Rob Prince's Blog, page 5

This Nazarene Church Grew by 480 out of Covid (when most others have shrunk)

The effects of covid are still lingering in Nazarene churches across USA/Canada. This is not a statement on virology or the uptick in covid cases this summer, but a review of the post-covid church attendance numberrs. Sadly people left churches during covid and many haven’t come back. 

From 2020 to 2023 the USA/Canada Nazarene worship attendance went from 423,529 to 329,000. A 22% decline in three years. In 2020, four Nazarene churches in USA/Canada averaged over 2000 in attendance. In 2023, there is only one (Oro Valley, Arizona and Oro Valley wasn’t one of the four in 2020). In 2020, 26 churches averaged over 1000 in attendance, now there are eleven. In 2020 the church in the 100th attendance position was still above 500, in 2023 the 100th church in attendance was at 383. One church dropped 1775 people in the three year span; another dropped over 800. Most churches lost people. A covid attendance recovery hasn’t happened in most places. 

Most but not all. 

There are some shining lights. Oro Valley, as mentioned above, gained nearly 200 people to go over 2,000 (see the chart below for the twenty churches that grew the most in the last three years). There are others that also grew significantly too. Amplify, a Church of the Nazarene, in Willow Spring, North Carolina increased by 480 people in the three years (this summer they are averaging in person 1150 which is an increase of about 1,000 people in four years!).

What has made Amplify so successful? 

They have good music, but a lot of churches have good music. The pastor preaches fine sermons. There are plenty of good preachers in the Church of the Nazarene. The church relocated four years ago, but location change doesn’t always equate with growth. Churches aren’t like the Field of Dreams, “Build it and they will come.” Willow Spring, North Carolina is a growing area which can certainly help with church attendance growth, but other churches located in growing areas are not experiencing a similar increase. 

So what is the “secret sauce” of Amplify when so many churches lost people post covid? Amplify church’s pastor, Rev Philip Modlin, tried to answer the question for me (I spoke with him last week). 

Pastor Phillip humbly told of the commitment of his people to relocate. But not just relocate, the people had a commitment to pray and get involved in the community once they relocated. Pastor Modlin’s wife grew up at Amplify (the former Raleigh First Church of the Nazarene), where her father was the pastor. She has roots in the church and community. The Modlin’s are committed raising their family there too (they have five children). You get the sense, that Pastor Modlin and the congregation of Amplify are simply (it sounds too simple) seeking the Lord and following the lead of the Holy Spirit. Nothing “secret” about it.

Maybe closer to the truth of Amplify’s “secret sauce” is John Maxwell’s maxim, “everything rises and falls with leadership.” The church has: a humble, gifted leader; a willing and unified people; a commitment to prayer; and a desire to bless their community (I see you smiling, USA/Canada regional director, Dr. Stan Reeder. It’s a real time example of the USA/Canada’s Cycle of Resurgence initiative).  

Amplify’s ingredient for success is a commitment to prayer and serving. It is blessing their community through service; seeing people come to the Lord through those efforts; teaching them to be Christlike disciples; who, then in turn, are seeing these folks serve in the community. They repeat this formula over and over and over again. Maybe other churches won’t grow by 480 people in 3 years like Amplify, but if all USA/Canada churches made a commitment to prayer and blessing their community, then strong and steady results quite possibly will follow. 

Covid doesn’t have to kill the church. Kingdom growth can happen post covid. Strong, healthy, praying, unified and faithful churches can still happen in the 2020’s. Amplify and Pastor Modlin are showing us how to do it.

