[AMA Series] Church of the Nazarene
Hey everyone, u/Salivific and u/jape2116 here. Welcome to the Church of the Nazarene Denominational AMA! We're here to answer any questions you might have about our denomination, as well as provide a background for and explanation of what the CotN believes.
We'll give general explanations of beliefs, history, and polity all in this main post, but other than that, ask away!
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- Beliefs
Nazarenes have an agreed-upon creed (though we don't call it such) and sixteen Articles of Faith. These and more can be found in our Manual. Nazarenes are a product of the holiness movement in America, and are staunchly Wesleyan-Arminian in theology. Doctrinally, we're probably closest to Free Methodists or Wesleyans (go figure). Nazarenes are by-and-by-large more conservative than not. That isn't to say that there aren't any liberals or moderates, but they are certainly not the majority. We affirm the Creeds from the first four great ecumenical councils. The CotN has been sending missionaries around the world since our founding, and we have roughly two million members today because of this.
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- History
The CotN comes out of the American Holiness Movement, specifically the strain of the holiness movement that sought to reform ethical practices after conversion and held camp meetings (like, actually in the woods under a tent). We still do camp meetings, but they're usually indoors now. They're still quite often out in the boonies, though.
The CotN is a product of mergers, and today contains sixteen denominations as a result of their continuation. The original CotN was founded in 1895 in Los Angeles. This denomination merged with the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America in 1907, becoming the Pentecostal CotN. This in turn merged with the Holiness Church of Christ in 1908 at Pilot Point, Texas. This is considered the official founding of the modern denomination.
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- Polity
The CotN is a hybrid of episcopacy and congregationalism: As an international denomination, the world is first divided into six regions, each covering approximately a whole continent. Each region is split further into districts (see the USA/Canada region map for a visualization). Each district has mission areas that cover smaller areas (e.g. the Nashville South mission area on the MidSouth District). Local congregations are members of the district they are located in, but operate with relative freedom and impunity. Each local congregation has a board which helps to govern on church business, and often several subcommittees as needed.
Once a year, each district calls all clergy available (as well as lay delegates) to come to a district-level assembly where district business is done, reports given, etc. This assembly is presided over by the District Superintendent (think bishops). And once every four years, each region calls representatives from all of its respective districts (the District Superintendents in particular) to a General Assembly. The assembly is presided over by the General Superintendent for that region (think archbishops).
The General Superintendents meet to discuss the issues facing their respective regions, as well as church governance on a board. At the same time, though, each local church is given a great deal of operational freedom. Hence, hybrid.
- Panelist Bios
u/Salivific - I am a fourth-generation, cradle Nazarene. My father is an ordained elder, and I myself am a district-licensed minister. However, as I'm still enrolled in undergrad at Trevecca Nazarene University, I'm not a pastor yet. I am currently in an internship at a local church for the summer. I am probably a liberal by Nazarene standards (which would probably make me a right-leaning moderate if I were in the UMC). I'm also a lover of church history, though I'm not exactly extremely well-versed in it.
u/jape2116 - I have been a Nazarene for about a year and a half now. I was baptized Presbyterian, Grew up Lutheran, sang in a Catholic church, and attended a non denominational church for awhile. When looking for a new church my wife and I attended a Nazarene church and immediately felt at home. There is something about they way the church evangelized. They brought not only the community they were housed in together, but also worked closely with other churches. I then moved churches and became the worship leader at my current church. I just finished my first year of graduate work at Mount Vernon Nazarene University working towards a Master of Ministry degree. To be honest, I don't know where I fit into the the greater denomination as far as being liberal or conservative, I don't bother too much with those things. I constantly google the Nazarene church because I am still getting a feel for the culture. This denomination seems to be all about who you know and everyone knows everyone. So if I had to sit down and think about it, I'm probably more liberal.
As a reminder, the nature of these AMAs is to learn and discuss. While debates are inevitable, please keep the nature of your questions civil and polite.
Join us tomorrow when u/GaslightProphet, u/Tepid_Radical_Reform, u/chris_bro_chill, u/irock20012001, u/oarsof6, u/DyingDaily, u/the_Synapps, u/lillyheart, u/capedcrusaderj, and u/Milesbeyond250 serve up a Baptist smorgasbord.
Posted Jun 4, 2015, 12:07 PM UTC