First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles

The church was established in 1872 under the sponsorship of Biddy Mason, an African American nurse and a California real estate entrepreneur and philanthropist, and her son-in-law Charles Owens. The organizing meetings were held in Mason's home on Spring Street and she donated the land on which the first church was built.{{cite web

|url=http://www.californiamuseum.org/trails/#trails/women/biddy_mason

|title=Bridget "Biddy" Mason

|work=The California Museum

|accessdate=2010-08-06

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309031659/http://www.californiamuseum.org/trails/#trails/women/biddy_mason

|archive-date=2012-03-09

|url-status=live

}}

The parent AME Church is a Methodist denomination founded by the Rev. Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816. The AME Church now has over 2,000,000 members in North and South America, Africa and Europe, and includes other major churches such as the Greater Allen A. M. E. Cathedral of New York with over 23,000 members and the Reid Temple A.M.E. Church in Glenn Dale, Maryland with over 15,000 members.{{cite web

|url = http://www.ame-church.com/about-us/history.php

|title = About Us - Our History

|publisher = African Methodist Episcopal Church

|accessdate = 2010-08-07

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100818042428/http://www.ame-church.com/about-us/history.php

|archivedate = 2010-08-18

}}

The former location of this church was at 8th & Towne (1902 - 1968) and in 1971, while at that location, it was nominated as Los Angeles' "#71 Landmark." The location prior to that was on Azusa Street, a building that was rented to the Azusa Street mission. The 8th & Towne building was burned down July 4, 1972, and was razed. The current church, located in the West Adams district,{{cite news |last1=Garrison |first1=Jessica |title=Black Clergy both attack, defend Propl 8 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-first-african-meth/118571076/ |access-date=9 June 2023 |publisher=Los Angeles Times |date=October 22, 2008 |page=56 |quote=Outside First African Methodist Episcoal Church in the West Adams District...}} was completed in 1968. It was designed by African American architect Paul R. Williams.{{cite web|url=https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/first-african-methodist-episcopal-church|title=First African Methodist Episcopal Church - Los Angeles Conservancy|author=|date=|website=www.laconservancy.org|access-date=2017-07-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729232229/https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/first-african-methodist-episcopal-church|archive-date=2017-07-29|url-status=live}}

In 1993 Federal authorities unearthed an alleged plot by young men associated with the "Fourth Reich Skinheads" to attack the First AME Church.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-07-28-me-17748-story.html|title=Suspect in Alleged Hate Crimes Plot Released to His Parents|date=July 28, 1993|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2010-08-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025232332/http://articles.latimes.com/1993-07-28/local/me-17748_1_hate-crimes|archive-date=October 25, 2012|url-status=live}} The accused, said to be planning to blow up the church to ignite a race war, negotiated plea bargains with prosecutors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-09-16-me-35896-story.html|title=Plea Bargains Reached in Skinhead Bomb Case|author=Eric Malnic|date=September 16, 1993|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2010-08-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025232345/http://articles.latimes.com/1993-09-16/local/me-35896_1_first-african-methodist-episcopal-church|archive-date=October 25, 2012|url-status=live}}

In 1977 Cecil Murray was assigned to the church as pastor. At that time it had 300 members. Under Murray's leadership the church grew during the next 27 years to a membership of 18,000 people.{{cite web

|url=http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=04-1567&CFID=17244012&CFTOKEN=3638cd1a9fe314bc-48CFCB07-CA80-DA1B-201877CF5FD56E68&jsessionid=f030ad76e870303285934ca58255803d6357

|title=Dr. Cecil L. 'Chip' Murray Circle

|date=August 10, 2004

|work=LA City Clerk Connect

|publisher=City of Los Angeles

|accessdate=2010-08-06

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927154444/http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=04-1567&CFID=17244012&CFTOKEN=3638cd1a9fe314bc-48CFCB07-CA80-DA1B-201877CF5FD56E68&jsessionid=f030ad76e870303285934ca58255803d6357

|archive-date=2011-09-27

|url-status=live

}}{{cite web

|url=http://crcc.usc.edu/about/personnel/cecil-l-murray.html

|title=Cecil L. Murray

|publisher=University of Southern California

|accessdate=2010-08-06

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704074018/http://crcc.usc.edu/about/personnel/cecil-l-murray.html

|archive-date=2010-07-04

|url-status=live

}}

In 2004 the Reverend Dr. John Joseph Hunter succeeded Cecil Murray as senior minister. In 2008 Hunter entered into a repayment plan to pay for tax obligations, family vacations, clothes and jewelry purchased with church funds.{{cite web

|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-dec-06-ed-hunter6-story.html

|title=Purpose driven spending

|date=December 6, 2008

|work=Los Angeles Times

|access-date=2010-08-05

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025232359/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/dec/06/opinion/ed-hunter6

|archive-date=October 25, 2012

|url-status=live

}} Several church leaders asked the church bishop to remove the pastor and his wife from authority.{{cite web

|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-aug-02-me-fame2-story.html

