History, Beliefs, and Symbols of Our Church

Church Name:
Williams Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Founded:
1880 "A Past To Remember and a Future To Fulfill"

Denomination:
Methodist

Beliefs:
As expressed in the Articles of Religion, the General Rules, the Social Creed, and the Canons of the Church: 'Of Faith in the Holy Trinity-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,' Membership is open to any person "desiring to flee the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins," The church affirms its faith in all in worship service by reciting The Affirmation of Faith (The Apostles Creed). The Book of Disciple is both the spiritual and legal guide.

Active Membership:
180

Annual Observances:
Women's Day, Church Anniversary, Men's Day, Homecoming & Revival, Sunday Church School Anniversary, Senior Honors Service (for Twiggs County Seniors-this being the 42nd year.)

Interesting Facts:
The first church was erected approximately 3/4 mile from Jeffersonville on Hwy. 96 West, the Tarversville Road, often referred to as "Over the Branch," Williams Chapel is the " Mother Church" of Shiloh CME Church. Pastors are assigned annually by Presiding Bishop during the Annual Conference. Officers are nominated annually by the Pastor and confirmed in the Quarterly Conference. The church provides many acts of benevolence to members and non-members.

The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, or the CME Church as it is commonly called, came into existence as a result of the movement from slavery to freedom. During the years following the birth of Methodism, the denomination grew rapidly. The Methodist Episcopal Church South was an outgrowth of Wesley's Methodism. Some Blacks, converted to Christianity by slave masters, accepted the Methodist doctrine as it was. However, with the passage of time, the emancipation of Blacks from slavery created the desire for Blacks to have and control their own church. This desire led formerly enslaved persons who had been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, to start their own independent religious organization.

The Organizers: Forty-one men who have exemplified leadership qualities gathered together in Jackson, Tennessee on December 16, 1870. With the advice and assistance of the white brethren of the M.E. Church South, the Black religious leaders organized the colored branch of Methodism. On Tuesday, December 20, they adopted the Methodist South's Book of Discipline and on Wednesday, December 21, they elected two of their own preachers - William H. Miles of Kentucky and Richard H. Vanderhorst of Georgia - as their bishops. Gathering in Jackson with only a dream, the religious leaders departed with their own church a reality.

In the words of Bishop Randall Albert Carter, "this tender plant of God" had taken root and "was here to live or die." (Biblical basis: Psalm 80.)

Please click on the picture below to learn more about our connectional church history.

The official logo or symbol of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church was originally authorized by Bishop B. Julian Smith for the Centennial General Conference held in Memphis, in 1970. It was officially adopted by the General Conference in 1974 as the denomination's connectional marker.

Designed by Will E. Chambers, the logo shows the place of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in the rapidly changing urbanized society and its relation to God's people. The logo is composed of:

The WORLD GLOBE which represents the vineyard of God

The SKYLINE which stands for the Church's concern for human and urban problems and people's alienation from God and one another

The WEATHER VANE symbolizes the need for the Church to be flexible in terms of meeting the contemporary needs of people

The CROSS which denotes, by its vertical bar, the need for a proper relationship between people and God, and by its horizontal bar, the need for proper relationships between people. The total Cross is a sign of the final-assured victory through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Some Methodist beliefs which are important because of their emphasis within the Methodist tradition are:

Christian Perfection: Though the Methodists never claimed that a perfect, sinless life was ever attained, they taught that it was attainable. The Methodists taught that every Christian must strive for perfection and should evidence some progress in that direction.

Universal Redemption: The universal redemption proclaims that Jesus Christ died for all people and that all people can be saved - not just a select few. It also declares that acceptance by Jesus Christ has nothing to do with one's status in life or with one's position or possessions.

Justification by Faith: The belief that one is saved by faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ alone is central to the Methodist Doctrine. The service of the Christian life is an expression of one's faith - not the faith. It is because of the grace, the unmerited love of God in Jesus Christ, that men and women are saved - not because of anything they do.

The Witness of the Holy Spirit: The inner certainty that each Christian can have that he/she is a child of God as well as the conviction that God is at work in the world and in the life of the believer bringing about His Kingdom gives credence to the witness of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life.

Falling from Grace: Emphasis upon the real possibility that a Christian can live in such a way that he/she will reject God's grace even though it was once accepted.

The Sacraments: Methodists believe that a sacrament is a "visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace" instituted by Jesus Christ. There are two sacraments observed by Methodists: Baptism and The Lord's Supper. (For more detailed information on each, see the heading titled Sacraments.

Governmental Structure

Our bishops represent the executive branch of our government structure, the General Conference represents the legislative branch, and the Judicial Council represents the judicial branch.

I. Legislative - General Conference

II. Executive - Episcopacy

III. Judicial - Judicial Council

Judicial Council

The Judicial Council of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is like a third branch of government in which bishops represent the executive branch, the General Conference represents the legislative branch and the Judicial Council represents the judicial branch.

The nine-member Council, which is elected by the General Conference, guarantees "due process" for members and clergy of the Church and is the final interpreter of The Book of Discipline. Members, lay or clergy, may petition the Council for declaratory judgment (interpretation) for paragraphs of The Discipline.

The council was voted into existence by the 1946 General Conference and became operative in 1950. Prior to 1946, the bishops were the final interpreters of The Book of Discipline.

Please click the picture below to meet our Connectional Church Leadership Team.