Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information about the names "Mt. Olive", "Antioch", "Mt. Carmel" And "Mt. Moriah" that are frequently individually used as names of African American churches.*
This is the fourth post in a pancocojams series about frequently used Black (African American) church names.
*The church names given in these posts are also given to churches that aren't historically African American or aren't presently predominately African American.
The church names featured in these pancocojams posts were selected from articles such as "10 Historic Black Southern Churches to Visit" https://blacksouthernbelle.com/10-historic-black-southern-churches-visit/ and "Historic African American Churches" https://www.blackpast.org/special-features/historic-african-american-churches/. In addition, the church names that I've selected for this series is based on my experience as an African American who noticed the same church names in a number of cities I lived in or visited.
These pancocojams posts on frequent names used by African American churches don't include names whose association with religion are widely known (such as "Calvary" and "Emmanuel" or names whose meanings are generally understood such as "First [followed by a denomination]", "Second [followed by a denomination]", "Union [followed by a denomination]", or "a Saint's name [followed by a denomination]".
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The content of this post is published for education, religious, and cultural purposes.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click the "common Black church names" tag to find other posts in this series.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT "MOUNT OLIVE"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives
"The Mount of Olives or Mount Olivet (Hebrew: הַר הַזֵּיתִים, Har ha-Zeitim; Arabic: جبل الزيتون, الطور, Jabal al-Zaytun, Al-Tur) is a mountain ridge east of and adjacent to Jerusalem's Old City.[1] It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes. The southern part of the Mount was the Silwan necropolis, attributed to the ancient Judean kingdom.[2] The mount has been used as a Jewish cemetery for over 3,000 years and holds approximately 150,000 graves, making it central in the tradition of Jewish cemeteries.[3] Several key events in the life of Jesus, as related in the Gospels, took place on the Mount of Olives, and in the Acts of the Apostles it is described as the place from which Jesus ascended to heaven. Because of its association with both Jesus and Mary, the mount has been a site of Christian worship since ancient times and is today a major site of pilgrimage for Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox, and Protestants."///
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INFORMATION ABOUT "ANTIOCH"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Antioch
"The Church of Antioch (Arabic: كنيسة أنطاكية) was one of the five major churches of the pentarchy in Christianity before the East–West Schism in 1054, with its primary seat in the ancient Greek city of Antioch (present-day Antakya, Turkey)
The Church was formed and founded on Pentecost in Jerusalem. Followers of Jesus as the Messiah (Ha Maschiach), trace the origin of becoming known to the world as 'Christians' to the community founded in Antioch: "Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: and when he found him he brought him to Antioch." For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples, whose origins began in the dispersion resulting from persecution in Jerusalem, were "first called Christians at Antioch." Known by a variety of names, including "Followers of the Way." Later recognized by the Apostles in Jerusalem, one of its leading members was Barnabas, who was sent to organize the new church (see Acts 11:19-26)"...
According to Acts 11:19-26, the Christian community at Antioch began when Christians who were scattered from Jerusalem because of persecution fled to Antioch. They were joined by Christians from Cyprus and Cyrene who migrated to Antioch. It was in Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first referred to as Christians.
A main point of interest, however, is connected with the progress of Christianity among the non-Jewish believers. Tradition holds that the first Gentile church was founded in Antioch, Acts 11:20-21, where it is recorded that the disciples of Jesus Christ were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). It was from Antioch that St. Paul started on his missionary journeys.[1]"...
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INFORMATION ABOUT "MOUNT CARMEL"
From https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Carmel-mountain-ridge-Israel
"Mount Carmel, Hebrew Har Ha-karmel, mountain range, northwestern Israel; the city of Haifa is on its northeastern slope. It divides the Plain of Esdraelon (ʿEmeq Yizreʿel) and the Galilee (east and north) from the coastal Plain of Sharon (south). A northwest–southeast-trending limestone ridge, about 16 mi (26 km) long, it covers an area of about 95 sq mi (245 sq km). Its seaward point, Rosh ha-Karmel (Cape Carmel), almost reaches the Mediterranean; there the coastal plain is only 600 ft (180 m) wide. The mountain’s highest point, 1,791 ft above sea level, is northwest of the village of ʿIsfiyā. The name, dating back to biblical times, is derived from the Hebrew kerem (“vineyard” or “orchard”) and attests to the mountain’s fertility even in ancient times.
Sanctified since early times, Mt. Carmel is mentioned as a “holy mountain” in Egyptian records of the 16th century BC. As a “high place,” it was long a centre of idol worship, and its outstanding reference in the Bible is as the scene of Elijah’s confrontation with the false prophets of Baal (I Kings 18). Mt. Carmel was also sacred to the early Christians; individual hermits settled there as early as the 6th century AD. The Carmelites, a Roman Catholic monastic order, were founded in 1150; they received their first rule, or laws and regulations governing the conduct of their order, in 1206–14. Their monastery (rebuilt 1828) is near the traditional site of Elijah’s miracle."
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INFORMATION ABOUT "MOUNT MORIAH"
Excerpt #1
From https://www.gotquestions.org/mount-Moriah.html
"Question: "What is the significance of Mount Moriah in the Bible?"
Answer: Mount Moriah in Old City Jerusalem is the site of numerous biblical acts of faith. It is also one of the most valuable pieces of real estate and one of the most hotly contested pieces of real estate on earth. This is a profoundly sacred area to Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Sitting atop Mount Moriah today is the Temple Mount, a 37-acre tract of land where the Jewish temple once stood. Several important Islamic holy sites are there now, including the Dome of the Rock – a Muslim shrine built thirteen hundred years ago – and the Al-Aqsa Mosque."...
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Excerpt #2
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moriah
"Moriah (Hebrew: מוֹרִיָּה, Modern: Moriyya, Tiberian: Môriyyā, Arabic: ﻣﺮﻭﻩ, romanized: Marwah) is the name given to a mountainous region by the Book of Genesis, in which context it is the location of the sacrifice of Isaac. Through association with the biblical Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount), Mount Moriah has been interpreted as the name of the specific mountain at which this occurred, although this identification is typically rejected by scholarship.
Muslims believe the historical mount is Marwah in Arabic, as mentioned in the Qur'an, located close to the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. There has been an historical account of rams' horns preserved in the Kaaba until the year 683, which are believed to be the remains of the sacrifice of Ishmael.[1][2]"...
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Visitor comments are welcome.
