African Methodism has it’s beginnings in the organization of the Free African Society in 1787, and in our official organization in 1816 under the auspices of our Founding Father, the Rt. Reverend Richard Allen. The roots of our Kentucky/Tennessee Episcopal District, currently the Blessed 13th, finds it’s beginnings in the ministry and legacy of the Rt. Reverend William Paul Quinn. As early as 1822 a debate arose in the Baltimore Annual Conference relative to the Western Territories and the Annual Conference under whose jurisdiction they should be placed. The record refers to it as "the country west of the Allegheny Mountains." On August 28, 1830, the Western Annual Conference was organized at Hillsboro, Ohio, embracing all the territory west of the Allegheny Mountains. In 1833 the Reverend William Paul Quinn was transferred West, and began his great work west of the Alleghenies. He became, in 1840, one of the founders of the Indiana Conference (whose composition included, at that time, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois). That same year (1840), he was given the oversight of, along with his other charges, all the circuits of the Indiana Conference, and also appointed by the General Conference as the general missionary, to "plant the A. M. E. Church in the far West." He was the first and the only person at this time to be chosen by a General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church to do general missionary work. At the General Conference of 1844, Reverend Quinn reported such an amazing account of growth and organization in the West, that the mantle of the Bishopric was thrust upon him. Because of his great work, African Methodism continued it’s movement and growth West, and Southward, into Kentucky, Tennessee and beyond. In 1852 the General Conference decided that because of the vastness of the Indiana Conference, that it should be divided. The Missouri Annual Conference was organized at Louisville, Kentucky in September of 1855, whose composition included Kentucky and Tennessee. Again, due to such overwhelming growth, in 1868 the Missouri Conference was divided, and out of that came the Kentucky Annual Conference and Tennessee Annual Conference (along with others). Both Conferences, at this organization, encompassed their respective states. The "increase" continued: In 1876 the Tennessee Conference was divided into the Tennessee and West Tennessee Conferences. In 1880 the Kentucky Conference was divided into the Kentucky and West Kentucky Conferences. And, finally, in 1900 the Tennessee Conference was divided into the Tennessee and East Tennessee Conferences. Also, after this last division, the Tennessee Conference was often referred to as the "Central" Tennessee Conference. Over the years the regions of Kentucky and Tennessee, and their respective Conferences, have been reassigned to, and designated by, many different Episcopal District titles as the church has grown and re-organized itself; and during our history, Kentucky and Tennessee have not always been part of the same District: for example, at the 1872 General Conference, Kentucky was part of the Third District, while Tennessee was part of the 6th District, and in 1876 Kentucky and Tennessee were together again, along with other states, to make up the Third District. At the 1920 General Conference, Kentucky and Tennessee made up the whole 14th District. The mantle of "Thirteenth" was placed upon the regions of Kentucky and Tennessee at the 1936 General Conference, and it has remained so to this day as our history and legacy get brighter with each new opportunity to worship and serve the Most High God and the Church of Allen! [Download this brief history] Sources: Collected and compiled material from The Reverend Robert E. Keesee (currently Presiding Elder of the North Nashville District - Tennessee Annual Conference). Centennial Encyclopaedia of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (1916) by Richard R. Wright. A History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (1922) by C. S. Smith (Supplemental to Daniel Alexander Payne’s AME History). An Apology for African Methodism (1867) by Benjamin T. Tanner. Special thanks to the Reverend Dr. Dennis Dickerson & the Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor, III, for their significant contributions. Final compilation by the Reverend William R. T. Hale.   Perception and attitude are two major lynchpins of successful ministry. Perception deals with how we perceive our work, our witness, our worship and ourselves. If we perceive that who we are and what we do is valuable and important, it is reflected in a positive attitude. Therefore even in difficult situations, hope will find the courage to climb the stairs of disappointment to open the windows that faith has provided. If our perception of whom we are and what we do is negative, it is reflected in negative attitudes that lead to negative behavior. Therefore even when things are going well, hope sits on the steps of opportunity refusing to believe that one day things will get better. It is apparent in many areas of the 13th Episcopal District that there is a perception that the bright lights of the Tennessee and Kentucky areas do not sparkle like it use to and may never sparkle again. This kind of perception produces "has been" and "never will be" attitudes. Possibilities never take form, creative energy dwindles and people no longer have the passion and courage to accomplish something important. Our level of faith is flying at half-mast! Our confidence has been short sheeted by a series of events within and without of the church. Our confidence has been bombarded by critical local, national and international events. These events include an economic slowdown, wars on foreign soil and violence at home. Persistent problems such as crime, drugs, HIV/Aids and moral confusion weigh heavy upon all of our shoulders. Terrorism has joined urban violence at our dinner tables nightly forcing us to live with uncertainty. "It is the best of times and the worse of times." And...if ever we needed the Lord, we sure do need Him now! The gains of the Civil Rights era seem to be slowly slipping away. The confidence we had in our right to vote was shattered in the last presidential election. Today every state has become a "Battleground state" for the two presidential contenders. And...if we ever needed to vote, we sure do need to rally the troops and march to the polls in just a few days. Our country and way of life is at stake! The confidence we had in ourselves, our church, our service and our community has been shaken. We’ve allowed certain elements such as politics, mediocrity, pettiness, in fighting and jealousy to rise higher than our level of faith. We’ve allowed negative behaviors to pollute our church culture. Suspicion and suspicious activities become fodder for the gossip and the gospel has become lost among tickling brass and sounding cymbals. And...if ever we needed the Lord, we sure do need Him now! The 13th Episcopal District needs many things. Let’s begin by raising our shield of faith to quench the attacks of the enemy. Believe again that God can and wants to supply our needs Believe again that the AME Church can spread like wildfire into new locations and at the same time nurture and resource existing congregations. Believe again that we can equip and continue to train a new generation of leaders to serve this present age. Believe again that the God who has begun a good work in our local churches will carry it through until Jesus comes back again. Believe again that we can re-teach our traditions and develop new ones. Believe again that God is able and can enable us to great and marvelous things. Without faith it will be impossible to lease God. Without a renewed confidence in us, our church and our God it will be difficult to raise the standard of ministry and bury mediocrity with excellence. A fresh wind will fan the embers of our faith to help us establish a new AME church culture that builds positively upon the past, lays the foundation for the future and work diligently in the present. The Lord will give the increase! "Excellence in ministry can be obtained is I care more than others think wise, risk more that others think safe, dream more than others think practical, expect more than others think possible." ~ Kay Bush Deepening Christian lifestyles by exercising Spiritual Disciplines Resource local churches Plant new congregations Train a new generation of leaders Create shared learning opportunities for clergy and lay Focus on developing men and young adult ministry Acquire and practice healthy habits Identify and utilize non-traditional funding sources Develop a faith based non-profit: Believe, Inc. Utilize new technology to improve communication and visibility of the 13th District