Join us online for an engaging discussion as we delve into the rich history of the Mother African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E) Zion Church—the oldest Black church in New York State.
Founded in 1796 and charted in 1799 by Ministers James Varick, Christopher Rush, William Miller, and George Galbreath, introduced Black religious expression while catering to a growing population of Black abolitionists. After affiliate Zion churches started to open, the original church began to distinguish itself as the "Mother" church. Mother Zion served as a stop along the Underground Railroad and was referred to as a "Freedom Church" for its active participation in Black social activism.
The present Neo-Gothic church that was completed in 1925 was a a haven for Black artists and intellectuals during the Harlem Renaissance and an amphitheater for civil rights activism during the 1950s and ‘60s.
About the Speaker:
Reverend Audrey Akins Williamson
The Reverend Audrey Akins Williamson is a proud Alumna of Rutgers University, New Brunswick Theological and Princeton Theological Seminaries. Prior to answering her call to ministry, she was employed in the area of Sales and Marketing for several Fortune 500 Companies, including L’Oréal and American Express. Formerly a Visiting Professor of Sociology, Religion and Gender Studies at Monmouth University, she has served as a Mentor for the RISE since her inception in 2018; she is the Founding Director of the Collaborative for Faith Leadership, housed also at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. She serves Mother AME Zion Church as the Nina M. Neely Minister for Christian Education, and was formerly the Senior Pastor at the St. James AME Zion Church in Matawan, NJ.
Rev. Audrey has served as a Faith and Climate Change Fellow for former Vice President Al Gore, and in the inaugural cohort of the John Templeton Foundation and American Association for Advancement of Science Lifelong Learning Fellowship, at the Yale School of Divinity and Yale School of Medicine, the focus to encourage the exchange of knowledge and expertise between and within the communities of faith and science. She serves on several non-profit boards that focus on Women in Ministry, Empowerment of Women of Color and Mental Health in the African American Community.
Rev. Williamson is engaged in the community in meaningful ways, and holds Area leadership in the Links, Incorporated, and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
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Black Historic Sites in Conversation is a series of virtual talks in collaboration with different Black heritage sites & cultural centers in the greater NYC area, about the ongoing work of preserving, interpreting, and celebrating Black history and historical figures.
This program is funded in part by Humanities New York with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.