Showing posts with label common Black church names. Show all posts
Showing posts with label common Black church names. Show all posts
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Why "Macedonia", "Shiloh", And "Ebenezer" Are Frequently Used As Names Of African American Churches
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information about the words "Macedonia", "Shiloh", and "Ebenezer" that are frequently individually used in names of African American churches.*
This is the third post in a pancocojams series about common Black (African American) church names.
*The church names given in these posts are also given to churches that aren't historically African American or aren't presently predominately African American.
The church names featured in these pancocojams posts were selected from articles such as "10 Historic Black Southern Churches to Visit" https://blacksouthernbelle.com/10-historic-black-southern-churches-visit/ and "Historic African American Churches" https://www.blackpast.org/special-features/historic-african-american-churches/. In addition, the church names that I've selected for this series are based on my experience as an African American noticing the same church names in a number of cities I lived in or visited.
These pancocojams posts on frequent names used by African American churches don't include names whose association with religion are widely known (such as "Calvary" and "Emmanuel" or names whose meanings are generally understood such as "First [followed by a denomination]", "Second [followed by a denomination]", "Union [followed by a denomination]", or "a Saint's name [followed by a denomination]".
****
The content of this post is published for education, religious, and cultural purposes.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click the "common Black church names" tag to find other posts in this series.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORD "MACEDONIA"
Excerpt #1:
From https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/macedonia/
"Macedonia
in New Testament times, was a Roman province lying north of Greece. It was governed by a propraetor with the title of proconsul. Paul was summoned by the vision of the "man of Macedonia" to preach the gospel there ( Acts 16:9 ). Frequent allusion is made to this event ( 18:5 ; 19:21 ; Romans 15:26 ; 2 co. 1:16 ; 11:9 ; Phil 4:15 ). The history of Paul's first journey through Macedonia is given in detail in Acts 16:10-17:15. . At the close of this journey he returned from Corinth to Syria. He again passed through this country ( 20:1-6 ), although the details of the route are not given. After many years he probably visited it for a third time (Phil 2:24 ; 1 Timothy 1:3 ). The first convert made by Paul in Europe was ( Acts 16:13-15 ) Lydia (q.v.), a "seller of purple," residing in Philippi, the chief city of the eastern division of Macedonia."...
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Excerpt #2
From https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Macedonia.html#.XisRqWhKi70
"Macedonia meaning
It's not directly clear whether Macedonia was named after the adjective for far-off, or else long because of the shape of the land or of its inhabitants. For a meaning of the name Macedonia, Spiros Zodhiates (The Complete Wordstudy Dictionary from 1992) reads Extended Land, but Nigel Guy Wilson (Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece from 2009) states "The latest archaeological findings have confirmed that Macedonia took its name from a tribe of tall, Greek-speaking people, the Makednoi". That would make the meaning of Macedonia The Land Of The Tall”
The apostles Paul and Silas went to Macedonia after Paul had received a vision of a Macedonian (Μακεδων, Makedon), who implored him to come and help them (ACTS 16:9). They went and landed first in Neapolis (16:11) and then travelled to in Philippi, a Roman colony, and stayed there for some days (16:12). They met Lydia of Thyatira there (19:14), but were imprisoned when Paul expelled a demon from a slave girl (16:18). After they were freed they stayed with Lydia and then continued to other Macedonian cities: Amphipolis, Apollonia and Thessalonica (17:1), and Berea (17:10).
While in Asia-minor, Paul wanted to go to Jerusalem and then Rome, and sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia (19:22). Later Paul wanted to return to Macedonia (20:1) and arrived again in Philippi (20:6), and it appears he went at least once more to Macedonia (PHILIPPIANS 2:24, 1 TIMOTHY 1:3).
Altogether, the name Macedonia occurs 27 times in the New Testament"...
-snip-
Click https://sarata.com/bible/verses/about/macedonia.html for a list of examples of Bible verses that refer to Macedonia.
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORD "SHILOH"
Excerpt #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiloh_(biblical_city)
"Shiloh (/ˈʃaɪloʊ/; Hebrew: שִׁלוֹ ,שִׁילֹה ,שִׁלֹה, and שִׁילוֹ variably) was an ancient city in Samaria mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament. It has been positively identified with modern Khirbet Seilun, a tell or archaeological mound, called in Modern Hebrew Tel Shiloh. It is located in the West Bank, to the west of the modern Israeli settlement town of Shilo and to the north of the Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya...
Shiloh was the major Israelite worship centre before the first Temple was built in Jerusalem.
[...]
Location
Mentioned in the Books of Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 1 Kings, Psalms, and Jeremiah, Shiloh is situated north of Bethel, east of the Bethel–Shechem highway, and south of Lebonah in the hill-country of Ephraim in the tribal territorial allotment of the tribe of Ephraim. (Judg. 21:19)....
History
Bronze Age
Long before the advent of the Israelites, Shiloh was a walled city with a religious shrine or sanctuary during Middle and Late Bronze Age Canaan.[5]
Iron Age
Hebrew Bible narrative
Location and remains of the Tabernacle - at Shiloh, 2019
When the Israelites arrived in the land, they set up there the ancient wilderness tent shrine (the Tent of Meeting: Heb. Ohel-Mo'ed). There Joshua and Eleazar divided the land among the tribes who had not yet received their allocation (Joshua 18:1–10) and dealt with the allocation of cities to the Levites (Joshua 21:1–8).
Subsequently, Shiloh became one of the leading religious shrines in ancient Israel, a status it held until shortly before David's elevation of Jerusalem.[6]
Shiloh was one of the main centers of Israelite worship during the pre-monarchic period,[9] by virtue of the presence there of the Tent Shrine and Ark of the Covenant. The people made pilgrimages there for major feasts and sacrifices, and Judges 21 records the place as the site of an annual dance of maidens among the vineyards."...
-snip-
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ark_of_the_Covenant
for information about the Ark of the Covenant
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORD "EBENEZER"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eben-Ezer
"Eben-Ezer (Hebrew: אבן העזר, ’eḇen hā-‘ezer, "the stone of help") is the name of a location that is mentioned by the Books of Samuel as the scene of battles between the Israelites and Philistines. It is specified as having been less than a day's journey by foot from Shiloh, near Aphek, in the neighbourhood of Mizpah, near the western entrance of the pass of Bethoron. However, its location has not been identified in modern times with much certainty, with some identifying it with Beit Iksa, and others with Dayr Aban.[1]
Historical mentions
It appears in the Books of Samuel in two narratives:
In the first narrative (1 Samuel 4:1-11), the Philistines defeat the Israelites, even though the Israelites brought the Ark of the Covenant onto the battlefield in hope of it bringing them a divinely assured victory. As a result of the Philistine victory and the Ark's presence on the battlefield, it was captured by the Philistines, and not returned until many months later (1 Samuel 6:1-2).
