BUTLER CHAPEL AME CHURCH
AI summary — doctrinal positions on this page are inferred by AI from this church's own public statements and may be inaccurate.
Inherited from denomination
What African Methodist Episcopal Church teaches
Positions bound by the denomination's confessional standards. This is what the tradition teaches; whether this specific congregation publicly holds each is a separate question — see Statements below.
Affirms
- Infant BaptismSTRONGWestminster XXVIII; Book of Concord SC IV; Council of Trent Session VII; Wesleyan Articles Art. XVII
- Marriage as one man and one womanSTRONGGenesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; historic universal Christian teaching.
- Permissibility of divorce and remarriagestandardMatthew 19:9 (adultery ground); 1 Corinthians 7:15 (abandonment ground). Practice varies.
- Women in pastoral / ordained officestandardVarious denominational actions (TEC 1976, ELCA 1970s, PC(USA) 1956, AG 1935, CofE 1994 priests / 2014 bishops, etc.)
Denies
- Assumption of MarystandardUniversal Protestant rejection — not attested in Scripture; not received as dogma.
- Homosexual practice and biblical sexual ethicsSTRONGRomans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; historic universal Christian teaching.
- Immaculate ConceptionSTRONGUniversal Protestant + Orthodox rejection. Orthodox reject on the grounds that they hold prepurification at the Annunciation, not conception.
- Perpetual Virginity of MarystandardNatural reading of Matthew 13:55–56 (brothers of Jesus); typical modern Baptist / evangelical position.
- TransubstantiationSTRONGOrthodox reject the Aristotelian metaphysics; Lutherans use 'sacramental union'; 39 Articles Art. XXVIII rejects explicitly; Reformed/Baptist reject substance-change.
Wrestles with
- Apostolic SuccessionstandardLutheran and Methodist bodies retain 'succession of doctrine' language without the tactile chain.
- Believer's BaptismstandardPaedobaptist bodies practice adult baptism on credible profession where infant baptism was omitted, but do not consider it normative.
- Pacifism vs. just-warweakDefault just-war framework — usually unwritten. Inheriting at weak confidence.
- Real PresencestandardCalvin's spiritual presence (genuinely present but not physically) is neither strong affirm nor deny; Anglican/Methodist typically hold a receptionist view.
- TheotokosweakConfessionally valid title (Ephesus is a received council) but not used devotionally; retained in liturgy where liturgy is retained.
In their own words
Statements
statement_of_faith
<!DOCTYPE html> Beliefs – About us [gtranslate] Who we are About us Contact us Find a Church Stories from congregations Districts Jobs Beliefs Compelling Vision Strategic Plan – Plan Estratégico – Plan Estratejik General Secretary Mission and Ministry Board History Social media What we do Annual Conference Brethren Disaster Ministries Brethren Faith in Action Fund Brethren Historical Library and Archives Brethren Press Brethren Service Center Brethren Volunteer Service Children’s Disaster Services Tools for Community EngagementSource ↗
about_us
<!DOCTYPE html> About us [gtranslate] Who we are About us Contact us Find a Church Stories from congregations Districts Jobs Beliefs Compelling Vision Strategic Plan – Plan Estratégico – Plan Estratejik General Secretary Mission and Ministry Board History Social media What we do Annual Conference Brethren Disaster Ministries Brethren Faith in Action Fund Brethren Historical Library and Archives Brethren Press Brethren Service Center Brethren Volunteer Service Children’s Disaster Services Tools for Community Engagement Creation CareSource ↗
mission
<!DOCTYPE html> Compelling Vision – Annual Conference Skip to content Search News AC 2026 Policies Polity, Policies & Guidelines Nomination and Election Procedures Query Procedure Goals for Elections Cancellations and Refunds About Our History Mission, Vision, Values, and Objectives Annual Conference Leadership Leadership Team Study and Advisory Committees Recorded/Future Conferences FAQs Resources Statements Compelling Vision Contact Us Give to AC Four years ago, denominational leadership recognized that we had reached a critical moment in oSource ↗
about
About us [gtranslate] Who we are About us Contact us Find a Church Stories from congregations Districts Jobs Beliefs Compelling Vision Strategic Plan – Plan Estratégico – Plan Estratejik General Secretary Mission and Ministry Board History Social media What we do Annual Conference Brethren Disaster Ministries Brethren Faith in Action Fund Brethren Historical Library and Archives Brethren Press Brethren Service Center Brethren Volunteer Service Children’s Disaster Services Tools for Community Engagement Creation Care Death Row Support Project Discipleship and Leadership FormatSource ↗
beliefs
Beliefs – About us [gtranslate] Who we are About us Contact us Find a Church Stories from congregations Districts Jobs Beliefs Compelling Vision Strategic Plan – Plan Estratégico – Plan Estratejik General Secretary Mission and Ministry Board History Social media What we do Annual Conference Brethren Disaster Ministries Brethren Faith in Action Fund Brethren Historical Library and Archives Brethren Press Brethren Service Center Brethren Volunteer Service Children’s Disaster Services Tools for Community Engagement Creation Care Death Row Support Project Discipleship and LSource ↗
Leadership
Who serves here
Chris Douglas
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