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MANUAL/2001-2005 CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE HISTORY CONSTITUTION GOVERNMENT RITUAL NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE Kansas City, Missouri Copyright 2001 by Nazarene Publishing House by Nazarene Publishing House Published by the authority of the Twenty-fifth General Assembly held in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. June 24-28, 2001 Editing Committee E. LeBRON FAIRBANKS ROGER L. HAHN FRANK M. MOORE JACK STONE J. K. WARRICK ISBN 083-411-9439 (Cloth) ISBN 083-411-9447 (Kivar) ISBN 083-411-9455 (Leather Cover) Printed in the United States of America All scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version(r) (niv(r)). Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. CHURCH CONSTITUTION AND THE COVENANT OF CHRISTIAN CONDUCT (1-99 Series) LOCAL GOVERNMENT (100 Series) DISTRICT GOVERNMENT (200 Series) GENERAL GOVERNMENT (300 Series) HIGHER EDUCATION (380 Series) MINISTRY AND CHRISTIAN SERVICE (400 Series) JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION (500 Series) BOUNDARIES (600 Series) (700 Series) RITUAL (800 Series) AUXILIARY CONSTITUTIONS (800 Series) FORMS (800 Series) APPENDIX (900 Series) To use the thumb index, fan the pages with your right hand until mark appears opposite the chapter head. FOREWORD "The mission of the Church of the Nazarene is to respond to the Great Commission of Christ to 'go and make disciples of all nations'" (Matthew 28:19). "The primary objective of the Church of the Nazarene is to advance God's kingdom by the preservation and propagation of Christian holiness as set forth in the Scriptures." "The critical objectives of the Church of the Nazarene are 'holy Christian fellowship, the conversion of sinners, the entire sanctification of believers, their upbuilding in holiness, and the simplicity and spiritual power manifest in the primitive New Testament Church, together with the preaching of the gospel to every creature.'" (25) The Church of the Nazarene exists to serve as an instrument for advancing the kingdom of God through the preaching and teaching of the gospel throughout the world. Our well-defined commission is to preserve and propagate Christian holiness as set forth in the Scriptures, through the conversion of sinners, the reclamation of backsliders, and the entire sanctification of believers. Our objective is a spiritual one, namely, to evangelize as a response to the Great Commission of our Lord to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19; cf. John 20:21; Mark 16:15). We believe that this aim can be realized through agreed-upon policies and procedures, including doctrinal tenets of faith and time-tested standards of morality and lifestyle. This 2001-2005 edition of the Manual includes a brief historical statement of the church; the church Constitution, which defines our Articles of Faith, our understanding of the church, General Rules for holy living, and principles of organization and government; the Covenant of Christian Conduct, which addresses key issues of contemporary society; and policies of church government dealing with the local, district, and general church organization. The General Assembly is the supreme doctrine-formulating and lawmaking body of the Church of the Nazarene. This Manual contains the decisions and judgments of ministerial and lay delegates of the Twenty- fifth General Assembly, which met in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A., June 24-28, 2001, and is therefore authoritative as a guide for action. Because it is the official statement of the faith and practice of the church and is consistent with the teachings of the Scriptures, we expect our people everywhere to accept the tenets of doctrine and the guides and helps to holy living contained in it. To fail to do so, after formally taking the membership vows of the Church of the Nazarene, injures the witness of the church, violates her conscience, and dissipates the fellowship of the people called Nazarenes. The government of the Church of the Nazarene is distinctive. In polity it is representative-neither purely episcopal nor wholly congregational. Because the laity and the ministry have equal authority in the deliberative and lawmaking units of the church, there is a desirable and effective balance of power. We see this not only as an opportunity for participation and service in the church but also as an obligation on the part of both laity and ministry. Commitment and clear purpose are important. But an intelligent and informed people following commonly agreed-upon practices and procedures advance the Kingdom faster and enhance their witness for Christ. Therefore, it is incumbent upon our members to acquaint themselves with this Manual-the history of the church and the doctrines and ethical practices of the ideal Nazarene. Adherence to the injunctions of these pages will nurture loyalty and faithfulness both to God and the church and will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of