The AMEC grew out of the Free African Society (FAS) which Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and others established in Philadelphia. When officials at St. George’s MEC pulled blacks off their knees while praying, FAS members discovered just how far American Methodists would go to enforce racial discrimination against African Americans. Hence, these members of St. George’s made plans to transform their mutual aid society into an African congregation. Although most wanted to affiliate with the Protestant Episcopal Church, Allen led a small group who resolved to remain Methodists.

To establish Bethel’s independence from interfering white Methodists, Allen, a former Delaware slave, successfully sued in the Pennsylvania courts in 1807 and 1815 for the right of his congregation to exist as an independent institution. Because black Methodists in other middle Atlantic communities encountered racism and desired religious autonomy, Allen called them to meet in Philadelphia to form a new Wesleyan denomination, the AME.

Scouting is included in The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the AME Church’s governing document and is included in the current edition.

One of the earliest Chartered Boy Scout Troops is Troop 51 at Pearl Street African Methodist Episcopal Church, Jackson, Mississippi, and continues to produce strong scouts.

AAMES was formed under the leadership of the fourth Executive Director of the Department of Christian Education, Rev. Dr. Kenneth H. Hill, an Eagle Scout, bringing together boy and girl scouts leaders from AME congregations together to advance the scouting ministry within the church.