In the second narrative (1 Samuel 7:2-14), the Israelites defeat the Philistines, after Samuel has offered a sacrifice. Samuel puts up a stone in memorial and names it Eben-Ezer (the placename in the previous narrative resulting from this). This monument is referred to in the hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.[2]"....
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Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post provides information about the words "Macedonia", "Shiloh", and "Ebenezer" that are frequently individually used in names of African American churches.*
This is the third post in a pancocojams series about common Black (African American) church names.
*The church names given in these posts are also given to churches that aren't historically African American or aren't presently predominately African American.
The church names featured in these pancocojams posts were selected from articles such as "10 Historic Black Southern Churches to Visit" https://blacksouthernbelle.com/10-historic-black-southern-churches-visit/ and "Historic African American Churches" https://www.blackpast.org/special-features/historic-african-american-churches/. In addition, the church names that I've selected for this series are based on my experience as an African American noticing the same church names in a number of cities I lived in or visited.
These pancocojams posts on frequent names used by African American churches don't include names whose association with religion are widely known (such as "Calvary" and "Emmanuel" or names whose meanings are generally understood such as "First [followed by a denomination]", "Second [followed by a denomination]", "Union [followed by a denomination]", or "a Saint's name [followed by a denomination]".
****
The content of this post is published for education, religious, and cultural purposes.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click the "common Black church names" tag to find other posts in this series.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORD "MACEDONIA"
Excerpt #1:
From https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/macedonia/
"Macedonia
in New Testament times, was a Roman province lying north of Greece. It was governed by a propraetor with the title of proconsul. Paul was summoned by the vision of the "man of Macedonia" to preach the gospel there ( Acts 16:9 ). Frequent allusion is made to this event ( 18:5 ; 19:21 ; Romans 15:26 ; 2 co. 1:16 ; 11:9 ; Phil 4:15 ). The history of Paul's first journey through Macedonia is given in detail in Acts 16:10-17:15. . At the close of this journey he returned from Corinth to Syria. He again passed through this country ( 20:1-6 ), although the details of the route are not given. After many years he probably visited it for a third time (Phil 2:24 ; 1 Timothy 1:3 ). The first convert made by Paul in Europe was ( Acts 16:13-15 ) Lydia (q.v.), a "seller of purple," residing in Philippi, the chief city of the eastern division of Macedonia."...
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Excerpt #2
From https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Macedonia.html#.XisRqWhKi70
"Macedonia meaning
It's not directly clear whether Macedonia was named after the adjective for far-off, or else long because of the shape of the land or of its inhabitants. For a meaning of the name Macedonia, Spiros Zodhiates (The Complete Wordstudy Dictionary from 1992) reads Extended Land, but Nigel Guy Wilson (Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece from 2009) states "The latest archaeological findings have confirmed that Macedonia took its name from a tribe of tall, Greek-speaking people, the Makednoi". That would make the meaning of Macedonia The Land Of The Tall”
The apostles Paul and Silas went to Macedonia after Paul had received a vision of a Macedonian (Μακεδων, Makedon), who implored him to come and help them (ACTS 16:9). They went and landed first in Neapolis (16:11) and then travelled to in Philippi, a Roman colony, and stayed there for some days (16:12). They met Lydia of Thyatira there (19:14), but were imprisoned when Paul expelled a demon from a slave girl (16:18). After they were freed they stayed with Lydia and then continued to other Macedonian cities: Amphipolis, Apollonia and Thessalonica (17:1), and Berea (17:10).
While in Asia-minor, Paul wanted to go to Jerusalem and then Rome, and sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia (19:22). Later Paul wanted to return to Macedonia (20:1) and arrived again in Philippi (20:6), and it appears he went at least once more to Macedonia (PHILIPPIANS 2:24, 1 TIMOTHY 1:3).
Altogether, the name Macedonia occurs 27 times in the New Testament"...
-snip-
Click https://sarata.com/bible/verses/about/macedonia.html for a list of examples of Bible verses that refer to Macedonia.
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORD "SHILOH"
Excerpt #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiloh_(biblical_city)
"Shiloh (/ˈʃaɪloʊ/; Hebrew: שִׁלוֹ ,שִׁילֹה ,שִׁלֹה, and שִׁילוֹ variably) was an ancient city in Samaria mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament. It has been positively identified with modern Khirbet Seilun, a tell or archaeological mound, called in Modern Hebrew Tel Shiloh. It is located in the West Bank, to the west of the modern Israeli settlement town of Shilo and to the north of the Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya...
Shiloh was the major Israelite worship centre before the first Temple was built in Jerusalem.
[...]
Location
Mentioned in the Books of Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 1 Kings, Psalms, and Jeremiah, Shiloh is situated north of Bethel, east of the Bethel–Shechem highway, and south of Lebonah in the hill-country of Ephraim in the tribal territorial allotment of the tribe of Ephraim. (Judg. 21:19)....
History
Bronze Age
Long before the advent of the Israelites, Shiloh was a walled city with a religious shrine or sanctuary during Middle and Late Bronze Age Canaan.[5]
Iron Age
Hebrew Bible narrative
Location and remains of the Tabernacle - at Shiloh, 2019
When the Israelites arrived in the land, they set up there the ancient wilderness tent shrine (the Tent of Meeting: Heb. Ohel-Mo'ed). There Joshua and Eleazar divided the land among the tribes who had not yet received their allocation (Joshua 18:1–10) and dealt with the allocation of cities to the Levites (Joshua 21:1–8).
Subsequently, Shiloh became one of the leading religious shrines in ancient Israel, a status it held until shortly before David's elevation of Jerusalem.[6]
The whole congregation of Israel assembled together at Shiloh and set up the tent (or tabernacle) of the congregation there.The tabernacle had been built under Moses' direction from God (Exodus 26) to house the Ark of the Covenant, also built under Moses' direction from God (Exodus 25). According to Talmudic sources, the tent sanctuary remained at Shiloh for 369 years [7] until the Ark of the Covenant was taken into the battle camp at Eben-Ezer (1 Samuel 4:3–5) and captured by the Philistines at Aphek (probably Antipatris). At some point during its long stay at Shiloh, the portable tent seems to have been enclosed within a compound — a Greek "temenos". It was at Shiloh that Eli and Samuel ministered (1 Samuel 3:21) and Shiloh was the site of a physical structure that had "doors" (1 Samuel 3:21). At some point, the Tent of Meeting was moved to Gibeon,[8] which became an Israelite holy site under David and Solomon.
