Augusta General Conference (May 5, 1886)

On May 5, 1886, delegates of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church gathered in Augusta, Georgia, a river city marked by postwar hardship and spiritual opportunity. Pastors, bishops, and lay representatives met as a connectional body, seeking to strengthen gospel work among congregations that often labored with limited means but abundant faith. Their purpose was not merely organizational; it was devotional and missional—ordering the church’s life so that preaching, discipleship, and witness could endure.

A Practical Step of Faith

The conference recognized that fervent prayer must be joined to faithful stewardship. In a simple, memorable plan, each member was asked to contribute twenty cents per year. The amount was small on paper, but meaningful for many working families; it called for consistency, unity, and integrity.

The offering was carefully divided: eight cents for bishops, three for missions, three for education, three for publishing interests, and three for the Israel Church and Miles Chapel. This distribution reflected a balanced vision: supporting overseers who traveled and supervised doctrine and discipline; funding mission outreach; training servants for ministry and learning; supplying sound printed materials for worship and teaching; and strengthening local centers of worship and community witness. The structure embodied the biblical principle: “Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).

People, Places, and Spiritual Resolve

While records often highlight decisions more than names, the heroism of the moment belongs to ordinary believers—men and women who gave steadily, not to display wealth but to confess Christ’s worth. In a time when Black congregations faced social pressure and economic constraint, orderly giving became a quiet testimony of courage, self-government, and love for the church.

Legacy for Ministry

The plan helped sustain leadership, equip future workers, spread truth through publishing, and keep local congregations strong. It encouraged willing rather than forced generosity: “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). In this way, Augusta’s 1886 action modeled how steadfast giving can underwrite steadfast preaching—and how disciplined stewardship can serve enduring revival.