Why I can no longer support Nazarene Theological Seminary's current leadership.
I came to know Jesus as my Savior through the Church of the Nazarene. It was in 1989 during a weeknight at a Fall revival at Lafayette Church of the Nazarene (Lexington, KY). I was young, but it was a transformational turning point in my life. I love the Church of the Nazarene. The Church of the Nazarene is where I heard about the message of holiness and God's work of entire sanctification. I have sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit in Churches of the Nazarene in different states and international places. I have been taught in her Sunday School classes, worshiped in children's church, participated in teen camps, attended camp meetings, gone on work & witness trips, listened with interest as missionaries told of the mighty works of God.
It was the Church of the Nazarene that affirmed God's call on my life and ordained me. My ordination in the Church of the Nazarene means something to me. I have now pastored churches since 2003. I have served in small places and large places. God has seen fit to allow me the opportunity to serve through the Church of the Nazarene.
The consensus among many is that young people in the church are only going to be reached by a continued compromise of our identity. At first that compromise involved only our standards found in the covenant of Christian conduct (the "rules" of membership). Things that many people were not completely comfortable with but were not willing to battle as they were not "essential." It seems now that we have delved into "essentials."
My concerns are listed below, but let me first say that I have spoken via the phone with Dr. Jeren Rowell. I have voiced my concerns directly to the Seminary president. I have also spoken with staff, students (current & former), and other denominational leaders about my concerns. I am not sharing anything that cannot publicly be verified or has not been addressed directly with those responsible for overseeing these issues. I have sought to follow a Biblical approach of working through differences.
With that said, here are some of my concerns...
1. Professors on staff:
The visiting professor of spiritual formation and discipleship is Dr. Michael Christensen. He is an elder in the United Methodist church who actively promotes the full inclusion of those who are practicing LGBT. The UM church that he attends declares that they proclaim the love of Christ to everyone which, for them means that they will include you in membership, ministry, etc regardless of your lifestyle concerning the LGBT issues. He has also personally signed a statement by the "reconciling ministries" that supports active LGBT clergy within the UM church. Why would someone like that be allowed to teach at our flagship seminary? You can also see some of the things he worked to promote during his time at Drew Seminary.
Previously, Dr. Elaine Heath, was the visiting professor of evangelism at Nazarene Theological Seminary. She served for a short time as the Dean at Duke Divinity School. Her stand on issues of affirming the LGBT lifestyle are best shared in her own words from her op-ed in the Herald Sun. Heath, like Christensen, view the affirmation of LGBT lifestyle and the inclusion of those who practice such a lifestyle as a social justice issue. In other words, not fully including someone in active ministry within the church who is a practicing homosexual is sin from their perspective. **Update** Elaine Heath is not presently teaching at NTS.
2. Conference & Special Speakers:
Dr. Molly Marshall recently spoke at a preacher's conference. Dr. Russell Moore, of the Southern Baptist Church, writes an article outlining Marshall's views on a few things. Some are, like women in ministry, are inline with the Church of the Nazarene, but some, like LGBT inclusion/affirming, are not!
At the same preaching conference hosted by NTS, Libby Hugus was given a platform. The church of which she is a pastor is socially & theologically progressive congregation. This video is Hugus telling about the church that she pastors. Lot's of vocabulary may lead to bad places, but it is the universalism that remains blatant.
Nick Pickrill was yet another speaker. His church is a self described "socially progressive" and "queer affirming" church.
Dr. Thomas Oord is a frequent speaker and friend of NTS. At one time Oord was a professor at Northwest Nazarene University before his controversial views led to a shake up at the school. What are his controversial views? He believes in process theology. He is also a proponent of full inclusion of LGBT into every facet of ministry. Check out a social media post on his own profile. (It really leaves me wondering how he can remain ordained in the Church of the Nazarene and have such blatant/public opinions that are obviously counter to Biblical teaching and the Church of the Nazarene's official stance.) How is he still an ordained elder in our church?
