Serving This Present Age: A Wesleyan Reflection on the 2024 Quadrennial Address of the Board of Bishops of The A.M.E. Zion Church
The African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Zion Church meets every four years in its law-making body, called the General Conference, to review and enact legislation, elect denominational leaders (Bishops and General Officers), and chart the course for vision and programming for the denomination for the ensuing four-year period. One of the highlights of the conference is the Board of Bishops' Quadrennial Address, which shares with the denomination and its various agencies the heart and mind of the Board as they seek to provide discernment, wisdom, and guidance to the leadership of the church. The following is a glimpse of the Address and the declaration of the tenets that affirm the Church as authentic and viable members of the Wesleyan community.
Introduction
The world in which we live, particularly the culture and ethos of the church, has changed. Never, in America, have we experienced such a clear distinction between those faith leaders who proclaim biblical truth and those who have distorted biblical truth by integrating a gospel of religion and politics. The Distinction has become so glaring that there seems to be more focus on politics than a Christ-centered approach to ministry. Statistics on faith leaders in America suggest a significant erosion of traditional biblical worldviews, with studies showing declining belief in biblical inerrancy and a rise in syncretism.
For instance, only 37% of American pastors hold a biblical worldview, and many churchgoers are abandoning traditional moral stances, such as views on abortion.
The general populace also shows declining adherence to religious tenets, with 66% of adults rejecting absolute moral truth and 41% not believing the Bible is the accurate and reliable word of God.
Regarding a declining biblical worldview among pastors: A 2022 study found that only 37% of American pastors have a biblical worldview, a sign that the erosion of biblical truth may be occurring even within the clergy.
Regarding Pastoral views on Jesus: A 2020 survey revealed that 30% of evangelicals deny the deity of Jesus Christ, and 65% agree that Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God, rather than being God himself, reports PR Newswire.
Regarding declining belief in biblical inerrancy: A 2021 study noted that belief that the Bible is the accurate and reliable word of God dropped from 70% in 1991 to 41% in 2021, according to Arizona Christian University.
Regarding a declining confidence in the Bible's clarity: A 2025 study found that the percentage of churchgoers who believe the Bible is clear and decisive on abortion has fallen from 65% in 2023 to 51% in 2025, notes a Christian Daily report.
For the broader public, rejection of absolute moral truth: 66% of U.S. adults reject or doubt the existence of absolute moral truth, according to the Arizona Christian University report.
Reliance on personal feelings for moral guidance: 74% of U.S. adults rely on personal feelings to discern moral truth, while only 18% of adults consistently rely on the Bible for moral guidance, according to the Baptist Record.
The question that presents itself is: are there any Denominational bodies that conscientiously promote the tenets of Wesleyan theology? While there are many who practice aspects of Wesleyan theology, fewer are promoting the fullness of Wesleyan thought and practice. I am sure there are others, and I will leave that debate to the theological and sociological pundits. For the sake of this article, however, I will focus on one: The African Methodist Episcopal Zion (The A.M.E. Zion) Church. Founded in 1781 by James Varick, Abraham Thompson, and others, established in New York City in 1796, and incorporated in 1801, known as "The Freedom Church", the movement continues to foster the tenets of Social Holiness, Christian Perfection, Means of Grace, Mutual Accountability, and Entire Sanctification.
During its 52nd Quadrennial Session of the General Conference, in July 2024, the Board of Bishops presented their 2024 Quadrennial Address. The Quadrennial Address is a robust theological and missional document that calls the denomination to recommit to its identity as "The Freedom Church" and to serve the present age with prophetic clarity, pastoral compassion, and spiritual conviction. This address resonates deeply with the theological legacy of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, whose doctrines of social holiness, mutual accountability, entire sanctification, and Christian perfection remain foundational to Methodist ecclesiology and praxis.
The following is the preamble of the Address, followed by key points and a comparative analysis of Wesley's theologies of Social Holiness, Mutual Accountability, Christian Perfection, and Entire Sanctification. May this serve as an introspective view from the Denomination known as "The Freedom Church".
The Quadrennial Address
The Board of Bishops
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
To the beloved family of God, called the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, to the 52nd Quadrennial Session of the General Conference. Grace, mercy, love, peace, and hope through the Lord Jesus Christ! We present to you the Quadrennial Address for the 2024-2028 Quadrennium.
For years untold, the Quadrennial Address has served as the theological position, the Clarion call, and the summons to duty for the membership of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. In many annual conferences, the quadrennial address served as the reference material for the School of the Prophets. Many Presiding Elders have used this address to align their district with the direction of the denomination. In days past, many of our local churches used this address in their Varick Christian Endeavor and other teaching opportunities to inform the local congregation of the direction of the denomination. If there was ever a time we needed to revert to these previous practices, it is now.