Top 20 Churches in Growing Nazarene Churches from 2020 to 2023

DistrictChurch 2023 Worship, In-Person  2020 Worship  Worship Change North CarolinaAmplify, a Church of the Nazarene                850              370              480 Metro New YorkNueva Vida Iglesia del Nazareno                375                   –                375 North ArkansasCrossroads Cowboy           1,365         1,039              326 Metro New YorkThe Bridge                250                   –                250 Central Gulf CoastLandmark                405              210              195 ArizonaOro Valley           2,033         1,839              194 Chicago CentralGrace Community                334              145              189 VirginiaHarrisonburg Esperanza Viva                187                   –                187 AnaheimYorba Linda Faith Community                319              143              176 MidSouthFoundry                168                   –                168 JoplinThe Well                953              791              162 South CarolinaMidland Valley Community                833              681              152 ArizonaTucson Central                480              334              146 Upstate New YorkOwego                382              248              134 KentuckyMount Sinai                160                 32              128 North Central OhioWadsworth                289              171              118 AnaheimCerritos Dias de Gloria                115                   –                115 Southern CaliforniaRedlands The ARK                283              169              114 IndianapolisClermont                161                 48              113 

There’s A Lot to Like about the Church of the Nazarene

There are Nazarenes (some former members) on social media who like to complain about the Church of the Nazarene. “The denomination is dying,” they say.  Read too much of it and you’d think the grim reaper is knocking on the Global Ministry Center’s door. Call me overly optimistic (aren’t Wesleyans supposed to be radically optimistic?), but there is a lot to like about the Church of the Nazarene. 

I like that Nazarenes are in 160+ countries in the world.I like that Nazarene churches number 30,000+I like that Nazarene clergy number 30,000+ too.I like most all of the 2,419,219 members of the Church of the Nazarene. I haven’t met all of them (obviously) but I would probably like most all of them (there’s probably a few stinkers in the bunch that I’d avoid, not many, just a few). I like that Nazarenes in Africa or Bangladesh or the United States are just as “Nazarene” and just as valuable as any other Nazarene in the world.I like that the Nazarene leadership team of General Superintendents include an African, a Central American, a South American, one born in Germany and two others from the United States. 

I like that the Church of the Nazarene is a global church.

I like that Nazarenes baptizes babies or dedicates them.I like that Nazarene churches have accountability through Nazarene Safe. I like Nazarene Bible quizzing for children and youth.I like Nazarene Youth Conference where so many students’ faith grow. I like that Nazarene Child Sponsorship helps so many boys and girls around the world. (Karla and I sponsor two kids. One in Panama. One in Jordan).

I like that the Church of the Nazarene cares about the next generation.

I like that Nazarene Compassionate ministries are helping when the world hurtsI like that Nazarene “boots are on the ground” in most places when tragedies strike.I like that Nazarenes historically have sided with those that culture has rejected.

I like that the Church of the Nazarene cares for the least of these.

I like that Nazarene Bible colleges and universities are around the globe.I like that Nazarene publishing, the Foundry, is on solid footing. Printing quality holiness materials still matters (maybe more than ever). I like the Nazarene periodical,  Holiness Today  and read it cover to cover.Shameless plug alert: I like that the Nazarene Sunday School paper,  Standard,  allows me to write a monthly article; sometimes  Reflecting God  puts me down for a week of devotions too and The Foundry Publishing (back when it was Beacon Hill Press) published my first book  Chronic Pain: Finding Hope in the Midst of Suffering. 

I like Nazarene emphasis on learning.

I like that Nazarene theology is Biblical, Wesleyan and steeped in church history.I like that Nazarenes emphasize holy living.I like that Nazarenes ordain women.I like that Nazarenes don’t have to agree on everything (i.e. details of the Second Coming; creation accounts; modes of baptism; etc.) to still be sisters and brothers in the faith. 

I like that Nazarenes are deeply theological.

I like that Nazarene gatherings like General Assembly or next year’s M-25 conference feel like a family reunion.I like that Nazarenes are dependable and available. I feel like I could be practically anywhere in the world and, if in trouble, I could call the local Nazarene church and they would help.

I like that Nazarenes are family.

There are probably plenty of other things to like too, but what I like most about the Church of the Nazarene is my local Nazarene church. It is filled with godly people who love Jesus, their neighbors and each other. Jesus and my local church family’s love for Him make me wanting to come back week after week. My local congregation inspires me and shows me that Nazarenes are good people. I see it every week (every day practically) in old and young alike. Moreover, I like the team of women and men pastors I am privileged to work alongside– they are the best of the best. The Nazarene family at my local church is the best part of being a Nazarene.

