe ties when they led a group of about 5 000 Namibians to join the African Methodist Episcopal Church, with whom they had informal secret meetings. The fathers drafted the break-away letter and delegated the courageous late Revs. P A Schmidt, W M Jod, J Ludwig and M Kooper to deliver it to the German missionaries, who felt "betrayed" that our fathers delegated young men to face them.

 

The events of July 3rd, 1946 were a turning point in the organization of the AME Church in Namibia. It was, however, the group of 5 000 plus who really formally organized and laid the foundation of what is today known as the Namibia Annual Conference.

Text Box: Beliefs The AME motto, "God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family", reflects the basic beliefs of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The basic foundations of the beliefs of the church can be summarized in the Apostles' Creed, The Twenty Five Articles of Religion, held in common with other Methodist Episcopal congregations. The church also observes the official bylaws of the AME Church. The "Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church" is revised at every General Conference and published every four years.