On August 11, 1820, the African Methodist Zion Church and the Asbury African Methodist Church of New York City established their own separate African Methodist Episcopal Conference, still under the Methodist Episcopal Church. This move was significant in the history of African American religious institutions in the United States, as it marked a step towards autonomy in organizing their own ecclesiastical structure. Both churches had originally been part of the broader Methodist movement but sought independence in order to better serve the needs of African Americans, particularly in the context of racial tensions and segregation.

This event eventually contributed to the formation of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, which formally split from the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1816. The AME Church became the first independent Protestant denomination founded by African Americans, with a strong emphasis on freedom, education, and social justice. The African Methodist Zion Church, often referred to as the “Zion Church,” would continue its growth alongside the AME Church, both becoming key institutions in the African American community.