Author name: Nazarene Journal

A Gathering That Guides the Global Church The General Assembly is the highest governing body in the Church of the Nazarene. It meets every few years to guide our church’s direction, mission, and rules — not just for one district or nation, but for the whole global church. It’s a representative assembly, meaning people from many places come together to pray, vote, and lead as one Body. Let’s break it down. Who Makes Up the General Assembly? “The General Assembly shall be composed of ministerial and lay delegates in equal numbers…” — Manual, Paragraph 25 The Assembly is made up of: Pastors and ministers (called ministerial delegates) Church members (called lay delegates) Ex-officio members (those automatically part of it because of their position) Others as needed, chosen according to rules set by previous General Assemblies Every district gets to elect an equal number of lay and ministerial delegates. How Are Delegates Chosen? “Delegates…shall be elected by plurality vote…” — Manual, Paragraph 25.1 Each district holds an election before the General Assembly. Delegates are chosen by vote. There must be both laypeople and ordained ministers. Every Phase 3 district gets at least one lay and one ministerial delegate. Districts also choose alternate delegates, in case someone can’t attend. Where travel is difficult (like visa issues), extra alternates can be appointed. How Does It Work? Credentials (25.2): Each district secretary sends certificates confirming who was elected. Quorum (25.3): A majority of registered delegates must be present to start meetings. Presiding Officer (25.5): A general superintendent (or a temporary leader) oversees meetings. What Does the General Assembly Do? Elects Leadership “Shall elect…six general superintendents…” — Manual, Paragraph 25.4 The Assembly chooses the six General Superintendents — the top leaders who help guide the church worldwide. If one steps down or passes away between Assemblies, the General Board fills that position. Sets the Rules “The General Assembly shall adopt rules of order…” — Manual, Paragraph 25.6 The Assembly sets its own rules — how meetings work, how committees are organized, and how decisions are made. Creates a Court of Appeals “Shall elect…a General Court of Appeals…” — Manual, Paragraph 25.7 This court exists to ensure that any church member, minister, or church has the right to a fair and godly process when dealing with serious issues or conflicts. What Authority Does the General Assembly Have? “Shall have power to legislate for the Church of the Nazarene…” — Manual, Paragraph 25.8 The Assembly can: Make rules and regulations for the entire Church Shape policies for church departments and ministries Protect the freedoms and rights of local churches BUT it cannot override the Church’s Constitution or take away key rights. For example: Local churches still choose their pastors, with some guidelines from the General Assembly (25.8.2) Everyone has the right to a fair trial and appeal, whether layperson or leader (25.8.3) Why This Matters The General Assembly is more than just a meeting. It’s a sacred moment where people from across the world gather under the leadership of the Holy Spirit to keep the church faithful to Christ. It reminds us: We are a global family God calls both leaders and laypeople to speak and serve We can trust the process, because it’s bathed in prayer, guided by Scripture, and rooted in grace Let us honor the General Assembly — not just as a body of rules, but as a Spirit-led fellowship seeking the will of God for our time.

Have you asked that question before? Maybe someone around you has. Or maybe…you’ve just been curious. You’re not alone. We’ve all searched for answers at some point. And sometimes, the questions we ask…lead us to something deeper. This article might just be one of those moments. For you.Or for someone else.So before we list the names —we want to say something first. Welcome. Yes, you Whether you’re a member, a visitor, or simply searching,the Church of the Nazarene is a family. A global one.Over 2.7 million strong.And there’s room for you too.A spiritual home.A people of grace, holiness, and mission. Would you be part of that? You might still be asking —But who leads such a movement? Let’s talk about that.In the Church of the Nazarene, the General Superintendent holds the highest elected office. They guide the church’s global mission, theology, and unity. Together, they form the Board of General Superintendents — a team of spiritual leaders chosen to serve and shepherd the worldwide church.As of now, the board includes: Dr. David A. Busic Dr. Carla D. Sunberg Dr. Gustavo A. Crocker Dr. T. Scott Daniels Dr. Filimão M. Chambo Dr. Christian D. Sarmiento Each one brings a voice. A calling. A heart for people and for Christ. This is not just leadership. It’s service. And if you’re still reading maybe that’s a sign. A quiet invitation. So…shall we go deeper?