— Joshua 18:1.[a]
Shiloh was one of the main centers of Israelite worship during the pre-monarchic period,[9] by virtue of the presence there of the Tent Shrine and Ark of the Covenant. The people made pilgrimages there for major feasts and sacrifices, and Judges 21 records the place as the site of an annual dance of maidens among the vineyards."...
-snip-
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ark_of_the_Covenant
for information about the Ark of the Covenant
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORD "EBENEZER"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eben-Ezer
"Eben-Ezer (Hebrew: אבן העזר, ’eḇen hā-‘ezer, "the stone of help") is the name of a location that is mentioned by the Books of Samuel as the scene of battles between the Israelites and Philistines. It is specified as having been less than a day's journey by foot from Shiloh, near Aphek, in the neighbourhood of Mizpah, near the western entrance of the pass of Bethoron. However, its location has not been identified in modern times with much certainty, with some identifying it with Beit Iksa, and others with Dayr Aban.[1]
Historical mentions
It appears in the Books of Samuel in two narratives:
In the first narrative (1 Samuel 4:1-11), the Philistines defeat the Israelites, even though the Israelites brought the Ark of the Covenant onto the battlefield in hope of it bringing them a divinely assured victory. As a result of the Philistine victory and the Ark's presence on the battlefield, it was captured by the Philistines, and not returned until many months later (1 Samuel 6:1-2).
In the second narrative (1 Samuel 7:2-14), the Israelites defeat the Philistines, after Samuel has offered a sacrifice. Samuel puts up a stone in memorial and names it Eben-Ezer (the placename in the previous narrative resulting from this). This monument is referred to in the hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.[2]"....
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Visitor comments are welcome.
Why "Zion" And "Mt. Zion" Are Frequently Used In Names Of Black (African American) Churches
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information about the word "Zion". That information suggests why "Zion" is frequently used in the names of historic and present day Black (African American) churches.*
The Addendum to this post also provides information about the African Methodist Episcopal Zion denomination, a historically African American Christian denomination.
This is the second post in a pancocojams series about frequently used Black (African American) church names.
*The church names given in these posts are also given to churches that aren't historically African American or aren't presently predominately African American.
The church names featured in these pancocojams posts were selected from articles such as "10 Historic Black Southern Churches to Visit" https://blacksouthernbelle.com/10-historic-black-southern-churches-visit/ and "Historic African American Churches" https://www.blackpast.org/special-features/historic-african-american-churches/. In addition, the church names that I've selected for this series are based on my experience as an African American noticing the same church names in a number of cities I lived in or visited.
These pancocojams posts on frequent names used by African American churches don't include names whose association with religion are widely known (such as "Calvary" and "Emmanuel" or names whose meanings are generally understood such as "First [followed by a denomination]", "Second [followed by a denomination]", "Union [followed by a denomination]", or "a Saint's name [followed by a denomination]".
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/02/origins-meanings-and-examples-of.html for the related pancocojams post entitled "Origins & Meanings And Examples Of The Male/Female Name "Zion" ".
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The content of this post is published for education, religious, and cultural purposes.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click the "common Black church names" tag to find other posts in this series.
Also, click the closely related tag "American religious songs with Zion in their title".
A pancocojams post with the title "Reggae songs that have Zion in their title" will be published soon.
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORD "ZION"
Excerpt #1
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-the-meaning-of-zion-in-the-bible.htmlhttps://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-the-meaning-of-zion-in-the-bible.html
"What Is the Meaning of Zion in the Bible? by Candice Lucey
The ancient Hebrew word Tsiyon (Zion) is “a Canaanite hill fortress in Jerusalem captured by David and called in the Bible ‘City of David.’" Zion can refer to one of three places: the hill where the most ancient areas of Jerusalem stood; the city of Jerusalem itself; or the dwelling place of God.
[...]
Zion in the Bible
Old Testament
The Bible’s first reference talks about “the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.” (2 Samuel 5:7).
Plenty of Psalms mention Zion, the Lord’s “holy mountain” (Psalm 2:6), the place where the Lord is “enthroned” (Psalm 9:11), and from which David yearns for salvation to emerge (Psalm 9:14).
Isaiah is another prolific source: “Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy” (Isaiah 4:3); “gifts will be brought to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 18:7)
Zion appears numerous times in other books of the Old Testament including Lamentations, Jeremiah, and Micah.
New Testament
New Testament writers Matthew, John, and Paul quote what has already been written in the Old Testament when they speak of Zion.
“In Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 9:33) 1 Peter 2:6 says this stone in Zion is Jesus, “a chosen and precious cornerstone.”
In his vision of end times, John saw “on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,0000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” (Revelation 14:1)
Commentators indicate that “Daughter of Zion” from Isaiah 1:8 means “the daughter of God’s people.” David Kowalski explains how this verse is “expressive of the tenderness with which the Lord had regarded the relation [...] he had established between Jerusalem (as representing His people) and Himself.” "...
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Excerpt #2
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion
"Zion (Hebrew: צִיּוֹן Ṣîyōn, LXX Σιών, also variously transliterated Sion,[2] Tzion, Tsion, Tsiyyon[3]) is a placename in the Hebrew Bible used as a synonym for Jerusalem[4][5] as well as for the Land of Israel as a whole (see Names of Jerusalem).
The name is found in 2 Samuel (5:7), one of the books of the Hebrew Bible dated to before or close to the mid-6th century BCE. It originally referred to a specific hill in Jerusalem (Mount Zion), located to the south of Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount). According to the narrative of 2 Samuel 5, Mount Zion held the Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by David and was re-named the City of David. That specific hill ("mount") is one of the many squat hills that form Jerusalem, which also includes Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount), the Mount of Olives, etc. Over many centuries, until as recently as the Ottoman era, the city walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt many times in new locations, so that the particular hill known as Mount Zion is no longer inside the city wall, but its location is now just outside the portion of the Old City wall forming the southern boundary of the Jewish Quarter of the current Old City. Most of the original City of David itself is thus also outside the current city wall.
The term Tzion came to designate the area of Davidic Jerusalem where the fortress stood, and was used as well as synecdoche for the entire city of Jerusalem; and later, when Solomon's Temple was built on the adjacent Mount Moriah (which, as a result, came to be known as the Temple Mount) the meanings of the term Tzion were further extended by synecdoche to the additional meanings of the Temple itself, the hill upon which the Temple stood, the entire city of Jerusalem, the entire biblical Land of Israel, and "the World to Come", the Jewish understanding of the afterlife.”...
