DISTRICTS - Terms We Use
In the Old Testament God said, “If as one people they speak the same language…then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them” (Genesis 11:6). In the New Testament, God reversed the language challenge at Pentecost and how the gospel is global, unbounded by language (Acts 2:5-6).
We have many new leaders beginning to attend our churches who are unaware of the language and terms we use. Below is an alphabetized list of district terms you may hear people use among us. If you have questions, feel free to contact us anytime. We are here to serve you with excellence. If there is any way we can do that better, please let us know.
Active Clergy - a member of the clergy fulfilling an assigned role (538)
Assigned Clergy - the status of a member of the clergy who is active in one of the roles listed in Manual paragraphs 505-528 (538)
categories of ministry – there are 7 categories the District Assembly recognizes a Nazarene clergy leader serving in: pastor, evangelist, missionary, teacher, administrator, chaplain and special service (504)
Deacon - a minister whose call of God, gifts and usefulness have been demonstrated and enhanced by proper training and experience and who has been separated to the service of Christ through His church by the solemn act of ordination but who does not witness to a specific call to preach (533)
Disciplined—The status of a member of the clergy who has been relieved, in whole or in part, of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy by disciplinary action.
District – an entity made up of interdependent Nazarene churches, organized to facilitate the mission of each church through mutual support, sharing resources and collaboration (200)
District Advisory Board – a group of lay leaders and clergy leaders elected by the District Assembly to serve on the District’s governing board
District Assembly – the annual district gathering of clergy leaders and lay leaders elected from each church located on the district
District Board of Ministry – a group of district clergy leaders who oversee the development of new clergy leaders, encourage the district’s mission of church planting and multiplying leaders and who provide accountability for ministers’ life-long learning
District Church Properties Board – a group of lay leaders and clergy leaders elected by the District Assembly to assist and resource congregations with church properties (236-237.5)
District Development Plan - through peer-to-peer learning, the components and processes that superintendents on Phase 3 districts put in place to insure a positive change of district culture leading to healthy, multiplying Nazarene churches
District Disciple-Making Team (SDMI & NYI) – a group of children’s leaders, youth leaders and adult leaders who assist churches in their disciple-making, resourcing the leader development path of each church
District Lay Pastor – a lay minister serving under District assignment as a church planter or co-vocational pastor who does not at the present time feel a call to become an ordained minister (503.6)
District Mission Strategy Team – Mission Area Leaders working with the Superintendent, who are tasked to achieve the District’s purpose to multiply leaders and resource healthy, multiplying churches
District Superintendent – an ordained clergy leader elected by the District Assembly to oversee the District’s purpose to multiply leaders and resource healthy, multiplying Nazarene churches
District Support Systems - the processes and systems put in place by healthy Phase 3 districts which include the creation of a District Development Plan
Elder – a minister whose call of God to preach, gifts and usefulness have been demonstrated and enhanced by proper training and experience and who has been separated to the service of Christ through His church by the solemn act of ordination (534)
Field - an entity made up of interdependent Nazarene districts, organized to facilitate the mission of each district through mutual support, sharing resources and collaboration
Filed Credential—The status of the credential of a member of the clergy in good standing who, because of inactivity in the ministry, has given up the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy by filing his or her credential with the general secretary. A person who has filed his or her credential remains a member of the clergy and may have the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy reinstated in accordance with paragraph 539.10. (539, 539.1)
Fully Organized Church (FOC) – a church-type mission that grows, develops a church board and is prepared by the Superintendent, can be brought into the District as a fully-organized church.
Good Standing—The status of a member of the clergy who has no unresolved accusations pending and who is not currently under discipline.
interdependent churches - churches that are organized to facilitate the mission of each church through mutual support, sharing resources and collaboration
Investigation - action taken by a local church or district to determine possible wrongful conduct and the potential need for church discipline (600)
Laity - members of the Church of the Nazarene who are not clergy
Licensed Minister – After holding a local minister’s license for one year, a clergy leader may be interviewed by the District Board of Ministry and receive a District license to minister. Clergy leaders are required to meeting annually with the Board of Ministry from the time they receive their first District license to their ordination (532).
Lifelong Learning - the Nazarene standard for ordained ministers to maintain their credential in good standing; a total of 20 hours of annual learning is required
Lifelong Learning Registry - an online tool for ordained ministers to track their Lifelong Learning hours and report them to their district and regional leaders
Mission Area – a population of unreached people within the District, served by a group of churches operating interdependently; they may be organized by geography, ethnicity or language.
Nazarene Safe - helps churches create safer ministry environments, policies and practices to protect minors
NexGen – the USA/Canada focus for mobilizing young people to engage in church planting; includes an annual focus on the campus of several Nazarene Universities for linking students with local church planting opportunities on districts
Ordination Interview - an interview conducted by members of the District Board of Ministry with a Licensed Minister whose training and experience has led them to be considered for separation to the service of Christ through His church by the solemn act of ordination
Parent Affiliated Church (PAC) – Church-Type Missions and ministries started by or connected with a local church can be registered with the General Secretary as a PAC.
Pastor Cohorts - a group of 6-8 like-minded pastors who gather regularly (or for a specific length of time) to deepen relationships, learn about reproducing, share resources and experience renewal.
Recovery Team—The process and District Team for assisting a minister relieved, voluntarily or otherwise, of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy, and his or her spouse and family in the recovery of health and wholeness. Efforts toward recovery are to be undertaken independently of the process to determine whether a return of credential to the minister is appropriate and advisable.
Region - an entity made up of interdependent Nazarene Fields and Districts, organized to facilitate the mission of each field and district through mutual support, sharing resources and collaboration
Reinstatement—The granting of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy to a minister whose credential was filed, suspended, surrendered, resigned, or revoked, on condition of restoration to good standing and all required approvals.
Removed—The action taken by a district assembly to exclude from the Roster of Ministers the names of those members of the clergy who have filed, resigned, or surrendered their credential or have had their credential suspended or revoked.
Retired Assigned—The status of a retired member of the clergy who was assigned at the time retirement was requested (538)
Roles of Ministry – the Church of the Nazarene recognizes 12 ways clergy leaders may serve the church: 1) the Administrator (506), 2) the Chaplain (507), 3) the Deaconess (508), 4) the Educator (509), 5) the Evangelist (510), 6) the Minister of Christian Education (511), 7) the Minister of Music (512), 8) the Missionary (513), 9) the Pastor (514), 10) the Interim Pastor (526), 11) the Song Evangelist (527) and 12) Special Service (528).
Roster of Ministers—A district’s roll of ministers, licensed and ordained, who are in good standing as members of the clergy and who have not filed their credential.
sub-cultures -
Surrendered Credential—The status of the credential of a member of the clergy who, because of misconduct, accusations, confessions, result of action by a board of discipline, or voluntary action for any reason other than inactivity in the ministry has been relieved of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy. The person whose credential is surrendered is a member of the clergy under discipline. The rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy may be reinstated to this individual upon restoration to good standing and return of credential.
Suspension—A range of disciplinary actions, excluding surrender of credential, by which a minister is temporarily relieved of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being a member of the clergy until the conditions for reinstatement are met.
Unassigned Clergy - the status of a member of the clergy who is in good standing but not presently active in one of the roles listed in Manual paragraphs 505-528 (538)