About Us

Our Leaders

“Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.”

Jeremiah 3:15 NIV

Dr. Caesar Roland Richburg, a native of Sumter, SC, is the Senior Pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Columbia, SC, where he has served since November 2016. Previously, Dr. Richburg served for ten years as pastor of Williams Chapel A.M.E. Church in Orangeburg, SC, and for 18 years at Allen Temple A.M.E. Church in Greenville, SC. In addition to serving as pastor of Allen Temple, Williams Chapel, and Bethel, Dr. Richburg also served as pastor at Benton Avenue A.M.E. Church in Springfield, Missouri; Friendship A.M.E. Church in Summerton, SC; and Mount Lebanon A.M.E. Church in Due West, SC.

 

Before entering the ministry, Dr. Richburg received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Biology from Claflin University, then pursued graduate studies at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, where he obtained a master’s degree in Administration.   Read more…

 

The Ministerial Team

  • The Reverend Dr. Caesar Roland Richburg, Pastor
  • The Reverend Cole Weathers, Community Bible Study
  • The Reverend Norman Duckett, Senior Ministry
  • The Reverend Mary Wilson, Good Shepherd Outreach Ministry
  • The Reverend Betty Wannamaker, Congregational Care
  • The Reverend Dr. Nicholas Chambers, Youth Ministry
  • The Reverend Robert Cleckley, Retired Pastor
  • Brother Reginald McKnigth, Licentiate

 

 

Pastor Caesar R. Richburg

“I am among you as one who serves.” (Luke 22:27 NLT)

 

 “There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working,

but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” (1 Corinthians 12:5-6 NIV)

Service Ministries

  1. Acolytes Ministry
  2. Audio and Visual Ministry
  3. Bulletin Board Ministry
  4. Commission on Public Relations
  5. Commission on Stewardship and Finance
  6. Computer Services/Information Technology (IT) Ministry
  7. Dance/Drama Ministry  
  8. Decorating Ministry
  9. Food Service Ministry
  10. Floral Ministry
  11. Greeters Ministry
  12. Music & Worship Arts Ministry
  13. Nursery Ministry
  14. Pulpit Aid Board
  15. Steward Board 
  16. Stewardess Board
  17. Transportation Ministry
  18. Trustee Board
  19. Usher Boards (Senior, Adult, Men, Youth) 

SOCIAL Ministries

  1. AME Women’s Ministry
  2. Boy Scouts Ministry
  3. Children’s & Teens Church
  4.  Children/Youth Choir  
  5.  Christian Debutantes-Master Commission 
  6. Commission on Christian Social Action – MORE Justice
  7. Girl Scouts Ministry
  8. Married Couples Ministry
  9. Military Families Ministry
  10. Senior Adults Ministry (Live, Learn, Love)
  11. Sons of Allen (Men’s Ministry)
  12. Women’s Missionary Society
  13. Young Adults Ministry
  14.  Youth Ministry (B.L.A.S.T)  
  15.  Young People’s and Children’s Division (YPD) 

Teaching Ministries

  1. Bible Studies
  2. Church School
  3. Class Leaders’ Council
  4. Commission on Christian Education
  5. Commission on Health and Wellness
  6. Commission on Membership and Evangelism
  7. Congregational Life and Care Ministry
  8. Education and Promotion
  9. Evangelism Ministry
  10. Good News Club  
  11. GriefShare Ministry
  12. Intercessory Prayer Ministry
  13. Lay Organization Ministry
  14. New Members Training
  15. Vacation Bible School

 

Historic Bethel AMEC
Historic Bethel AMEC

HISTORIC BETHEL

1528 SUMTER STREET COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA 29201

[Historic] Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is significant as the work of John Anderson Lankford, one of the first registered African American architects in the United States, and official architect for the A.M.E. Church.  Read more …

Bethel Learning Centers
Bethel Learning Centers

BETHEL LEARNING CENTERS

819 WOODROW STREET, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA 29205

Since 1995, Bethel Learning Centers has served the families of Columbia by providing high-quality care and education that honors young children as a gift of God.   Read more…

 

WHAT WE BELIEVE

“God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family” is a great summary of what the African Methodist Episcopal Church believes.”

 

THE MOTTO OF THE AME CHURCH

 

 

WHAT WE BELIEVE

 “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead; and buried. The third day he arose from the dead’ he ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Church Universal, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.”

THE APOSTLE’S CREED

WHAT WE BELIEVE

“There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this God-head, there are three persons of one substance, power and eternity; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.”

 

THE FAITH IN THE HOLY TRINITY

 

 

WHAT WE BELIEVE

“The Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man’s nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the God-head and manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God and very man, who suffered, was crucified, dead and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men.“

 

THE WORD OR SON OF GOD, WHO WAS MADE VERY MAN

WHAT WE BELIEVE

“Christ did truly rise from the dead, and took again his body with all things appertaining to the perfection of man’s nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and sitteth until he returns to judge all men at last day.“

 

THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

 

 

 

WHAT WE BELIEVE

“The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.“

 

THE HOLY GHOST

 

 

WHAT WE BELIEVE

“The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scriptures, we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church.“

 

THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES FOR SALVATION

WHAT WE BELIEVE

LEARN MORE AT WWW.AME-CHURCH.COM