Am I a Nazarene Pollyanna for listing such things? I don’t think so (you might disagree). I don’t wear rose colored glasses. I know the Church of the Nazarene has issues (show me a church that doesn’t). We’ve got some dysfunction (show me a family that doesn’t). We’ve got our share of strange relatives in our family (again, who doesn’t). We don’t all agree on all things (clearly). There have been decisions made that I found questionable. There are conversations that need to be safely had. I get it. We aren’t perfect.

Still there is a lot to like in the Church of the Nazarene. 

Edited to Write: Sorry this was a longer blog than normal, but if you can’t tell, I think there is a lot to like in the Church of the Nazarene.

There are 31,354 Clergy in the Church of the Nazarene, Here’s What you Need to Know

There are 31,354 clergy in the Church of the Nazarene. 19,321 elders. 893 deacons. 11,140 district licensed ministers. Of the 19,321 elders, exactly 11,003 are from USA/Canada. 

As one of the 31,354, I am proud of my co-laborers across the globe. Obviously I don’t know all 11,002 of my fellow elders in USA/Canada. I am sure there are a few stinkers in the bunch, but just a few. 

Here’s what I know about Nazarene clergy: they work hard. They don’t often get paid well. Until this year, their retirement stink, stank, stunk (thank you P&B for greatly improving the denominational investment in the retirement plan). Pastors are loving, kind, and generous. There’s not a lot of complaining from them, just a lot of praying and preaching and visiting the sick and the million other jobs of a pastor. Social media has made their job infinitely harder; the cultural circling of the drain has made it harder still; and pastoring in an election year makes it even harder than that. Still they faithfully serve. 

Pastors aren’t perfect (neither are you, non-pastors, who might be reading). Pastors are usually strong, but sometimes are weak. Usually right, but sometimes are wrong. Usually preach good sermons, but sometimes preach a bad one. Usually use good discernment, but sometime mess up. Usually are thrilled to be serving in their location, but sometimes want out. Usually lead well, but sometimes get off track. Pastors are humans, in other words (again so are you).

Most folks in the congregation would say they love their pastor and they know she/he loves them. You probably feel this way, so why tell you what you already know? Simple, don’t let the social media naysayers allow you to think that (your pastor excluded) the other 11,002 USA/Canada Nazarene pastors are goobers or worse. If you watch the internet too much, you’ll hear of moral failures and a bugaboo elder or two, but that’s the minority. The extreme minority. Again, most Nazarene pastors love Jesus, the Church of the Nazarene and their flock (well, most of the flock. There are a few goober laymen too… but not many). The vast majority of Nazarenes pastors and people (my antidotal guess is 99.8%) are trying hard to serve Jesus.

We’ve all heard the saying, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” In our social-media-gone-mad world, maybe the statement if relating to the clergy in the Church of the Nazarene should read “the squeaky two hundredths of one per percent of 11,003 get the notoriety.” Pay little attention to the hullabaloo. Social media stalking of the sinful or heretical borders on mindless chatter at best and gossip at worst. You’ve got better things to do—like telling your own pastor that you support her/him; praying for him/her; and appreciate his/her efforts to lead the charge against the Enemy in your hometown. 

Laypeople reading this might not be able to encourage all 31,354 Nazarene pastors, but I bet you could cheer on one or two! Pastors reading this know you have 31,353 other pastors in the Church of the Nazarene who just like you are doing their best to represent Jesus! Be encouraged. The overwhelming majority are faithfully serving (just like you). And to the teeny tiny minority of pastors who’ve had their struggles, sins, trips and falls, please remember the One who called you is still faithful, even if you haven’t been. Ministry might be out of the question, but you’re not too far gone, no matter what you or others might think. Confess. Move forward (in ministry or not). Finish the race. 

All this to say, most (not all, but most by far) of 31,354 ministers in the Church of the Nazarene love Jesus and want to see His Kingdom built wherever they are serving. 

Want to change the Church of the Nazarene? Start in your own backyard

As far as I remember the General Church of the Nazarene baptizes no one. Maybe there has been a baptism at a General Assembly, but I’ve never seen it. No infant baptisms either. Or baby dedications. Nothing like that. Those are local church happenings.