****
ADDENDUM- INFORMATION ABOUT THE "AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION" DENOMINATION
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Methodist_Episcopal_Zion_Church
"The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, or the AME Zion Church or AMEZ, is a historically African-American Christian denomination based in the United States. It was officially formed in 1821 in New York City, but operated for a number of years before then.
History
The origins of this church can be traced to the John Street Methodist Church of New York City. Following acts of overt discrimination in New York (such as black parishioners being forced to leave worship), many black Christians left to form their own churches. The first church founded by the AME Zion Church was built in 1800 and was named Zion; one of the founders was William Hamilton, a prominent orator and abolitionist. These early black churches still belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church denomination, although the congregations were independent. During the Great Awakening, the Methodists and Baptists had welcomed free blacks and slaves to their congregations and as preachers.
The fledgling Zion church grew, and soon multiple churches developed from the original congregation. These churches were attended by black congregants, but ministered to by white ordained Methodist ministers. In 1820, six of the churches met to ordain James Varick as an elder, and in 1821 he was made the first General Superintendent of the AME Zion Church. A debate raged in the white-dominated Methodist church over accepting black ministers. This debate ended on July 30, 1822, when James Varick was ordained as the first bishop of the AME Zion church, a newly independent denomination. The total membership in 1866 was about 42,000.[1] Two years later, it claimed 164,000 members, as it sent missionaries to the South after the American Civil War to plant new churches with the newly emancipated freedmen.[2] The A.M.E. Zion Church had been part of the Abolitionist movement and became known as the Freedom Church, because it was associated with the period after emancipation of the slaves.
Black churches were integral in helping build communities and develop leadership among the freedmen in the South. Later they played an increasingly powerful role in the civil rights movement of the mid-20th century. AMEZ remained smaller than the AME (African Methodist Episcopal Church, a denomination started in Philadelphia in the early 19th century) because some of its ministers lacked the authority to perform marriages, and many of its ministers avoided political roles. Its finances were weak, and in general its leadership was not as strong as that of the AME. However it was the leader among all Protestant denominations in ordaining women and giving them powerful roles in the church.[3]
An influential leader bishop was James Walker Hood (1831–1918) of North Carolina. He not only created and fostered his network of AMEZ churches in North Carolina, but he also was the grand master for the entire South of the Prince Hall Freemasonry, a secular black fraternal organization that strengthened the political and economic forces inside the black community.[4] Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, North Carolina is named in this bishop's honor.[5]
In 1924 Cameron Chesterfield Alleyne became the church's first resident bishop in Africa.[6]
Notes
The AME Zion Church is not to be confused with the similarly named African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was officially formed in 1816 by Richard Allen and Daniel Coker in Philadelphia. The denomination was made up of AME churches in the Philadelphia region, including Delaware and New Jersey."...
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post provides information about the word "Zion". That information suggests why "Zion" is frequently used in the names of historic and present day Black (African American) churches.*
The Addendum to this post also provides information about the African Methodist Episcopal Zion denomination, a historically African American Christian denomination.
This is the second post in a pancocojams series about frequently used Black (African American) church names.
*The church names given in these posts are also given to churches that aren't historically African American or aren't presently predominately African American.
The church names featured in these pancocojams posts were selected from articles such as "10 Historic Black Southern Churches to Visit" https://blacksouthernbelle.com/10-historic-black-southern-churches-visit/ and "Historic African American Churches" https://www.blackpast.org/special-features/historic-african-american-churches/. In addition, the church names that I've selected for this series are based on my experience as an African American noticing the same church names in a number of cities I lived in or visited.
These pancocojams posts on frequent names used by African American churches don't include names whose association with religion are widely known (such as "Calvary" and "Emmanuel" or names whose meanings are generally understood such as "First [followed by a denomination]", "Second [followed by a denomination]", "Union [followed by a denomination]", or "a Saint's name [followed by a denomination]".
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/02/origins-meanings-and-examples-of.html for the related pancocojams post entitled "Origins & Meanings And Examples Of The Male/Female Name "Zion" ".
****
The content of this post is published for education, religious, and cultural purposes.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click the "common Black church names" tag to find other posts in this series.
Also, click the closely related tag "American religious songs with Zion in their title".
A pancocojams post with the title "Reggae songs that have Zion in their title" will be published soon.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORD "ZION"
Excerpt #1
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-the-meaning-of-zion-in-the-bible.htmlhttps://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-is-the-meaning-of-zion-in-the-bible.html
"What Is the Meaning of Zion in the Bible? by Candice Lucey
The ancient Hebrew word Tsiyon (Zion) is “a Canaanite hill fortress in Jerusalem captured by David and called in the Bible ‘City of David.’" Zion can refer to one of three places: the hill where the most ancient areas of Jerusalem stood; the city of Jerusalem itself; or the dwelling place of God.
[...]
Zion in the Bible
Old Testament
The Bible’s first reference talks about “the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.” (2 Samuel 5:7).
Plenty of Psalms mention Zion, the Lord’s “holy mountain” (Psalm 2:6), the place where the Lord is “enthroned” (Psalm 9:11), and from which David yearns for salvation to emerge (Psalm 9:14).
Isaiah is another prolific source: “Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy” (Isaiah 4:3); “gifts will be brought to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 18:7)
Zion appears numerous times in other books of the Old Testament including Lamentations, Jeremiah, and Micah.
New Testament
New Testament writers Matthew, John, and Paul quote what has already been written in the Old Testament when they speak of Zion.
“In Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 9:33) 1 Peter 2:6 says this stone in Zion is Jesus, “a chosen and precious cornerstone.”
In his vision of end times, John saw “on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,0000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” (Revelation 14:1)
Commentators indicate that “Daughter of Zion” from Isaiah 1:8 means “the daughter of God’s people.” David Kowalski explains how this verse is “expressive of the tenderness with which the Lord had regarded the relation [...] he had established between Jerusalem (as representing His people) and Himself.” "...
****
Excerpt #2
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion
"Zion (Hebrew: צִיּוֹן Ṣîyōn, LXX Σιών, also variously transliterated Sion,[2] Tzion, Tsion, Tsiyyon[3]) is a placename in the Hebrew Bible used as a synonym for Jerusalem[4][5] as well as for the Land of Israel as a whole (see Names of Jerusalem).
