ABOUT US
The Missional Priorities of the Virginia District Church of the Nazarene
Envision :: to receive and communicate a bright future vision that includes more than 75% of our churches healthy and growing.
Equip :: to resource the local church, through ministerial preparation, through in-service leadership training for pastors and laity, and provide methods of ongoing support for churches to become and remain healthy and growing.
Evangelize :: to create an environment of personal and corporate evangelism including the starting of new churches and the refocus/restart of existing churches as needed.
Encourage :: to provide intentional, formal and informal systems of care-giving and team-building, particularly for pastoral leaders and for district staff.
Excel through Accountability :: to create and maintain an environment of accountability for healthy and growing churches.
Agreed Statement of Belief
WE BELIEVE in one God—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
WE BELIEVE that the Old and New Testament Scriptures, given by plenary inspiration, contain all truth necessary to faith and Christian living
WE BELIEVE that man is born with a fallen nature, and is, therefore, inclined to evil, and that continually.
WE BELIEVE that the finally impenitent are hopelessly and eternally lost.
WE BELIEVE that the atonement through Jesus Christ is for the whole human race; and that whosoever repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is justified and regenerated and saved from the dominion of sin.
WE BELIEVE that believers are to be sanctified wholly, subsequent to regeneration, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit bears witness to the new birth, and also to the entire sanctification of believers.
WE BELIEVE that our Lord will return, the dead will be raised, and the final judgment will take place.
16 Articles of Faith
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The Triune God
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Jesus Christ
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The Holy Spirit
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The Holy Scriptures
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Sin, Original and Personal
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Atonement
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Prevenient Grace
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Repentance
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Justification, Regeneration, and Adoption
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Christian Holiness and Entire Sanctification
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The Church
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Baptism
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The Lord's Supper
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Divine Healing
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Second Coming of Christ
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Resurrection, Judgment, and Destiny
Church of the Nazarene Articles of Faith
THE FIVE CS – ORDAINED MINISTRY
Becoming an ordained minister is recognition by the church of your gifts, graces, character, call, and service to the church. Ordination is a privilege, not a right. Ordination is granted to you, not demanded by you.
Call :: every person ordained to ministry through the administration of the Church of the Nazarene must publicly acknowledge that God himself has called them to this ministry. We affirm and believe in this idea that God calls some of his people to specific equipping roles within His church. While this call is personal it cannot remain private. In the fellowship of the church it can be cultivated, and celebrated.
Character :: every person ordained to ministry through the administration of the Church of the Nazarene must demonstrate the character of Christ in his or her life, including, but not limited to, being a woman/man of integrity, punctual, honest, and increasingly formed in the image of Christ.
Continuity :: every person ordained to ministry through the administration of the Church of the Nazarene will have completed a minimum number of years of pastoral or staff ministry in a mentoring, apprentice, learning and growing role. The specific minimum number of years is listed in the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene. The district boards are free to extend this time as needed.
Competencies :: every person ordained to ministry through the administration of the Church of the Nazarene will show evidence of competencies as outlined through the Course of Studies for ministers. The objective of the studies is to increase competencies for ministry. The course work and design has been arrived at through careful prayer and study by veteran educators and leaders in the church.
Clarity :: every person ordained to ministry through the administration of the Church of the Nazarene will show evidence of clarity in their theological understanding of the doctrines of the church, especially the Apostles Creed, the Sixteen Articles of Faith and the Agreed Statement of Belief (see Manual 2017-2021 from the Preamble through paragraph 27).
God's Saving Plan
Praise be to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the indescribable gift of salvation.
What we typically refer to as “salvation”
Human component:
Godly sorrow/repentance, acceptance, faith.
What God does for the seeker? such as pride and selfishness and personal ambition are key targets for the deeper work of God.
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Justification :: what was wrong is “made right – justified.”
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Regeneration :: old becomes new, a new creation in Christ.
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Adoption :: we are officially accepted into the family of God.
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Initial Sanctification :: God begins the process of purifying us.
What happens to the sin problem in our lives?
Our sins are forgiven; God begins his work of cleaning up our lives. Our hearts are quickened to the sin that still surrounds us.
What we typically refer to as “sanctification”
(It is most helpful to refer to this as entire sanctification so as not to confuse it with the initial sanctifying work of God.)
Human component:
Entire consecration: offering ourselves completely to God, surrender of our will and ambitions to the plans of God. Like Paul wrote to the Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ, I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”
What God does for the seeker?
Cleanses the Heart from Sin: Purification. His spirit indwells in our hearts fully. He empowers the believer for service. He fills the heart with love for others.
What happens to the sin problem in our life?
God cleanses the heart from sin, and purifies the heart working on the root of the problem of sin in our lives, conditions