There’s been a few baptisms on our district campgrounds, but it’s still a local church thing. The district didn’t do much in their discipleship. Yes, there are camps but the day to day discipleship happens in the local church. Again, no infant baptisms or baby dedications happen on the district level. There is no marriage counselling. No food programs. No ongoing mission efforts. That is all a local church thing too. 

Ministry happens at the local church. We all know this to be true. So if one is starting to get bent out of shape or ruffled feathers because of decisions made on the general (global) or district level take a breath, calm down, practice self-control (a fruit of the spirit, remember) look around and see all the good things (God things) that are happening at your local church.  

There are a lot of good proceedings. 

At my local church just in the next week or two these things are happening: a mission team of 35 people (mostly teens, but our District Superintendent too) was supposed to be in Panama this week (unfortunately,  weekend storms and a day in the Buffalo airport ruined that and sent the team back to Michigan). Another team is going in September (no storms please). We partner with the closest elementary school to the church. Partnering means providing all the school supplies; sponsoring extracurricular activities and field trips; buying the entire school matching T-Shirts to inspire school spirit and unity; providing mentors and aids; and delivering bags of weekend groceries so the 60+ children identified as at risk kids won’t go hungry without the free school breakfast and lunch. Our Vacation Bible Camp children raised money to buy 65 backpacks for the kids around the Flint Eastside mission. The Boys and Girls Club of Flint that meets in our building is supplying a free lunch to anybody and everybody this summer. Folks from the community are playing pickleball (free of charge) two nights a week in the Community Center. Central Park, the play area we built for our neighbors, is constantly in use. Our neighborhood block party, Summerfest, happens in a couple of weeks. Besides trying to be the best neighbor, baptisms are happening this Sunday– infants in the morning service and new believers at night at a public beach area (I love public baptisms); and our worship services have been Spirit filled and God led!  

When I get worried about doctrinal brouhahas in the general church or bug-a-booed about thing-a-ma-bob at another Nazarene church or pastor 30 miles away, I start to lose my focus. God has called us to bloom where we are planted. So let’s bloom. Don’t get so (in our Nazarene world) “Lenexa focused” that we miss what’s happening under our noses. 

Would I change a few things if I were the Super Czar of the Nazarene-dom… probably, but no one voted me into that role (there isn’t a Super Czar of Nazarene-dom). Instead of filling the complaint box in Lenexa with wonderful ideas about how the GSs should do their jobs (I don’t think there is a complain box), why not take a neighbor a plate of cookies or babysit a single mom’s kids, mentor a child at your elementary school or visit a widow. Do something that truly matters. 

Jesus calls us to love our neighbor. That’s a local thing. James says the religion that matters is that which takes care of widows and orphans. That’s a local thing too. When Jesus told the parable of the King separating folks at Judgement Day like a shepherd separates sheep and goats, the difference was in how people cared for the sick and needy. In each incidence, it’s a local matter. Not once does Jesus tell us to worry about what others are doing. In fact, he says let the sin-free folks have the first stone toss at the sinner. Nobody chucked a rock. Maybe we shouldn’t either.

Don’t like what’s happening in Lenexa? Instead of spinning your wheels (or banging your fingers on a keyboard) trying to clean up the world around you. The ministry that matters is local ministry. Start tossing rocks at others once your own glass house is perfect. Want to change the Church of the Nazarene? Start in your own backyard!

Why Have a Manual in the Church of the Nazarene If No One Follows It?

What is the purpose of the Manual?  Here’s my succinct, oversimplified definition on the purpose of the Church of the Nazarene’s Manual: “The Manual is how Nazarene’s interpret the Bible theologically and socially. Additionally, it is how the Church of the Nazarene tries to best organized itself to make Christ-like disciples in the nations.” That’s pretty much it. The Manual is not the Bible. It’s changed every four years. It’s our attempt to interpret the Bible in theology and life for our particular ecclesiastical organization for such a time as this.