our spiritual efforts. With the Bible as our supreme Guide, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, and the Manual as our official agreed- upon statement of faith, practice, and polity, we look forward to the new quadrennium with joy and unswerving faith in Jesus Christ. The Board of General Superintendents James H. Diehl Jim L. Bond Paul G. Cunningham W. Talmadge Johnson Jerry D. Porter Jesse C. Middendorf CONTENTS Foreword 5 PART I Historical Statement 13 PART II CHURCH CONSTITUTION Preamble 26 Articles of Faith 26 The Church 35 Articles of Organization and Government 38 Amendments 41 PART III THE COVENANT OF CHRISTIAN CONDUCT A. The Christian Life 44 B. Marriage and Divorce and/or Dissolution of Marriage 48 C. Abortion 50 D. Human Sexuality 50 E. Christian Stewardship 51 F. Church Officers 53 G. Rules of Order 53 H. Amending the Covenant of Christian Conduct 54 PART IV GOVERNMENT Preamble 56 I. The Local Church 57 A. Organization, Name, Incorporation, Property, Restrictions, Mergers, Disorganization 57 B. Membership 62 C. Evangelism and Church Membership Committee 64 D. Change of Membership 65 E. Termination of Membership 66 F. Church Meetings 66 G. The Church Year 69 H. Calling of a Pastor 69 I. The Church/Pastor Relationship 72 J. Reviewing the Church/Pastor Relationship 72 K. The Church Board 75 L. The Stewards 82 M. The Local Stewardship Committee 83 N. The Trustees 84 O. The Sunday School Ministries Board 85 P. Nazarene Youth International/NYI Council 90 Q. Nazarene Daycare/K-12 Schools 91 R. The Local Nazarene Missions International 92 S. Prohibition of Financial Appeals 93 T. Use of the Church Name 94 U. Church-sponsored Corporation 94 V. Assistants in the Local Church 94 II. The District Assembly 97 A. Bounds and Name 97 B. Membership and Time of Meeting 100 C. Business of the District Assembly 102 D. The District Assembly Journal 107 E. The District Superintendent 108 F. The District Secretary 113 G. The District Treasurer 114 H. The District Advisory Board 114 I. The District Ministerial Credentials Board 117 J. The District Ministerial Studies Board 120 K. The District Evangelism Board or Director of Evangelism 122 L. The District Home Missions Board 122 M. The District Church Properties Board123 N. The District Assembly Finance Committee 124 O. The District Chaplaincy Director 124 P. The District Sunday School Ministries Board 125 Q. The District Nazarene Youth International 127 R. The District Nazarene Missions International 128 S. The District Advisory Council 129 T. District Paid Assistants 129 U. Disorganization of a District 130 III. The General Assembly 131 A. Functions and Organization 131 B. Membership of the General Assembly 131 C. The Time and Place of Meeting 133 D. Special Sessions 133 E. General Assembly Arrangements Committee 134 F. Business of the General Assembly 134 G. The General Superintendents 136 H. General Superintendents Emeriti and Retired 138 I. The Board of General Superintendents 139 J. The General Secretary 141 K. The General Treasurer 143 L. The General Board 144 M. General Church-related Boards 152 N. The Christian Action Committee 154 O. Committee on the Interests of the God-Called Evangelist 155 P. The Global Nazarene Youth International 155 Q. The General Council of the General Nazarene Missions International 156 R. National Boards 157 S. The Region 158 IV. Higher Education 162 A. Church and College/University 162 B. International Higher Education Council 163 C. International Board of Education 163 D. Education Commissioner 165 PART V MINISTRY AND CHRISTIAN SERVICE I. Call and Qualifications of the Minister 168 II. Categories and Roles of Ministry 170 A. The Administrator 171 B. The Chaplain 171 C. The Deaconess 171 D. The Educator 172 E. The Evangelist 172 F. The Lay Minister 174 G. The Minister of Christian Education 175 H. The Minister of Music 175 I. The Missionary 176 J. The Pastor 176 K. The Song Evangelist 180 L. Special Service 180 III. Education for Ministers 181 A. For Ministers 181 B. General Guidelines for Preparation for Christian Ministry 185 IV. Credentials and Ministerial Regulations 186 A. The Local Minister 186 B. The Licensed Minister 187 C. The Deacon 191 D. The Elder 192 E. The Recognition of Credentials 194 F. The Retired Minister 195 G. The Transfer of Ministers 195 H. General Regulations 196 I. The Resignation or Removal from the Ministry 201 J. The Restoration of Members of the Clergy to Church Membership and Good Standing 204 PART VI JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION I. Investigation of Possible Wrongful Conduct and Church Discipline210 II. Response to Possible Misconduct 210 III. Response to Misconduct by a Person in a Position of Trust or Authority 211 IV. Contested Discipline of a Layperson 213 V. Contested Discipline of a Member of the Clergy 214 VI. Rules of Procedure 218 VII. District Court of Appeals 218 VIII. General Court of Appeals 219 IX. Regional Court of Appeals 219 X.
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