The Quadrennial Address requires the Board of Bishops to serve as both prophets and priests, providing spiritual direction, wise discernment, and spiritual guidance. As priests, it is incumbent that the Board of Bishops confirm, and when necessary, update, our spiritual practices. The Board, however, must ensure we do not sacrifice the eternal for the temporal. As prophets we must be assured our spiritual connection to the Almighty is sufficient to hear as God shares both the opportunities and the threats to our Zion. Please be assured, we take both of these responsibilities seriously. We are aware, you have come to this General Conference with one overarching question, “Watchman, what of the night?” And unfortunately, the answer is the same as three thousand years ago, “Morning is coming, but also the night.”
Our beloved church does not operate inoculated from the influences and opinions of the greater society. The same challenges that have confronted our sister denominations are standing at our door. After a season of prayer, without fear or trepidation, without pride, prejudice, or partiality, this Board must clearly articulate that which has been revealed to us by God. If this address seems forward, please know it is intentional. If this address appears spiritually conservative, yet pragmatically liberal, that is by design.
Finally, the written text of this address, by necessity, is extensive. We live in a rapidly changing world, yet as a board, we are only able to respond in this medium once per quadrennium. In an honest attempt at sensitivity, we have chosen to supply the full text, yet in this setting we are presenting highlighted portions. We implore you, as was our previous practice, at every level to please spend meaningful sessions discussing and digesting this address in its entirety. We cannot convey what a privilege it is to serve as your Chief Pastors. It is because of the honor and confidence with which you have entrusted us, we have undertaken the preparation of this address with such sincerity.
In every nation where Zion's banner is planted, the fragility of democracy is evident. The United States is reeling from intense political and social divisions. These fissures have been exacerbated by assaults on the gains made during the Civil Rights Movement, the coordinated efforts at voter suppression, attacks on diversity, equality, and inclusion, and the critically important efforts to provide educational curriculum that reflects the truth of American history, the virtues and the vices, the triumphs and the tragedies, the forward progress and the reoccurring backlash.
We are equally concerned about the hunger, hardship, misery, and pains afflicted on people in some African countries by the actions of organized terrorists, bandits, and political leaders with inordinate ambitions.
We therefore present to you the 2024-2028 Quadrennial theme: "The A.M.E. Zion Church–Serving This Present Age: Committing to Our Mission, Creative in Our Methods, Concentrating on Our Ministries, and Connecting Through Our Membership."
The tenets and theology of The A.M.E. Zion Church are grounded in Wesleyan theology. The quadrennial address gives us a glimpse of how the DNA of Wesley is ingrained in the theology of The A.M.E. Zion Church.
Social Holiness: Justice as Identity
Wesley famously declared, "The gospel of Christ knows of no religion but social; no holiness but social holiness." This phrase encapsulates his belief that holiness is not merely personal piety but must be expressed in love and justice within community.
The Quadrennial Address echoes this conviction:
The rise of Christian Nationalism is an especially malignant virus spreading across our country. It employs a perverted interpretation of scripture and our Christian heritage to promote a value system that is more representative of the Empire than of Jesus Christ. The teachings of Jesus that loves not only our neighbors but the refugee, that cares for the least, the lost, and the left out, as found in Matthew 25:34-40, and that prioritizes liberation for the oppressed as proclaimed in Luke 4:19, have all been turned upside down.
We are equally concerned about the hunger, hardship, misery, and pains afflicted on people in some African countries by the actions of organized terrorists, bandits, and political leaders with inordinate ambitions. We call on African leaders to take decisive actions against terrorism and banditry; corruption and impunity; injustice and oppression. We further call on the African leaders to place high priority on education, health, agriculture, and the stimulation of economic development of the people. Let Africa Arise!
The Address confronts systemic injustices—racism, poverty, violence, and exclusion—and calls the Church to be a prophetic voice and healing presence. It aligns with Wesley’s practical divinity, which insists that faith must work through love and justice: “For Wesley, our faith must work in love, and this is practical divinity.” Both Wesley and the Address affirm that holiness is inseparable from justice, and that the Church must be a transformative agent in society.