From my vantage point, as the social media posters volleyed back and forth last week, it once again exposed the great divide within the Church of the Nazarene. There are some in our tribe that want a strict adherence to the Manual which (along with Jesus) is the same yesterday, today and forever. Others seemingly are of the opinion that a minister is free to think and act however one pleases regardless of the Manual’s directives. 

If the ladder have their way, why have a Manual? If its words mean nothing and the clergy can disregard whatever section he/she pleases, whenever they please, why have the Manual? Are the Manual’s directives simply suggestions? If so, who picks and who chooses what we believe or don’t believe? Don’t call it a “manual” if that is the case. Call it: Some Nice Nazarene Ideas (take it or leave it).

If the former have their way,  the Manual turns into a dead document that leaves no room for discussion or conversation. Why have a General Assembly if there are no resolutions to debate; no discussions to be had; no changes to be made? Cancel your hotel reservations in Kansas City 2027, no need to go. 

Per my usual attempt, I advocate for neither extreme but a middle way. The Manual is more than a suggestion. It’s our agreed upon directive. Ordained ministers promise to abide within its pages. Should there be disagreement (and there may be times of disagreement), we need not be disagreeable. We need not air our dirty laundry on social media. We need not lambast leadership. We need not print or post disparaging comments against those with a differing opinion. Let’s have kind, godly discussions and think groups. Utilize the Global theological conference, PALCON, M-25, other conferences on all the regions, and provide “safe” events for charitable, theological conversations. We can pray together and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We can suggest changes in a considerate manner desiring the Holy Spirit to move upon the collective body. Then as gather at a General Assembly, the delegates vote as the Holy Spirit directs.

Conversation is our friend, not the enemy. Let’s reason together and come to a place like in Acts 15 where following a theological debate James concluded, “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…” (Acts 15: 28). Isn’t that what we should be saying at the conclusion of every General Assembly? “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, that the Manual is our next four year agreed upon document.”

We need the Manual. We also need the Manual to be a living document filled with sanctified love.  It should be our unified document not our dividing rod. 

Disagree with the Church of the Nazarene? Willingly Leave.

There is no gun to my head forcing me to stay in the Church of the Nazarene. I can leave at any time. Dr. Raymond Hurn said as much, at the time of my ordination. 

“If ever you do not agree with the Church of the Nazarene, will you willingly turn in your credentials?” he asked.
“I will,” I said. 

Some have said that the relationship between the church and the ordained minister is like a marriage. “You don’t walk away from a marriage, because you disagree. You stay and fight for the marriage,” they say. 

Ordination is not like a marriage. No one asked me Ray Hurn’s question before my nuptials. No one said, “if you ever disagree with your wife, will you turn in your marriage license?” Ordination includes a “pre-nup” element in other words. Disagree? Then willingly leave. No hard feelings. 

There are bits and pieces I might change in the Manual. The book is revised every four years. It isn’t the Bible. The Manual doesn’t end with the warning like in Revelation 22:18-19 about adding and subtracting words to the manuscript. Still there is not a lot I would edit– including the statement on human sexuality (Paragraph 31). I like the statement on human sexuality. As a General Assembly delegate, I voted for it. I was one of the 97 percenters that did. 

On the flip side, there are those who disagree with other significant portions of the Manual (Article 4 and the Nazarene understanding of scripture, women in ministry, infant baptism, speaking in tongues, I suppose there are other matters too). The church’s position on these matters were in place when the minister walked down the church’s center aisle and knelt before a congregation too. The Manual hasn’t changed (for the most part) since the General Superintendent placed his/her hands on the minister’s head and ordained them. If disparity exists, it’s the clergyperson who has changed, not the church. Of course having divergent ideas regarding most issues rarely gets the attention that opposition to the Paragraph 31 attracts. Extremists have gone to their corners like a WWE wrestling match on that one.

My point is simply this: if one doesn’t agree with the CotN on weighty matters, no one is forced to stay. One may leave at any time. I don’t mean that to sound harsh or overly critical. I’m not suggesting forcing people out. But no one is married to the church. It’s not a divorce when one leaves (although I do acknowledge, it can feel like it). If the church and minister grow apart (for whatever reason), let the affiliation end with an amicable separation. 