Update (02-22-22): The Grider-Winget Lectures in Theology with Dr Willie Jennings on February 26, 2022 features the professor and author known for "Can 'White' People Be Saved: Triangulating Race, Theology, and Missions." His insistence to push racial division is not surprising as he also serves as an advocate for gay marriage (and therefore the practice of homosexual behavior). Jennings says: “[G]ay marriage must be celebrated just as strongly, as loudly, and as intensely as any marriage of disciples, because what begins in civil toleration when touched by the Spirit of the living God becomes joyous and extravagant celebration”
Updated (08-26-22): The 2022 Preacher's Conference in September welcomes Rev. Dr. Frank A. Thomas as the speaker. His twitter feed and a Google search can give a pretty clear picture of his standing on various issues. He is a strong pro-abortion, pro-LGBT, pro-gay marriage, and critical race theory proponent. Sound good enough to invite to our seminary and give instruction to our future pastors and leaders?
Updated (02-22-22): If you contact someone who speaks for the seminary you will hear these standard lines: "As an academic institution of higher learning we want our students to engage in a variety of viewpoints and perspectives." Of course no one would suggest that we train our future ministers, who will lead our churches, without an understanding of teachings that contradict Christianity or even our own Wesleyan-Holiness theology. Our pastors and leaders need to understand the falsehood to be able to combat the thoughts and philosophical ideologies that stand as obstacles to seeing minds transformed by the grace of God. The problem is that these ideologies are often treated as acceptable alternatives to clear biblical teachings.
Updated (02-23-22) For example, many leaders will strongly affirm their adherence to the Church of the Nazarene's statement on human sexuality. What they will not do publicly is affirm that those who practice homosexuality will not inherit eternal life. For so many in our Nazarene Seminary, the issue of practicing homosexuality is a denominational issue to be addressed much like we address Calvinism vs Arminianism. We hold to a stance, but acknowledge that you can be a Christian, within the "big tent", and take a position that is contrary to the clear teachings of Scripture. In other words, while they will publicly declare their adherence to a Manual statement, they often do not privately agree with it.
3. Other Seminary Staff:
There are also other members of the staff at NTS who identify as homosexual. There are some who were removed from the ordination process because of their beliefs/lifestyles. Some simply no longer adhered to the doctrine and ethic of the Church of the Nazarene so they walked away. Yet they are/were still employed by our Seminary despite their contradictory lifestyles and doctrinal positions. (Update 02-22-22: One such employee referred to in the previous paragraph was fired after refusing to resign.)
It would seem that more people are identifying as homosexual than are being entirely sanctified in the flagship seminary of the Church of the Nazarene.
4. Getting Rid of "Hell"
I must admit that I don't think this is a problem peculiar to our Nazarene Seminary in Kansas City. However there is a culturally based movement to get rid the idea of "Hell." It is not palatable to our modern sensibilities. It would appear that some of the professors and leadership of our seminary are aiding this influence in the Church of the Nazarene by proposing that we eliminate the negative idea of "Hell" in our articles of Faith. The idea is that a "loving" God could never punish someone for eternity in Hell. Do we believe all of the Bible is allegory now? Did Jesus literally die and rise again? Is Heaven real? (Ever notice how people want to disregard Hell, but not necessarily Heaven?)
4. Getting Rid of "Hell"
I must admit that I don't think this is a problem peculiar to our Nazarene Seminary in Kansas City. However there is a culturally based movement to get rid the idea of "Hell." It is not palatable to our modern sensibilities. It would appear that some of the professors and leadership of our seminary are aiding this influence in the Church of the Nazarene by proposing that we eliminate the negative idea of "Hell" in our articles of Faith. The idea is that a "loving" God could never punish someone for eternity in Hell. Do we believe all of the Bible is allegory now? Did Jesus literally die and rise again? Is Heaven real? (Ever notice how people want to disregard Hell, but not necessarily Heaven?)