Mutual Accountability: Class Leaders Means and Discipleship
John Wesley's theology of mutual accountability was a cornerstone of the Methodist movement. It emphasized the importance of community and fellowship in the Christian life, as well as the need for believers to share their lives and faith regularly. Classes were the most influential instructional unit in Methodism, where individuals could share their experiences and support one another. Bands served as a way for early Methodists to provide mutual encouragement and genuine care for one another. His approach to accountability groups, such as bands and classes, served to share a communal lifestyle of altruism towards the poor. These groups were instrumental in shaping and transforming the social context of early Methodism, promoting a sense of community and shared purpose.
Wesley’s genius lay in organizing believers into Societies, Classes, and Bands—small groups for spiritual formation, confession, and accountability. These structures fostered mutual care and growth in grace.
The Quadrennial Address calls for a revival of this model:
Small-group discipleship, which we in Zion Methodism call the Class Leader System, is what made the Methodist Movement a world church. However, the Class Leader System only works optimally when the classes meet weekly for small-group discipleship and small-group accountability. Disciple making requires a systematic program of instruction with the involvement of varied ministries within the church, including class leaders, deaconesses, the Christian Education Department, and others. We move towards reviving, renewing, and refreshing the class leader's system as a means of discipleship, fellowship, and accountability. This will require enhanced training on all levels and ensure that each class leader is provided with proper resources. We move towards reviving, renewing, and refreshing the class leader's system as a means of discipleship, fellowship, and accountability.
This mutual accountability is not only structural but spiritual, forming the backbone of Wesleyan discipleship and echoed in the Address’s call for intentional mentoring and teaching.
Entire Sanctification (Christian Perfection): Holiness as Transformation
Wesley taught that believers could experience entire sanctification: a heart cleansed from sin and filled with perfect love. This was not sinless perfection but a deep transformation into Christlikeness. Wesley taught that salvation is not only about justification (being forgiven) but also about sanctification: being made holy. Entire sanctification refers to a second, deeper work of grace after conversion, where the believer’s heart is purified from inward sin and filled with perfect love for God and neighbor.
Wesley drew heavily from passages like Matthew 5:48 – “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” and 1 Thessalonians 5:23 – “May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely.” He interpreted these as a real, attainable state of holiness in this life—not absolute perfection, but freedom from willful sin and a heart fully oriented toward God.
Wesley emphasized the Means of Grace—prayer, Scripture, sacraments, Christian conferencing—as essential for growth toward perfection. He saw sanctification as a cooperative work: God’s grace enables, but believers actively pursue holiness.
Regarding Christian Perfection, the Address states:
Wesleyan theology focuses on sanctification and the transforming effect of faith on the character of a Christian. Distinguishing doctrines include the new birth, assurance, righteousness, and obedience. Moreover, Scripture is considered a primary authority, but Methodists also look to Christian tradition, including the historic creeds. Methodists teach that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for all of humanity and that salvation is achievable for all. While he emphasized scriptural holiness as a mark of the Methodist Christian, he further asserts social holiness, to live as the beloved community where love of God and love of neighbor is manifested in our relationships as a community of faith, hence the often-stated phrase, 'The gospel of Christ knows of no religion but social, no holiness but social holiness.'
The Means of Grace are concrete spiritual disciplines set apart by God as the most reliable way we receive preventing, justifying, or sanctifying grace. John Wesley defines grace as the sum of all God's gifts and blessings upon humanity from the moment of creation onward. The essential means of Grace, according to John Wesley, are prayer, scripture, and the sacrament of Holy Communion.
For Wesley, our faith must work in love, and this is practical divinity. The A.M.E. Zion Church must not be seen to be acting only in some particular situations, but we must live out our mission in all matters and in all situations.
Wesley’s doctrine of christian perfection is the culmination of sanctification—a life governed by love for God and neighbor. It is not flawlessness but the fullness of love. While the Address does not use the term “entire sanctification,” its emphasis on spiritual maturity, transformation, and holy living is deeply Wesleyan. This mirrors Wesley’s belief that the goal of Christian life is to be “made perfect in love,” and that the Church must nurture this through teaching, worship, and community. The A.M.E. Zion Church professes and promotes Wesley’s theology of christian perfection and admonishes its members to do the same.
Conclusion
The 2024 Quadrennial Address of the A.M.E. Zion Church is a powerful reaffirmation of Wesleyan theology contextualized for the 21st century. Its emphasis on justice, discipleship, holiness, and love reflects the enduring legacy of John Wesley’s vision for a Church that is both holy and socially engaged.
In a world marked by division and despair, the Address calls Zion Methodists to be a people of hope, transformation, and possibility, living out the gospel with courage and compassion. As Wesley would say, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can," and the Address invites the Church to do just that.
J. Elvin Sadler is the General Secretary of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH. He serves on the Firebrand Editorial Board.