If one would rather be in a fundamentalist church, there are plenty of them out there. If one would rather be in a progressive church, there are plenty of those too. In fact those churches, with their declining attendances, would welcome the transfer with open arms. They would cheer a new member for his/her “courage” for leaving the CotN. But is it courage? It’s doing what was agreed upon at the time of ordination. It’s in the “pre-nup.” 

“If there is major disagreement, I’ll leave.” It’s what I told old Ray Hurn. No fuss. No mess. No drama. No burning bridges on the way out. No disparaging comments about the church. No social media blasts on how terrible the church has become. No name calling about those in leadership. No back and forth, tit for tat. None of that. I will go and wish my remaining friends well. 

But like I said, I doubt that will be me. I like it here. 

The Story of the Very Mean Shepherd by B.B. Wolf

Once upon a time there was a mean shepherd. Very mean. He wanted me to starve. Seriously, he refused to allow me get any tasty sheep from the flock he was tending. I tried. Believe me, I tried. When I thought he wasn’t looking, I hopped through the bushes, about to grab a yummy piece of mutton…then, “Whack!” He hit me right over the head with that long stick of his. He calls the stick a crook. He’s the crook. I should file assault charges against the guy. 

There was another time when he was bringing the herd in from a pasture, and one of the sheep got away. He didn’t realize it. I did. I saw the whole thing. The dumb sheep wandered off from the rest of the group, not paying attention to its surroundings at all. The mindless sheep was totally lost. I waited and waited. Not wanting to be detected by that overly aggressive shepherd, I knew if I just bided my time, I’d have a tasty dinner. Lamb chops are a delight if seasoned properly, but I digress. There were 100 sheep. Surely that annoying sheepherder wouldn’t notice one missing ewe. 

I can hear him counting, “97, 98, 99… where’s 100?  Number 100 is missing.”

He noticed. No joke. Then like a fool, he went out looking for that lousy directionally challenged sheep. Of course, I was in hiding ready to nab the lost wanderer. Never expecting that the bully with a crook would leave 99 protected sheep for the one unprotected sheep. Who would do that? He did. Wouldn’t you know it, he found that lamb too; tossed her over his shoulders and carried her back to the pen. Ugh. I hate that shepherd.

About the pen, you’ll never guess where that narcoleptic shepherd “sleeps.” In the door way. How can you sleep in a door way? You can’t. But that’s where he plants himself. Every night. All night. He’s like the gate to the pen. You can’t get to the sheep unless you get by him and his crook. He must sleep with one eye open, because I can never get pass that guy. I’m pretty sure, he is wise to me and my schemes.

But I’ve got a new plan. It’s fool proof. I’m going to get a sheep costume. I saw them in the Halloween store in town. I’ll dress up like a sheep. Wear the sheep’s clothing, if you will. How hard can it be to pretend to be a dumb sheep? It can’t be that baaaaaaad. (Sorry for the dad joke. My pups hate my puns). But I’ll fool that shepherd in my costume; get in the pasture and then take any sheep I want. By the time, that dumb sheepman realizes I’m not a sheep, I’ll be long gone with my dinner. Talk about fast food, I’ll be hoofing it out of there quicker than you can say, “Mary had a little lamb.” My name ain’t Mary, but, with a little luck, I’ll have a lamb. This plan is pure genius. Slurp! 

Here’s the deal: My goal in life is to get as many sheep as possible. Trick ‘em. Steal ‘em. Trap ‘em. Fool ‘em. Grab ‘em. I don’t care how I get them, I just want to get them. I’m relentless. I will keep trying until I get one too. The ones close to the shepherd, the ones practically glued to the guy, are nearly impossible to nab. But some of those dumb sheep will get their eyes off the shepherd and start playing too close to the boundaries the shepherd has set up. Those ones will surely step over the line and when they do, I’ll be there waiting. Licking my chops. 

You can be sure of this, I’ll keep trying or my name isn’t “Big Bad Wolf.”

Moral of the story: The safest place is next to the Shepherd (capital “S”). 