For more than one hundred years our Lord Jesus Christ has been writing a story of hope and transformation across Africa It all began in 1901 on a small island called Cape Verde off the west coast of Africa A place few would have expected to start such a movement but through the Church of the Nazarene God began calling people to Himself one by one Community by community and country by country the church grew from that small beginning into a powerful force of faith reaching more than forty four African countries Today there are over two point seven million members experiencing new life and hope in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus is the vine and we are the branches (John 15:5) When the church stays connected to Him it bears much fruit The Church of the Nazarene is His hands and feet reaching into cities villages and remote places across Africa The Redeemer is still calling people from every corner to find salvation and purpose in Him This growth is not just about numbers but about lives changed by the power of Christ The church continues to move forward even in hard times because our Savior never stops working until every heart has heard His name. Every day Christ shows His love through His church feeding the hungry caring for the sick and bringing hope to those who feel lost This is a living story you can be part of No matter your background or past the Lord Jesus invites you to join His family Through faith in Him your life can be transformed and you can join the mission of bringing hope and healing to many.

I remember sitting in a small church office one afternoon, flipping through an old missions book. The pages were yellowed, the photos black and white. But what struck me most wasn’t the images—it was the list. A list of countries, each marked with a year, each representing a bold step of faith by the Church of the Nazarene. It felt like opening a treasure chest of stories, each nation a chapter in the unfolding mission of a church born out of holiness and passion. From dusty roads in lelita in 1898 to the coastal breeze of Saint Lucia in 1972, the Church of the Nazarene was not just expanding—it was planting hope. I imagined those first missionaries, unfamiliar with the language, uncertain of the culture, but sure of their calling. That day, I decided to trace that journey—to see where the church first arrived and how far we’ve come. Here’s a list of the first 50 countries where the Church of the Nazarene took root. Each date is more than a number—it’s a reminder that we were, and still are, a global church with a global mission. 1972 — Saint Lucia (Mesoamerica)1971 — Guam (Asia-Pacific)1971 — The Bahamas (Mesoamerica)1970 — Bermuda (USA/Canada)1970 — Honduras (Mesoamerica)1967 — Netherlands (Eurasia)1966 — Jamaica (Mesoamerica)1964 — Costa Rica(Mesoamerica)1964 — El Salvador (Mesoamerica)1964 — Samoa (Asia-Pacific)1963 — Zimbabwe (Africa) — Entered when it was called Southern Rhodesia1962 — Chile (South America)1961 — Zambia (Africa) — Entered when it was called Northern Rhodesia1960 — Denmark (Eurasia)1958 — American Samoa (Asia-Pacific)1958 — Brazil (South America)1958 — Germany (Eurasia) — Entered what was then called West Germany1957 — Malawi (Africa) — Entered when it was called Nyasaland1956 — Taiwan (Asia-Pacific)1955 — Papua New Guinea (Asia-Pacific)1953 — Panama (Mesoamerica)1952 — New Zealand (Asia-Pacific)1950 — Haiti (Mesoamerica)1950 — Jordan (Eurasia)1950 — Lebanon (Eurasia)1949 — Uruguay (South America)1948 — Italy (Eurasia)1948 — Korea, South (Asia-Pacific)1946 — Australia (Asia-Pacific)1946 — Guyana (Mesoamerica) — Entered when it was called British Guiana1946 — Philippines (Asia-Pacific)1945 — Bolivia (South America)1944 — Puerto Rico (Mesoamerica)1944 — Virgin Islands (Mesoamerica)1937 — Nicaragua (Mesoamerica)1934 — Belize (Mesoamerica) — Entered when it was called British Honduras1926 — Barbados (Mesoamerica)1926 — Trinidad (Mesoamerica)1922 — Mozambique (Africa) — Entered when it was called Portuguese East Africa1921 — Israel (Eurasia) — Entered when it was called Palestine1920 — Syria (Eurasia)1919 — South Africa (Africa)1914 — Peru (South America)1910 — Eswatini (Africa) — Entered when it was called Swaziland1909 — Argentina (South America)1909 — United Kingdom (Eurasia)1905 — Japan (Asia-Pacific)1904 — Guatemala (Mesoamerica)1903 — Mexico (Mesoamerica)1902 — Canada (USA/Canada)1902 — Cuba (Mesoamerica)1901 — Cabo Verde (Africa) — Entered when it was called Cape Verde1898 — India (Eurasia)1887 — United States (USA/Canada) This information is compiled from Howard Culbertson’s comprehensive overview of the global expansion of the Church of the Nazarene. For more details, visit Nazarene Global Outreach   This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.