The name is found in 2 Samuel (5:7), one of the books of the Hebrew Bible dated to before or close to the mid-6th century BCE. It originally referred to a specific hill in Jerusalem (Mount Zion), located to the south of Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount). According to the narrative of 2 Samuel 5, Mount Zion held the Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by David and was re-named the City of David. That specific hill ("mount") is one of the many squat hills that form Jerusalem, which also includes Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount), the Mount of Olives, etc. Over many centuries, until as recently as the Ottoman era, the city walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt many times in new locations, so that the particular hill known as Mount Zion is no longer inside the city wall, but its location is now just outside the portion of the Old City wall forming the southern boundary of the Jewish Quarter of the current Old City. Most of the original City of David itself is thus also outside the current city wall.
The term Tzion came to designate the area of Davidic Jerusalem where the fortress stood, and was used as well as synecdoche for the entire city of Jerusalem; and later, when Solomon's Temple was built on the adjacent Mount Moriah (which, as a result, came to be known as the Temple Mount) the meanings of the term Tzion were further extended by synecdoche to the additional meanings of the Temple itself, the hill upon which the Temple stood, the entire city of Jerusalem, the entire biblical Land of Israel, and "the World to Come", the Jewish understanding of the afterlife.”...
****
ADDENDUM- INFORMATION ABOUT THE "AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION" DENOMINATION
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Methodist_Episcopal_Zion_Church
"The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, or the AME Zion Church or AMEZ, is a historically African-American Christian denomination based in the United States. It was officially formed in 1821 in New York City, but operated for a number of years before then.
History
The origins of this church can be traced to the John Street Methodist Church of New York City. Following acts of overt discrimination in New York (such as black parishioners being forced to leave worship), many black Christians left to form their own churches. The first church founded by the AME Zion Church was built in 1800 and was named Zion; one of the founders was William Hamilton, a prominent orator and abolitionist. These early black churches still belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church denomination, although the congregations were independent. During the Great Awakening, the Methodists and Baptists had welcomed free blacks and slaves to their congregations and as preachers.
The fledgling Zion church grew, and soon multiple churches developed from the original congregation. These churches were attended by black congregants, but ministered to by white ordained Methodist ministers. In 1820, six of the churches met to ordain James Varick as an elder, and in 1821 he was made the first General Superintendent of the AME Zion Church. A debate raged in the white-dominated Methodist church over accepting black ministers. This debate ended on July 30, 1822, when James Varick was ordained as the first bishop of the AME Zion church, a newly independent denomination. The total membership in 1866 was about 42,000.[1] Two years later, it claimed 164,000 members, as it sent missionaries to the South after the American Civil War to plant new churches with the newly emancipated freedmen.[2] The A.M.E. Zion Church had been part of the Abolitionist movement and became known as the Freedom Church, because it was associated with the period after emancipation of the slaves.
Black churches were integral in helping build communities and develop leadership among the freedmen in the South. Later they played an increasingly powerful role in the civil rights movement of the mid-20th century. AMEZ remained smaller than the AME (African Methodist Episcopal Church, a denomination started in Philadelphia in the early 19th century) because some of its ministers lacked the authority to perform marriages, and many of its ministers avoided political roles. Its finances were weak, and in general its leadership was not as strong as that of the AME. However it was the leader among all Protestant denominations in ordaining women and giving them powerful roles in the church.[3]
An influential leader bishop was James Walker Hood (1831–1918) of North Carolina. He not only created and fostered his network of AMEZ churches in North Carolina, but he also was the grand master for the entire South of the Prince Hall Freemasonry, a secular black fraternal organization that strengthened the political and economic forces inside the black community.[4] Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, North Carolina is named in this bishop's honor.[5]
In 1924 Cameron Chesterfield Alleyne became the church's first resident bishop in Africa.[6]
Notes
The AME Zion Church is not to be confused with the similarly named African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was officially formed in 1816 by Richard Allen and Daniel Coker in Philadelphia. The denomination was made up of AME churches in the Philadelphia region, including Delaware and New Jersey."...
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Friday, January 24, 2020
Why So Many Black (African American) Churches Include The Name "Bethel"
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information about the name "Bethel" and why "Bethel" is frequently used in the names of historic and present day Black (African American) churches*.
Because many of the Black (African American) churches that include the name "Bethel" are part of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination, information about that Protestant Christian denomination is given in the Addendum to this post.
The content of this post is published for education, religious, and cultural purposes.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
This is the first post in an ongoing pancocojams series on this blog of common Black (African American) church names.
*The church names given in these posts are also given to churches that aren't historically African American or aren't presently predominately African American.
The church names featured in these pancocojams posts were selected from articles such as "10 Historic Black Southern Churches to Visit" https://blacksouthernbelle.com/10-historic-black-southern-churches-visit/ and "Historic African American Churches" https://www.blackpast.org/special-features/historic-african-american-churches/. In addition, the church names that I've selected for this series is based on my experience as an African American who noticed the same church names in a number of cities I lived in or visited.
These pancocojams posts on frequent names used by African American churches don't include names whose association with religion are widely known (such as "Calvary" and "Emmanuel" or names whose meanings are generally understood such as "First [followed by a denomination]", "Second [followed by a denomination]", "Union [followed by a denomination]", or "a Saint's name [followed by a denomination]".
Click the "common Black church names" tag to find other posts in this series.
****
NOTE: Discussions about the history, congregations, ministry, and beliefs of Black (African American) churches that include the name "Bethel" should be very clear that those Black (African American) churches aren't the same as and aren't in any way affiliated with Bethel Church (based in Redding, California).
Furthermore, Black (African American) churches that include the name "Bethel" aren't the same as and aren't in any way affiliated with the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (which is affiliated with Bethel Church based in Redding, California) or with the record label and music publishing company Bethel Music that is also associated with Bethel Church (based in Redding, California).
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethel_Church_(Redding,_California) for information about Bethel Church (Redding, California)
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE NAME "BETHEL"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethel
"Bethel (Ugaritic: bt il, meaning "House of El" or "House of God",[1] Hebrew: בֵּית אֵל ḇêṯ’êl, also transliterated Beth El, Beth-El, Beit El; Greek: Βαιθηλ; Latin: Bethel) is a toponym often used in the Hebrew Bible. It is first mentioned in Genesis 12:8 as being near where Abram pitched his tent. Later in Genesis, it is the location where Jacob dreamt of seeing angels and God, and which he therefore named Bethel, "House of God." The name is further used for a border city located between the territory of the Israelite tribe of Benjamin and that of the tribe of Ephraim, which first belonged to the Benjaminites and was later conquered by the Ephraimites.