|title=Besieged pastor of L.A.'s First AME Church touts his successes

|date=August 2, 2009

|author=Teresa Watanabe

|work=Los Angeles Times

|access-date=2010-08-05

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131080635/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/02/local/me-fame2

|archive-date=January 31, 2010

|url-status=live

}} In November 2009 Hunter settled a sexual harassment complaint he denied for an undisclosed sum.{{cite web

|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-nov-05-me-briefs5.s4-story.html

|title=California Briefing / Los Angeles: Sex lawsuit targets pastor

|date=November 5, 2009

|author=Teresa Watanabe

|work=Los Angeles Times

|access-date=2010-08-05

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025232508/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/05/local/me-briefs5.S4

|archive-date=October 25, 2012

|url-status=live

}}{{cite web

|url=https://abc7.com/archive/7103595/

|title=Countersuits Rock First AME Church

|date=November 5, 2009

|author=John North

|publisher=ABC Inc., KABC-TV/DT L

|access-date=2010-08-06

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629034939/http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news%2Flocal%2Flos_angeles&id=7103595

|archive-date=June 29, 2011

|url-status=live

}} In October 2012, in the face of continuing controversies about his ministry and the church's declining finances, Hunter was transferred to a San Francisco church, which refused to accept him.{{cite news | first = Albert | last = Samaha | title = Bethel AME, S.F.'s Oldest Black Church, Won't Appoint Controversial Pastor John J. Hunter | date = November 12, 2012 | url = http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2012/11/bethel_ame_rejects_john_hunter.php | work = SF Weekly | accessdate = 2012-12-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121114232850/http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2012/11/bethel_ame_rejects_john_hunter.php | archive-date = November 14, 2012 | url-status = live }} His replacement was J. Edgar Boyd. In December 2012, the church filed a lawsuit against Hunter, his wife, and others, charging that the Hunters have improperly maintained their control of the church and its assets. Mr. Hunter said he was blindsided by the lawsuit, and called the asset control changes lawful.{{cite news | first = Angel | last = Jennings | title = First AME Church files lawsuit against former pastor | date = December 6, 2012 | url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/12/first-ame-church-files-lawsuit-against-former-paster-in-battle-for-control.html | work = Los Angeles Times | accessdate = 2012-12-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121209033156/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/12/first-ame-church-files-lawsuit-against-former-paster-in-battle-for-control.html | archive-date = December 9, 2012 | url-status = live }}

File:Kamala Harris - Eric Garcetti - AME Church LA 2020.jpg and Eric Garcetti at the First AME Church of Los Angeles in 2020.]]

The church is a center of political and social action in the city.{{cite web

|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-11-me-316-story.html

|title=First A.M.E. More Than Just a Church

|date=March 11, 1990

|author=Jocelyn Y. Stewart

|work=Los Angeles Times

|access-date=2010-08-05

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025232227/http://articles.latimes.com/1990-03-11/local/me-316_1_first-african-methodist-episcopal-church

|archive-date=October 25, 2012

|url-status=live

}} In the 80's and 90's, the church created 40 task forces concerned with health, substance abuse, homelessness, emergency food and clothing, housing, training, employment and so on. President George H. W. Bush named the Church the 177th Point of Light for outreach in community services.{{cite web|url=http://crcc.usc.edu/about/personnel/cecil-l-murray.html|title=Cecil L. Murray|publisher=University of Southern California|accessdate=2010-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704074018/http://crcc.usc.edu/about/personnel/cecil-l-murray.html|archive-date=2010-07-04|url-status=live}} In December 1989 city officials including Mayor Tom Bradley and First AME leaders broke ground for FAME Arms, a 40-unit apartment complex for physically disabled, low-income people in Southwest Los Angeles.{{cite web

|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-15-me-446-story.html

|work=Los Angeles Times

|title=Apartment Complex to Be Tailor-Made for the Disabled

|date=December 15, 1989

|author=Jocelyn Y. Stewart

|access-date=2010-08-05

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312150027/http://articles.latimes.com/1989-12-15/local/me-446_1_apartment-complex

|archive-date=March 12, 2012

|url-status=live

}}

After an earthquake in January 1994 FAME Renaissance, the nonprofit economic development arm of First AME Church, helped provide loans of up to $25,000 for affected small and new businesses who could not get help otherwise.{{cite web

|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-23-ci-53915-story.html

|title=Quake Aid Loans for Small Firms Offered

|date=October 23, 1994

|work=Los Angeles Times

|access-date=2010-08-05

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025232314/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-10-23/news/ci-53915_1_resource-center

|archive-date=October 25, 2012

|url-status=live

}} In September 2009 the church launched an open-air fresh produce market to bring healthful foods to residents of South Los Angeles.{{cite web

|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-sep-21-me-fame21-story.html

|title=Church lead the way to more healthful diets

|date=September 21, 2009

|author=Teresa Watanabe

|work=Los Angeles Times

|access-date=2010-08-05

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091204153402/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/sep/21/local/me-fame21

|archive-date=December 4, 2009

|url-status=live

}}

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