THEO 672 - History, Missions and Polity of the Church of the Nazarene

3 hours
Three related topics are covered during this course: (1) a selective historical study of the world regions of the Church of the Nazarene, with primary emphasis upon the United States regions where independent holiness churches emerged and later united and organized to preach the message of entire sanctification as articulated by John Wesley and the American holiness movement with the vision to create a global holiness church. We also review the issues that shaped the church’s identity and the organizational structures that made global ministry possible; (2) a review of the World Mission program and a discussion of internationalization with a focus on the organizational changes that facilitated rapid growth in world areas during the end of the twentieth century with the resulting implications of becoming a global community; and (3) a concentrated examination of the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene, with focus on the government of the Church at its various administrative levels with the goal to help the student think through important issues relative to membership and ministry as well as to convey the practical rules and regulations that govern community life. Students study primary documents. GR