Eusebius of Caesarea and Jerome describe Bethel in their time as a small village that lay 12 Roman miles north of Jerusalem, to the right or east of the road leading to Neapolis.[2]
Most academics identify Bethel with the Arab West Bank village Beitin,[3] a minority opinion preferring El-Bireh.[4]
Ten years after the 1967 Six-Day War, the biblical name was applied to the Israeli settlement of Beit El, constructed adjacent to Beitin.
In several countries—particularly in the US—the name has been given to various locations...
In the Hebrew Bible
Book of Genesis
Bethel is mentioned several times in Genesis. It is first mentioned in Genesis 12 and 13,[6] as a place near where Abram stayed and built an altar on his way to Egypt and on his return. It is said to be close to Hai (Ai) and just to the west of it. More famously it is mentioned again in Genesis 28,[7] when Jacob, fleeing from the wrath of his brother Esau, falls asleep on a stone and dreams of a ladder stretching between Heaven and Earth and thronged with angels; God stands at the top of the ladder, and promises Jacob the land of Canaan; when Jacob awakes he anoints the stone (baetylus) with oil and names the place Bethel. Another account, from Genesis 35[8] repeats the covenant with God and the naming of the place (as El-Bethel), and makes this the site of Jacob's own change of name to Israel. Both versions state that the original name of the place was Luz, a Canaanite name."...
-snip-
This page continues with a number of other examples of "Bethel" that are mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible.
I added italics to highlight these words.
****
THE WORD "BETHEL" FOUND IN EXAMPLES OF HISTORICAL BLACK (AFRICAN AMERICAN) CHURCHES
Excerpted from https://www.blackpast.org/special-features/historic-african-american-churches/ Historic African American Churches
"The African American Church has long been considered one of the foundational and most influential institutions in black America. This page is dedicated to highlighting the oldest of these institutions in states across the nation. Listed below are African American churches by state which are at least one century old (founded in 1919 or earlier) and which are continuously operating until today"...
Atlanta, Georgia
Big Bethel AME Church, 1847-
**
Jacksonville, Florida
Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, ca. 1865-
**
Richmond, Indiana
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Richmond, Indiana, 1836-
**
Baltimore, Maryland
Bethel A.M.E., 1785-
**
Great Falls, Montana
Union Bethel A.M.E. Church, 1890-
**
Portland, Oregon
Bethel A.M.E. Church, 1889-
**
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, 1794-
-snip-
I changed the format of the locations of these churches which originally had the state on one line, followed by the city on a second line.
This is only a small sample of the Black (African American) churches throughout the United States that include the name "Bethel". For example, there's a Bethel African Methodist Episcopal church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where I live, and another Bethel African Methodist Episcopal church in the neighboring city of Monroeville, Pennsylvania.
As the above list suggest, probably most but not all of the Black (African American) churches that include the name "Bethel" are part of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) denomination.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT MOTHER BETHEL CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Bethel_A.M.E._Church
"The Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is a historic church and congregation at 419 South 6th Street in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The congregation, founded in 1794, is the oldest African Methodist Episcopal congregation in the nation. Its present church, completed in 1890, is the oldest church property in the United States to be continuously owned by African Americans.[3] It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1972.[1]
History of the congregation
The church was organized by African-American members of St. George's Methodist Church who walked out due to racial segregation in the worship services. Mother Bethel was one of the first African-American churches in the United States, dedicated July 29, 1794, by Bishop Francis Asbury. On October 12, 1794, Reverend Robert Blackwell announced that the congregation was received in full fellowship in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1816 Rev Richard Allen brought together other black Methodist congregations from the region to organize the new African Methodist Episcopal Church denomination. He was elected bishop of this denomination. After the American Civil War, its missionaries went to the South to help freedmen and planted many new churches in the region.
In 1838, the building was damaged during the riots that followed the destruction of Pennsylvania Hall.
Allen and his wife, Sarah Allen are both buried in the present church's crypt.[4] The current church building was constructed in 1888-1890, and it has been designated a National Historic Landmark."...
-snip-
*I added italics to highlight this sentence. Besides the "House of God" meaning of the Hebrew word "Bethel", I wonder if this partly explains why "Bethel" is frequently found in the names of Black (African American) churches.
****
ADDENDUM- INFORMATION ABOUT AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Methodist_Episcopal_Church
"The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the A.M.E. Church or AME, is a predominantly African-American Methodist denomination. It is the first independent Protestant denomination to be founded by black people.[4] It was founded by the Rt. Rev. Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1816 from several black Methodist congregations in the mid-Atlantic area that wanted independence from white Methodists. It was among the first denominations in the United States to be founded on racial rather than theological distinctions and has persistently advocated for the civil and human rights of African Americans through social improvement, religious autonomy, and political engagement. Allen, a deacon in Methodist Episcopal Church, was consecrated its first bishop in 1816 by a conference of five churches from Philadelphia to Baltimore. The denomination then expanded west and south, particularly after the Civil War. By 1906, the AME had a membership of about 500,000, more than the combined total of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, making it the largest major African-American Methodist denomination. The AME currently has 20 districts, each with its own bishop: 13 are based in the United States, mostly in the South, while seven are based in Africa. The global membership of the AME is around 2.5 million and it remains one of the largest Methodist denominations in the world."....
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post provides information about the name "Bethel" and why "Bethel" is frequently used in the names of historic and present day Black (African American) churches*.
Because many of the Black (African American) churches that include the name "Bethel" are part of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination, information about that Protestant Christian denomination is given in the Addendum to this post.
The content of this post is published for education, religious, and cultural purposes.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
This is the first post in an ongoing pancocojams series on this blog of common Black (African American) church names.
*The church names given in these posts are also given to churches that aren't historically African American or aren't presently predominately African American.
The church names featured in these pancocojams posts were selected from articles such as "10 Historic Black Southern Churches to Visit" https://blacksouthernbelle.com/10-historic-black-southern-churches-visit/ and "Historic African American Churches" https://www.blackpast.org/special-features/historic-african-american-churches/. In addition, the church names that I've selected for this series is based on my experience as an African American who noticed the same church names in a number of cities I lived in or visited.
These pancocojams posts on frequent names used by African American churches don't include names whose association with religion are widely known (such as "Calvary" and "Emmanuel" or names whose meanings are generally understood such as "First [followed by a denomination]", "Second [followed by a denomination]", "Union [followed by a denomination]", or "a Saint's name [followed by a denomination]".
Click the "common Black church names" tag to find other posts in this series.
