The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, familiarly known as the CME Church, was organized December 16, 1870 in Jackson, Tennessee by 41 former slave members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Composed primarily of African Americans, the CME Church is a branch of Wesleyan Methodism founded and organized by John Wesley in England in 1844 and established in America as the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1784. The CME Church has more than 1.2 million members across the United States, and has missions and sister churches in Haiti, Jamaica and fourteen African nations.

Our Mission​

The mission of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is to be disciples of Jesus the Christ by serving individuals, communities and the world as the representative, loving presence of God and as witnesses to God’s salvation and grace.

Our Vision

The vision of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is to be a transforming church for Jesus the Christ within a changing world.

Church Organization and Structure

The CME Church has an organizational structure that consist of 3 bodies that operate in communion with each other to oversee the operations of the church. Those bodies are the Executive Branch which is represented by the College Of Bishops, The Legislative Branch which is represented by the General Conference Delegates and the Judicial Branch which is represented by the Judicial Council. The Senior Bishop of the CME Church is the Chief Executive Officer of the denomination.

The Leadership of the CME Church

What is the General Conference?

What is the General Connectional Board?

What is the Episcopacy?

What is the Judicial Council?

Organizational Terms & Definitions

How does the CME Church define the Local Church?

What is the The Inclusiveness of the Church?

FACTS about the CME Church

Historical Facts

• The Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church was founded in December 16, 1870 by 41 ex-slaves in Jackson, Tennessee.

• The CME Church celebrated its 154th Founders' Day on December 16, 2024.

• The CME Church is a historical African-American Christian denomination. The membership base of the CME Church is becoming increasingly multi-cultural and multi-national which truly reflects upon the Great Commission to preach the gospel to all nations and all people.

• The CME Church is one of three African-American Methodist denominations in the United States – African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The CME Church participated in the Great Gathering of the three African Methodist Episcopal denominations in March 2010.

• The first Bishop of the CME Church was Bishop William Miles.

• At the historical 37th General Conference, five bishops were elected including the first female bishop, Teresa E. Snorton, and the indigenous bishop for Africa, Godwin T. Umoette.

• At the historical 40th General Conference, five bishops were elected including the second female bishop, Denise Anders-Modest, and the second indigenous bishop for Africa, Kwame Lawson Adjei.

• The CME Church celebrated its 153rd anniversary on December 16, 2023.

Organizational Structure

• The CME Church has more than 1.2 million members across the United States, and has missions and sister churches in Haiti, Jamaica and fourteen African nations.

• There are eleven Episcopal Districts.

• There are four CME related colleges, Lane College (Jackson, TN), Miles College (Birmingham, AL), Paine College (Augusta, GA) and Texas College (Tyler, TX). There is additionally a CME sponsored seminary, Phillips School of Theology, which is an affiliate member of the Interdenominational Theological Center (Atlanta, GA).

• The CME Church is governed by three branches; Executive (Episcopacy), Legislative (General Conference), and Judiciary (Judicial Council).

• The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is under the leadership of Senior Bishop Lawrence Reddick and the College of Bishops.

• The headquarters of the CME Church is located in Memphis, TN.