That ain’t holiness

“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” -Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride.

The theological circles I run in are known for their adherence to holiness. We take serious God’s call to “Be holy as I am holy” (Leviticus 19:2 and 1 Peter 1:16). Sadly, it seems some in my tribe are confused as to what “holiness” entails. 

Allow me to offer a few tips (just “a few,” my list is not exhaustive) on holiness. Hopefully this clears up some of the muddle…

If your version of holiness is….

more about you than Jesus, that ain’t holiness.unkind, unforgiving, unjoyful, unhumble that ain’t holiness.unloving toward neighbors and enemies that ain’t holiness.uncaring toward the poor and needy, that ain’t holiness.focused on outward persona rather than inward purity, that ain’t holiness.childish not child-like, that ain’t holiness.bullying others on-line or in person, that ain’t holiness.comparable to the Pharisees, that ain’t holiness.hypocritical or hyper-critical, that ain’t holiness.cliquish more than a welcoming, that ain’t holiness.snooty and gossipy, that ain’t holiness.attention seeking more than Jesus seeking, that ain’t holiness.envious, greedy, lustful or prideful, that ain’t holiness.rude, harsh and self-seeking, that ain’t holiness.bombastic and belligerent, that ain’t holiness.record keeping of wrongs, that ain’t holiness.condemning the sin in others while covering up one’s sinful habits, that ain’t holiness.pushing people out of the kingdom rather than inviting folks in, that ain’t holiness.lacking in generosity, that ain’t holiness.critical of social media mudslinging, then promptly slinging mud on social media, that ain’t holiness.full of “gotcha questions” meant to trap and belittle, that ain’t holiness.championing “truth” while telling half-truths and outright lies, that ain’t holiness. depicted by who you hate rather than who you love, that ain’t holiness.fueling heated arguments rather than godly conversations, that ain’t holiness.blind to the giant log in one’s own eye, yet judging the speck in someone else’s eye, that ain’t holiness.more about legalism than charity, liberty and grace, that ain’t holiness.dismissing the above list and getting defensive about the areas that reflect your own poor attitudes and behaviors, that ain’t holiness either.Anything other than being like Jesus, quite simply…  it ain’t holiness. Period. 

Dear English majors, I know, “ain’t” isn’t a word. I also know the “holiness” that some folks proport to be “protecting” or “promoting” isn’t holiness. 

It’s something, but it’s not holiness. 

The Best Residence for the Aging Church of the Nazarene

The Church of the Nazarene (CotN) was founded on October 13, 1908. There are only three people currently living in the world who are older than the CotN: Maria Branyas born March 4, 1907;  Tomiko Itooka born May 23, 1908; and Inah Lucas  born June 8, 1908. That’s it. Just three people. Presumably none were at Pilot Point, Texas 116 years ago.

Obviously, denominations don’t age like people. Unlike people, many denominations are dead– they just don’t know it. Which got me thinking about the supercentenarian, Church of the Nazarene. If the CotN were an elderly person, what kind of care would be required for the old gal? 

The options for the elderly are:

Hospice care is mostly for people with less than a year to live. While there are those who exaggerate the demise of the CotN, no one thinks she will be dead in a year. Hospice is not the option. 

Palliative care is a treatment plan where all know the patient is not getting better, but health care providers try to make the person comfortable. It’s holding the hand and saying kind words until they pass away. It might be sooner, but it’s probably later. Is the Board of General Superintendents (BGS) simply holding the hand of a sick and probably dying denomination; offering little hope, but whispering nice (overly rosy) things in her ear? At times, it might seem like it, but there is still strong life bubbling in various places.

Memory care is provided to the patient who has forgotten who they are. Like in palliative care, the plan is to make the person comfortable–  not letting them hurt themselves or others. Some might say that the CotN has forgotten who she is and the principles on which she once stood. They conclude that  people are hurt because of her misremembering. But unlike the horrible corridors of a memory care unit, many still know, love and desire to live into the CotN’s history. Regaining those early principles is the challenge, but its history hasn’t been forgotten. 

