Colored Methodist Episcopal Church

Formed in the crucible of the post–Civil War South, the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church (later known as the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church) labored to shepherd believers through hardship, discrimination, and limited access to schooling. Its leaders understood that the health of a congregation is tied not only to preaching and worship, but also to disciplined instruction that shapes character, strengthens families, and equips servants for lifelong ministry.

Atlanta Convocation of 1882

On August 29, 1882, all the bishops gathered in the First Methodist Church of Atlanta, Georgia, to face a pressing need: educating their people for faithful Christian life and service. Atlanta—growing, contested, and full of both opportunity and resistance—provided a fitting setting for a decision that required courage. In prayerful unity, the bishops organized a board of trustees, pledged aid to a college already in operation, and committed themselves to an enduring work rather than a passing program. Their meeting modeled shepherd-leadership: not mere talk, but accountable structures, shared sacrifice, and spiritual resolve.

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

Payne Institute

From that gathering came the establishment of the Payne Institute—an educational venture aimed at forming Christian minds and steady hands. The goal was not education as status, but education as stewardship: training ministers to handle Scripture faithfully, preparing teachers to shape the young, and equipping ordinary believers to honor Christ in work and home. In a difficult era, such planning was a form of heroism—quiet, persistent, and costly—refusing despair and choosing to build for those not yet born.

“Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

Legacy

The bishops’ action testified that faith is not only confessed on Sundays but cultivated through disciplined learning and sacrificial service. By investing in schooling, they sought stronger homes, steadier churches, and a trained ministry—trusting the Lord to multiply loaves offered in humility. Their work stands as a reminder that love plans, hope endures, and Christian leadership builds institutions that bless generations.