****
NOTE: Discussions about the history, congregations, ministry, and beliefs of Black (African American) churches that include the name "Bethel" should be very clear that those Black (African American) churches aren't the same as and aren't in any way affiliated with Bethel Church (based in Redding, California).
Furthermore, Black (African American) churches that include the name "Bethel" aren't the same as and aren't in any way affiliated with the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (which is affiliated with Bethel Church based in Redding, California) or with the record label and music publishing company Bethel Music that is also associated with Bethel Church (based in Redding, California).
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethel_Church_(Redding,_California) for information about Bethel Church (Redding, California)
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE NAME "BETHEL"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethel
"Bethel (Ugaritic: bt il, meaning "House of El" or "House of God",[1] Hebrew: בֵּית אֵל ḇêṯ’êl, also transliterated Beth El, Beth-El, Beit El; Greek: Βαιθηλ; Latin: Bethel) is a toponym often used in the Hebrew Bible. It is first mentioned in Genesis 12:8 as being near where Abram pitched his tent. Later in Genesis, it is the location where Jacob dreamt of seeing angels and God, and which he therefore named Bethel, "House of God." The name is further used for a border city located between the territory of the Israelite tribe of Benjamin and that of the tribe of Ephraim, which first belonged to the Benjaminites and was later conquered by the Ephraimites.
Eusebius of Caesarea and Jerome describe Bethel in their time as a small village that lay 12 Roman miles north of Jerusalem, to the right or east of the road leading to Neapolis.[2]
Most academics identify Bethel with the Arab West Bank village Beitin,[3] a minority opinion preferring El-Bireh.[4]
Ten years after the 1967 Six-Day War, the biblical name was applied to the Israeli settlement of Beit El, constructed adjacent to Beitin.
In several countries—particularly in the US—the name has been given to various locations...
In the Hebrew Bible
Book of Genesis
Bethel is mentioned several times in Genesis. It is first mentioned in Genesis 12 and 13,[6] as a place near where Abram stayed and built an altar on his way to Egypt and on his return. It is said to be close to Hai (Ai) and just to the west of it. More famously it is mentioned again in Genesis 28,[7] when Jacob, fleeing from the wrath of his brother Esau, falls asleep on a stone and dreams of a ladder stretching between Heaven and Earth and thronged with angels; God stands at the top of the ladder, and promises Jacob the land of Canaan; when Jacob awakes he anoints the stone (baetylus) with oil and names the place Bethel. Another account, from Genesis 35[8] repeats the covenant with God and the naming of the place (as El-Bethel), and makes this the site of Jacob's own change of name to Israel. Both versions state that the original name of the place was Luz, a Canaanite name."...
-snip-
This page continues with a number of other examples of "Bethel" that are mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible.
I added italics to highlight these words.
****
THE WORD "BETHEL" FOUND IN EXAMPLES OF HISTORICAL BLACK (AFRICAN AMERICAN) CHURCHES
Excerpted from https://www.blackpast.org/special-features/historic-african-american-churches/ Historic African American Churches
"The African American Church has long been considered one of the foundational and most influential institutions in black America. This page is dedicated to highlighting the oldest of these institutions in states across the nation. Listed below are African American churches by state which are at least one century old (founded in 1919 or earlier) and which are continuously operating until today"...
Atlanta, Georgia
Big Bethel AME Church, 1847-
**
Jacksonville, Florida
Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, ca. 1865-
**
Richmond, Indiana
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Richmond, Indiana, 1836-
**
Baltimore, Maryland
Bethel A.M.E., 1785-
**
Great Falls, Montana
Union Bethel A.M.E. Church, 1890-
**
Portland, Oregon
Bethel A.M.E. Church, 1889-
**
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, 1794-
-snip-
I changed the format of the locations of these churches which originally had the state on one line, followed by the city on a second line.
This is only a small sample of the Black (African American) churches throughout the United States that include the name "Bethel". For example, there's a Bethel African Methodist Episcopal church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where I live, and another Bethel African Methodist Episcopal church in the neighboring city of Monroeville, Pennsylvania.
As the above list suggest, probably most but not all of the Black (African American) churches that include the name "Bethel" are part of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) denomination.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT MOTHER BETHEL CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Bethel_A.M.E._Church
"The Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is a historic church and congregation at 419 South 6th Street in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The congregation, founded in 1794, is the oldest African Methodist Episcopal congregation in the nation. Its present church, completed in 1890, is the oldest church property in the United States to be continuously owned by African Americans.[3] It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1972.[1]
History of the congregation
The church was organized by African-American members of St. George's Methodist Church who walked out due to racial segregation in the worship services. Mother Bethel was one of the first African-American churches in the United States, dedicated July 29, 1794, by Bishop Francis Asbury. On October 12, 1794, Reverend Robert Blackwell announced that the congregation was received in full fellowship in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1816 Rev Richard Allen brought together other black Methodist congregations from the region to organize the new African Methodist Episcopal Church denomination. He was elected bishop of this denomination. After the American Civil War, its missionaries went to the South to help freedmen and planted many new churches in the region.
In 1838, the building was damaged during the riots that followed the destruction of Pennsylvania Hall.
Allen and his wife, Sarah Allen are both buried in the present church's crypt.[4] The current church building was constructed in 1888-1890, and it has been designated a National Historic Landmark."...
-snip-
*I added italics to highlight this sentence. Besides the "House of God" meaning of the Hebrew word "Bethel", I wonder if this partly explains why "Bethel" is frequently found in the names of Black (African American) churches.
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ADDENDUM- INFORMATION ABOUT AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Methodist_Episcopal_Church
"The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the A.M.E. Church or AME, is a predominantly African-American Methodist denomination. It is the first independent Protestant denomination to be founded by black people.[4] It was founded by the Rt. Rev. Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1816 from several black Methodist congregations in the mid-Atlantic area that wanted independence from white Methodists. It was among the first denominations in the United States to be founded on racial rather than theological distinctions and has persistently advocated for the civil and human rights of African Americans through social improvement, religious autonomy, and political engagement. Allen, a deacon in Methodist Episcopal Church, was consecrated its first bishop in 1816 by a conference of five churches from Philadelphia to Baltimore. The denomination then expanded west and south, particularly after the Civil War. By 1906, the AME had a membership of about 500,000, more than the combined total of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, making it the largest major African-American Methodist denomination. The AME currently has 20 districts, each with its own bishop: 13 are based in the United States, mostly in the South, while seven are based in Africa. The global membership of the AME is around 2.5 million and it remains one of the largest Methodist denominations in the world."....
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