Nazarene Board Issues Annual Report, Statements on Sexuality and Clergy Sex Scandal
''Nazarene Board Issues Annual Report, Statements on Sexuality and Clergy Sex Scandal''
The weeklong General Board meeting of the Church of the Nazarene closed on March 2, 2005, with two “statements of concern” and an annual report on the denomination’s spiritual and financial progress. All three statements were presented to the General Board, which consisted of 42 international Nazarene leaders, by the Church of the Nazarene’s six-member Board of General Superintendents.
In the first statement of concern, the board members affirmed that the “biblical concept of marriage” is “always between one man and one woman.”
“The Church of the Nazarene believes that every man or woman should be treated with dignity, grace, and holy love, whatever their sexual orientation,” the statement read. “However, we continue to firmly hold the position that the homosexual lifestyle is sinful and is contrary to the Scriptures.”
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The statement also confirmed that the biblical concept of marriage “is the only relationship within which the gift of sexual intimacy is properly expressed.”
The second statement, meanwhile, dealt with the “widespread publicity regarding clergy sexual abuse issues.”
The board explained that the Church believes “those who minister must be above reproach in every regard.”
“They must not abuse the positions of trust and authority given them and must never soil the good name of the Church of Jesus Christ by behavior that is in any way less than utterly pure and trustworthy,” the statement read.
At that light, the board encouraged “local churches and districts” to “pursue allegations of sexual abuse rigorously” and follow the judicial procedures for “removing the credentials of ministers who offend.”
Furthermore, the board recommended people to “carefully select those persons, whether clergy or lay, who work with children and youth” through the necessary safeguards such as background checks and “policies regarding the presence of at least two adults with children at all times.”
On a different note, the general superintendents presented their annual report on the spiritual and financial progress made in the denomination.
According to the report, the Church of the Nazarene welcomed 76,000 new members in 601 congregations around the world. Of these, a record number of 34,660 joined the Church of the Nazarene in the USA and Canada.
“The USA and Canada districts report a net gain of 23 in active works, the second consecutive year of net gain in congregations. This figure is a combination of organized churches and NewStarts,” the board reported. “This is significant since it is the second consecutive year of net increases after several years of net losses.”
The report also assessed that “since 1994 there has been an increase in church membership of nearly 360,000, a gain of 31 percent.”
With this influx of new members and leaders, the board explained that “One of the most important needs the church has is for these emerging leaders to be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led as they come into positions of responsibility and authority.”
“The church must find ways for gifted individuals to have meaningful involvement, authority, and responsibility within the denomination. They need the right kind of experience in local, district, and general areas of service. Leadership needs to reflect “the body” if we are to be a global church,” the report stated.
At that light, the board assessed that a church leader must focus on three topics to develop the future: finding the essence of the church, funding the mission, and developing communications.
For more information on the Church of the Nazarene, visit: www.nazarene.org
