Church of the Nazarene

Church of the Nazarene is a Christian denomination that emerged from the Holiness movement in the late 19th century, influenced by John Wesley's teachings on entire sanctification and the Wesleyan theology of Asbury University and Wesley Theological Seminary. The denomination was founded in 1895 by Phineas F. Bresee, a Methodist Episcopal Church minister, who was influenced by the Salvation Army and the Christian and Missionary Alliance. The Church of the Nazarene is headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, and has a strong presence in the United States, as well as in countries such as Canada, Mexico, and Australia, with connections to organizations like the National Association of Evangelicals and the World Evangelical Alliance. The church has also been influenced by the teachings of Dwight L. Moody, Charles Finney, and Jonathan Edwards.

● History

The Church of the Nazarene has its roots in the Los Angeles, California area, where Phineas F. Bresee started a holiness church in 1895, with the help of Joseph P. Widney and Hiram F. Reynolds. The church grew rapidly, and in 1908, it merged with the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America, led by H. F. Reynolds, to form the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene. The denomination continued to grow, and in 1919, it merged with the Holiness Church of Christ, led by C. W. Ruth, to form the Church of the Nazarene. The church has been influenced by the Azusa Street Revival, the Wales Revival, and the Korean Revival, and has connections to institutions like Point Loma Nazarene University, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and Olivet Nazarene University. The church has also been shaped by the leadership of H. Orton Wiley, Timothy Tennent, and J. Kenneth Grider.

● Beliefs

The Church of the Nazarene is a Trinitarian denomination that believes in the authority of the Bible, the divinity of Jesus Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers, as expressed in the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. The church emphasizes the importance of entire sanctification, which is the belief that believers can experience a complete transformation of their lives through the power of the Holy Spirit, as taught by John Wesley and Charles Wesley. The church also believes in the ordinance of baptism and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, as practiced in the Early Christian Church and the Reformation. The church has been influenced by the teachings of Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and C. S. Lewis, and has connections to organizations like the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society for Pentecostal Studies.

● Organization

The Church of the Nazarene is a connectional church, meaning that it is a decentralized organization with a strong emphasis on local church autonomy, similar to the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA). The church is divided into districts, which are groups of local churches that are overseen by a district superintendent, who is responsible for providing leadership and support to the local churches, as well as facilitating connections to institutions like Nazarene Theological Seminary and Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary. The church also has a strong emphasis on missions, with a global presence in over 160 countries, and connections to organizations like the World Council of Churches and the Lausanne Movement.

● Worship

The Church of the Nazarene emphasizes the importance of worship in the life of the believer, with a focus on prayer, scripture reading, and singing, as practiced in the Taizé Community and the Iona Community. The church uses a variety of worship styles, ranging from traditional to contemporary, and incorporates elements such as liturgy and sacraments into its worship services, as seen in the Book of Common Prayer and the Lutheran Book of Worship. The church also places a strong emphasis on evangelism and discipleship, with a focus on sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others, as taught by Billy Graham, John Stott, and Rick Warren.

● Missions

The Church of the Nazarene has a strong emphasis on missions, with a global presence in over 160 countries, and connections to organizations like the United Nations and the Red Cross. The church supports a variety of missionaries and mission projects around the world, including evangelism, church planting, and humanitarian aid, as seen in the work of Mother Teresa, Jim Elliot, and Elizabeth Elliott. The church also has a strong emphasis on community development, with a focus on addressing issues such as poverty, hunger, and disease, as addressed by the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals.

● Education

The Church of the Nazarene places a strong emphasis on education, with a network of universities, colleges, and seminaries around the world, including Point Loma Nazarene University, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and Olivet Nazarene University. The church also supports a variety of educational programs and scholarships for students, as well as leadership development programs for pastors and church leaders, as seen in the Nazarene Theological Seminary and the Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary. The church has connections to institutions like the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and the Association of Theological Schools, and has been influenced by the teachings of Abraham Kuyper, Francis Schaeffer, and Os Guinness.

Category:Christian denominations