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| Our Mission | ||||
| The mission of the Church of the Nazarene is to make Christ-like disciples in the nations. | ||||
| General Description | ||||
| The Church of the Nazarene is an international denomination of nearly one million members, about half of whom live in the United States. The largest of the churches that originated out of the American holiness revival of the 19th century, it was organized in 1908 through the merger of three regional holiness bodies. It is Wesleyan in doctrine and related theologically to the Free Methodists, the Wesleyans, the Salvation Army, and traditionalist sectors of the United Methodist Church. | ||||
| Founders | ||||
| Key leaders in the 1908 merger were Phineas F. Bresee, co-founder in 1895 of a Pacific Coast-based church also known as the Church of the Nazarene; Hiram F. Reynolds, missionary secretary of the Northeastern-based Association of Pentecostal Churches of America (organized 1896 from antecedents dating from 1890 and 1895); and Charles B. Jernigan and Mary Lee Cagle of the Holiness Church of Christ, a Southern denomination (organized 1904 from antecedents dating from 1894 and 1901). All four were ordained ministers and had backgrounds in Methodism. Bresee and Reynolds were elected general superintendents of the new denomination. Bresee’s unique contribution was to shape the church’s frame of government, while Reynolds stamped it with a strong missionary emphasis. Other key leaders include Roy T. Williams and James Blame Chapman, second generation leaders of the Board of General Superintendents. Benjamin F. Haynes was founding editor of the church paper Herald of Holiness. Aaron Merritt Hills (Fundamental Christian Theology, 2 vols., 1931) and H. Orton Wiley (Christian Theology, 3 vols, 1941-43) were significant leaders in shaping early theological development. |
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| Theology | ||||
| The Church of the Nazarene is the largest denomination in the classical Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. The doctrine that distinguishes the Church of the Nazarene and other Wesleyan denominations from most other Christian denominations is that of entire sanctification. Nazarenes believe that God calls Christians to a life of holy living that is marked by an act of God, cleansing the heart from original sin and filling the individual with love for God and humankind. This experience is marked by entire consecration of the believer to do God's will and is followed by a life of seeking to serve God through service to others. Like salvation, entire sanctification is an act of God's grace, not of works. Our pursuant service to God is an act of love whereby we show our appreciation for the grace that has been extended to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. | ||||
| Global Ministry Center | ||||
| Global Ministry Center provides support services that include maintaining ministerial credentials and church records, coordinating the support and sending of missionaries, developing Sunday School and discipleship curriculum, providing retirement support programs for pastors, encouraging the starting of new churches, facilitating strategies of outreach and education to all parts of the globe, and much more. The Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center is located in Lenexa, Kansas. www.nazarene.org | ||||
| Nazarene Publishing House | ||||
| Nazarene Publishing House (NPH) is the largest publisher of Wesleyan-Holiness literature in the world. Products include Sunday School curriculum, music, periodicals, and books. In addition, many kinds of merchandise items are carried for the convenience of churches in fulfilling their mission. NPH is located in Kansas City, MO. www.nph.com | ||||
| Education | ||||
| Nazarenes support 11 liberal arts institutions in Africa, Canada, Korea, and the United States, as well as 3 graduate seminaries, 37 undergraduate Bible/theological colleges, 3 nurses training colleges, 1 junior college, and 1 education college worldwide. RFN’s regional university is Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN. www.trevecca.edu | ||||
| World Outreach | ||||
| Nazarenes are passionate about making a difference in the world by taking the good news of Jesus Christ to people everywhere. Today there are almost 800 missionaries and volunteers serving around the world. The Church of the Nazarene ministers in more than 148 languages and 75 dialects or tribal languages and has produced literature in 95 of these languages. The church operates 3 hospitals and 30 medical clinics worldwide. This missionary enterprise is made possible by the contributions of the global Nazarene family. Nazarenes also engage in starting new churches and congregations by praying, giving, and supporting worldwide volunteers and contracted missionaries. www.nazareneworldmission.org | ||||
| A Tradition of Service | ||||
| Nazarenes are a compassionate people. We believe in serving others. This is expressed locally through the services of members to their communities. Contributions from Nazarenes make possible the administration of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. Following the example of Jesus, NCM seeks to educate, clothe, shelter, feed, heal, and ultimately empower those who suffer under oppression, injustice, violence, poverty, hunger, and disease. Through 225 full-time compassionate ministry centers and volunteer efforts, Nazarenes have been instrumental in assisting people in every part of the globe who have been affected by war, famine, hurricane, flood, and other natural and man-made disasters. www.ncm.org | ||||
| Government | ||||
The government of the Church of the Nazarene is a combination of episcopacy and congregationalism. Six elected representatives serve on the Board of General Superintendents. This board is charged with the responsibility of administering the worldwide work of the Church of the Nazarene. The Board of General Superintendents also interprets the denomination's book of polity, the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene. For a more detailed explanation of who the Church of the Nazarene is, please click here. |
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© 2010 Raleigh First Church of the Nazarene |
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