OUR NAME
BETHEL
Our name means: “The house of God”
Genesis 12:8, 13:3-4. 28:10-12
AFRICAN
Honors the heritage of the founders who sought to a house of worship where ALL people could worship together freely. In 1787 Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and others walked out of St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church (Philadelphia) after a new rule that denied them the freedom to pray and worship in the main sanctuary.
METHODIST
Emphasizes a living faith that is both personal and practical—loving God, serving others, growing in holiness, and sharing the hope of Jesus Christ through acts of worship, compassion, justice, and community engagement. We believe faith should not only be heard in the sanctuary, but lived out in everyday life.
EPISCOPAL
We are part of a connectional tradition of leadership and accountability guided by bishops, pastors, and lay leaders working together in ministry. This structure reflects our commitment to shared leadership, spiritual oversight, order, and unity within the larger church body as we work together to proclaim the Gospel and serve our communities.
CHURCH
The church exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, nurture spiritual growth, care for one another, and bring hope and transformation to the community.
OUR LOGO
The Symbols
The Shield reflects the church’s calling to defend truth, proclaim the Gospel, and serve as a refuge of hope and healing.
At the center is the cross of Jesus Christ. Everything we do flows from the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The anvil symbolizes the church being forged through struggle, perseverance, faith, and resilience with its humble beginnings in Richard Allen’s black smith shop.
The Colors
Red symbolizes the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It reminds us of the cost of faith, the power of redemption, and the call to boldly witness for Christ.
Black reflects the church’s historic commitment to liberation, equality, and the sacred worth of Black life and leadership.
Green points to spiritual growth, community transformation, and the church’s ongoing mission to bring healing and hope to the world.