Does anyone think the CotN is ready for Independent living? Many argue she is more divided than ever (see Jesus’ comments of feeble houses in times of division in Matthew 12). She isn’t as strong as she used to be. She needs help. Independent living seems out of the question at this contentious point.

That leaves Assisted Living as the last and best option. The church is not dead, but she needs support. Factionist’s witch hunts on the right and tantrum throwers on the left have threatened to end the via media that has characterized the church from its inception. Each far side’s critics claim the church is drifting toward the other’s extreme. They vocalize its doom on social media and try to pull her to their side. A tug-of-war has ensued for the CotN’s heart and soul. She needs assistance not a mortician. 

More than ever the CotN needs leadership. The original BGS member, Phineas F Bresee, famously said (not original to him): In essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; in all things charity. Current BGS members, charged with giving vision and direction, must remind the church of Bresee’s words. Shout it, if necessary. Like a traffic cop on a busy intersection point us back to the via media. Silence is death. It’s time to be heard. The rest of us must then follow in assisting the church to the via media. It’s moving (or staying) in the center of the narrow road, away from the extremists on either side. 

A healthy denominational assisted living is located on the via media and it’s where the CotN best resides. I’m still hopeful that’s will be our address.

Edited to read: This is NOT a new or a negative concept. The Church has always required ASSISTED LIVING. It’s the Lamb and His Bride; a marriage made in heaven, where God’s Holy people are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do Christ’s bidding for the Father’s glory. 

Edited to also add: I wrote on the Church of the Nazarene’s need for the middle road in 2021. You can read it here: https://wordpress.com/post/robprinceblog.com/1958

What Can Be Learned from the Closure of Eastern Nazarene College?

When the news broke that Eastern Nazarene College (ENC) was closing last week, it felt like a friend had died. Not a friend that you see every day, or even once in a while, but a friend nonetheless. Hearing that the doors were closing for good brought a deep sense of sadness over me. The news hit me hard for someone with no real connection to the school other than my “Nazarene-nerdy-ness.”

I have friends who graduated from ENC and who have been on the faculty and staff there. I heard stories of God’s faithfulness and provision through the life of ENC. I had only been on the campus of Eastern Nazarene College one time. It was back a few years, before Covid, we went on the Sunday morning to the Wollaston Church of the Nazarene on the campus of ENC. We walked around and saw the buildings. I was surprised on how close the campus was to the ocean. I thought it had such potential. Now it’s closed. 

When a loved one that I haven’t seen in a while passes, I think, “I knew she was sick, just not that sick. I wish I had known…” Could anything have been done to help ENC if we comprehended her dire circumstances? Maybe. Maybe not. I wish we had known…

Sometimes when attending the funeral of older relatives, I peruse the room and see kinfolk that I’ve only seen at funerals, the holidays or a random reunion. When greeting the distant cousins at the wake, I think, “Who will be next?  The matriarch has died. Who will be the next family member eulogized?” ENC’s closing made me think about the other Nazarene institutions in the same manner. Are others on life support? Is ENC’s passing a harbinger of more trouble in the Church of the Nazarene or is it an anomaly?  

I want to think ENC’s demise was caused by a dwindling student and Nazarene population in the Northeast. It wasn’t helped by an over saturated higher education system in Boston and the plethora of options from which prospective New England students might choose. I’m sure there are many more factors than the ones spouted off by some of my conspiracy-first-truth-later brothers and sisters on social media. Still, was ENC’s demise the first of many deaths or the unexpected and unfortunate passing in an otherwise healthy organization?

I fear it’s the former, not the latter. If it is the former, what can we do to stop the bleeding? How can we better communicate the urgency of those in dire straights without causing my aforementioned Chicken-Little-like, brothers and sisters (these social-media-dilettantes are on all sides of the theological/political spectrums, by the way) from further miscommunicating ill-informed opinions (I’m not casting stones. I’ve been there. I’ve probably had my share of ill-informed opinions too). 

How can we help the other institutions stay afloat and not hurt them, that’s the point?

Maybe now is simply a time to mourn the passing of a dear friend, but sometime soon we must examine our reality and make the necessary adjustments so more funerals don’t follow.