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WHO ARE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENTS?
Well, I came across a question in a Nazarene Facebook Group that attracted attention and meaningful engagement.
The question was simple but deep: Who are General Superintendents?
The answers came in from all over the world The US, Mexico, Australia, Ghana and beyond. It was clear that many people cared about the structure and leadership of the Church of the Nazarene and i thought it would be helpful to add my voice to the conversation based on what i found out.
From the comments, I gathered that General Superintendents are spiritual leaders tasked with guiding the global church, maintaining doctrinal unity and making key leadership decisions.
Some Group members pointed out their role in ordination and ensuring the church remains focused on its mission.
But perhaps the most official and detailed description can be found in the Church of the Nazarene Manual.
The Church of the Nazarene Manual defines General Superintendents as the highest elected leaders responsible for the oversight and spiritual guidance of the global church. They serve as guardians of doctrine, unity, and mission within the denomination.
Duties of a General Superintendent
According to the Church Manual, General Superintendents are responsible fo providing spiritual guidance and ensure the church remains faithful to its mission. According to the Church of the Nazarene Manual:
“The role of the general superintendents is to provide apostolic and visionary spiritual leadership by: articulating mission, casting vision, ordaining members of the clergy, propagating theological coherency, and providing jurisdictional and general administrative oversight for the general church.” (Manual, 306)
This means that they do more than just oversee administrative tasks—they help shape the spiritual direction of the church. They ensure the church stays united in its beliefs and that leaders are properly ordained to serve.
General Supervision:
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“Have general supervision of the Church of the Nazarene, subject to law and order as adopted by the General Assembly.” (Manual, 307.1)
- They oversee the entire church but must follow the church’s established rules and guidelines.
- Presiding Over Assemblies:
“Preside over the General Assembly and over the meetings of the General Board of the Church of the Nazarene.” (Manual, 307.3)
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- They lead major church meetings and ensure smooth decision-making at the highest level.
- Ordination of Clergy:
“Have discretionary power to ordain, or appoint others to ordain, those who have been properly elected to be elders or deacons.” (Manual, 307.4)
- They have the authority to officially ordain clergy members, confirming them for service.
- Appointing Pastors and Superintendents:
“The general superintendent presiding over a district assembly, the district superintendent, and District Advisory Board, in concurrence with delegates of local churches, shall appoint pastors of local churches that have not called pastors.” (Manual, 307.6)
- If a church does not have a pastor, the General Superintendent helps appoint one.
“The general superintendents may appoint district superintendents over assembly districts where vacancies occur in the interim of district assembly sessions, upon consultation with the District Advisory Committee.” (Manual, 307.7)
- They also appoint district leaders when there is a leadership gap.
- Ensuring Doctrinal and Legal Integrity:
“The Board of General Superintendents shall be the authority for interpretation of law and doctrine of the Church of the Nazarene, and meaning and force of provisions of the Manual, subject to an appeal to the General Assembly.” (Manual, 318)
- They have the final say in interpreting church doctrine, ensuring the church remains faithful to its beliefs.
- Decision-Making in Church Leadership:
“The office of any general superintendent may be declared vacant, for cause, by the unanimous vote of the remaining members of the Board of General Superintendents, supported by a two-thirds vote of the General Board.” (Manual, 307.15)
- If a General Superintendent fails in their role, the other leaders can vote to remove them.
The Board of General Superintendents
The General Superintendents work together as a board, sharing responsibilities:
“The general superintendents shall organize as a board and arrange for and assign to the members work over which they shall have special jurisdiction.” (Manual, 315)
This ensures that leadership is shared and responsibilities are distributed among the superintendents..
- Filling Vacancies:
“If a vacancy occurs in the Board of General Superintendents, in the interim of sessions of the General Assembly, the question of calling for an election to fill the vacancy shall be decided by the Board of General Superintendents.” (Manual, 316)
- If one of them steps down, the others decide whether a new election should be held.
- Supervising the Global Church:
“Provide supervision, guidance, and motivation for the general church, with appropriate attention to leadership and theology for all districts, agencies, and ministries of the global Church of the Nazarene.” (Manual, 317.1)
- They ensure that churches around the world stay true to the church’s mission and teachings.
- Missionary and Financial Oversight:
“Plan, preserve and promote the World Evangelism Fund which is the lifeline of global mission interests.” (Manual, 317.10)
- They manage the funds that support mission work worldwide.
The General Superintendents are responsible for leading the Church of the Nazarene spiritually and administratively. Their duties range from ordaining pastors to ensuring that church teachings remain consistent. As a board, they oversee the church’s global mission, make key leadership appointments, and provide theological direction.
By understanding their role, we can appreciate how they help keep the Church of the Nazarene united and mission-focused.
