St. Paul Metropolitan is the marriage of two churches, St. Paul AME Church and Metropolitan AME Church. St. Paul was founded in 1902 with Metropolitan being founded in 1920. Both church grew and progress in their respective areas of the city. Metropolitan with their beginning in South Philly and St. Paul, a short distance away in the Elmwood section of Philadelphia. During the COVID pandemic of 2021, St. Paul opened a food pantry to service youth in the community who were not receiving school lunches. The food pantry expanded and began offering food to adults, as well. To meet the growing needs of the community, St. Paul solicited help from friends and members from Metropolitan offered to help. They worked together to feed the community and service hundreds of families during the week. Little did they know, these connections laid the groundwork for something greater.
After many years of growth for both congregations, in February 2024, Metropolitan AME Church entered a time of transition. With the reassignment of their pastor and plans in motion to sell their current property, the congregation faced an important decision about its future. After much prayer and consideration both churches agreed to merge and on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024 they had their first joint service together.
The merger was officially approved at the 208th Session of the Philadelphia Annual Conference on May 17, 2024. Now united, St. Paul Metropolitan AME Church is moving forward with a shared mission and renewed purpose. This merger represents more than a structural change—it’s a step forward in faith and service. Together, the congregation is ready to make a greater impact in Philadelphia and beyond.
Senior Servant Leader
Rev. M. Lloyd Guyton, affectionately known as Pastor Malcolm is a graduate of Turner Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA. There he received his Masters of Divinity. He is an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. His sermons are inspiring and vibrant. He is witty and compelling, while seeking to make the word of God plain to all who hear it. His real-life application of the Bible brings a fresh look at practical life-lessons that are both timeless and relevant. With over fifteen years of pastoral experience, he is a confidant, mentor and advisor to many. However, his work is not just limited to the church.
Pastor Malcolm is also a motivational speaker for youth and young adults and has led seminars across the nation. He has counseled numerous young people through the college process and is credited with helping them earn degrees. His practical applications and willingness to be transparent about real-life experiences makes him both compelling and genuine. Pastor Malcolm has received numerous accolades and awards, yet he still affirms that nothing is more rewarding than knowing that he has made a positive impact on someone's life. Pastor Malcolm graduated from Turner Theological Seminary (ITC) with a Masters of Divnity. He is currently persuing his Ph.D. in marriage and family counseling from Easter University.
In his classic book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey outlined practical principles for success. But long before Covey, the Word of God gave us timeless truths for living with purpose, integrity, and effectiveness. This 7-week sermon series, “7 Habits of Highly Effective Christians,” explores how Scripture calls us to cultivate spiritual habits that transform our walk with Christ and our impact in the world. Each week we’ll align one of Covey’s habits with biblical wisdom—learning how to be proactive in our faith, live with eternity in mind, put God first, build Christlike relationships, listen with love, walk in unity, and stay spiritually renewed. Join us as we discover how these godly habits can help us grow deeper in discipleship, stronger in community, and more effective in Kingdom living.
WatchHere are the events that take place at St. Paul Metropolitan every week. Some of the events are in person and others are vitrual. All are welcome to join us whether you are a member of the church or just passing through.
Join us Sundays at 10 AM in person or here online. Dynamic preaching, spirited singing and a friendly worship atmosphere. You can feel the powerful move of God in the sanctuary at all times.
Our Prayer Warriors meet every Wednesday at 12 Noon to enter into intercessory prayer for the church and for the community. Join our intersessors or submit a prayer request below and we will add you to our prayers list.
Prolific teaching by our pastor, as he shares relevant lessons for everyday life. Various topics fill the lessons such as, stress and depression, miracles, signs, and wonders. Each series shares new insight on how to apply the scriptures to contemporary issues.
Our food pantry serves close to 100 families each Thursday. Free food is handed out. Come and get the finest meats, fruits, and vegetables. There is even clothing given away and toys for tots during Christmas. All are welcome; even if you are not a member of the church. The food pantry is for the community.
St. Paul Metropolitan is attempting to upgrade our sanctuary. IN doing so we will need to replace our pews with chairs. Will you help us with this initiative by donating a chair or a row of chairs? You can donate a chair for $65 or a row for $455. Each chair or row can be donated in memory or in honor of someone. Just add to the note line who you would like to dedicate in memory or in honor of. Or you can simply state that you or family donated the chairs/row.
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