There is a trend away from Biblical authority in this move.
5. The Main Issue:
How can our flagship seminary allow our future ministers to be instructed by professors, some of which are unabashedly pro-homosexual? Their theological and biblical ability must be questioned on all fronts if they have come to the conclusion that people who are living actively in homosexual lifestyles are approved and encouraged by God (including their ordination). This taints their whole hermeneutic and leaves every theological conclusion they come to in question.
This is not a random post that has been done in the "spur of the moment." I have personally called and spoken with Dr. Jeren Rowell as well as other various other interactions with staff and personnel from the school. I have spoken with current and former students and staff. I have prayed for this institution (as I continue to do). Churches I have pastored have received offerings to support the work of the Seminary. A small portion of the World Evangelism Fund is given to the seminary annually and as a local church pastor, I have worked to always support the work of the Church of the Nazarene around the world through payment of the World Evangelism Fund. I love the Church of the Nazarene. I now deal with discouragement because of what is happening at the place where many of our missionaries, pastors, and denominational leaders are being trained.
Some of the excuses for not acting on the situations above include a myriad of reasons. Some include a supposed inability to take the appropriate action. Hands are "tied" to be able to "fire" personnel or cancel "legal" contracts. This represents a legal snare that is, in reality, impotence of leadership or an unwillingness to act.
6. What is your response?
Some people have become "institutionalized." They will automatically defend the institution no matter what. It might come from a sense of loyalty to the organization or the social structure. Like me, they care deeply about the denomination they are part of, but will refuse to see any wrong in what is written above.
They will accept the "scripted" answers from some people in hierarchy. "We believe in the articles of faith and the statement on sexuality from the Church of the Nazarene's Manual." It is a painful thing to come to terms with the fact that the institution you love has divorced it's original mission and spiritual DNA.
If you address these issues you will probably receive responses that sound something like this: "We need to be willing to have difficult conversations." "Discussions that involve varying viewpoints are always had at graduate level theological institutions of higher learning." "Our denomination is a big tent that is representative of many people from differing perspectives." "You are harming the unity of the church." These excuses, at the end of the day, simply do not hold up to Biblical imperatives and standards. Our polity can be manipulated to become a smoke screen for agendas of worldly ideologies pushing for change. Real Christian unity is always "unity in Christ". That is, division is created in the body when people reject the truth of Christ.
Let me propose a course of action...
1. Pray. No, seriously, stop and pray. This information may be new to you and has a tendency to evoke anger. This is a temptation. Spend some time sincerely praying for Nazarene Theological Seminary. If you are not willing to pray, I would ask that you not do anything. After praying...
Many pastors and denominational leaders are fatigued with the conflict. Many will not act because they just long for harmony and unity within the church. I understand the fatigue. I too, long for harmony and focus on the mission of Christ and the promotion of full salvation & holiness again. I too, am tired of the incessant push by some toward a cultural agenda which normalizes sin and diminishes the need for real evangelism. I too, wish to be focused on being fruitful in the harvest.
How can our flagship seminary allow our future ministers to be instructed by professors, some of which are unabashedly pro-homosexual? Their theological and biblical ability must be questioned on all fronts if they have come to the conclusion that people who are living actively in homosexual lifestyles are approved and encouraged by God (including their ordination). This taints their whole hermeneutic and leaves every theological conclusion they come to in question.
This is not a random post that has been done in the "spur of the moment." I have personally called and spoken with Dr. Jeren Rowell as well as other various other interactions with staff and personnel from the school. I have spoken with current and former students and staff. I have prayed for this institution (as I continue to do). Churches I have pastored have received offerings to support the work of the Seminary. A small portion of the World Evangelism Fund is given to the seminary annually and as a local church pastor, I have worked to always support the work of the Church of the Nazarene around the world through payment of the World Evangelism Fund. I love the Church of the Nazarene. I now deal with discouragement because of what is happening at the place where many of our missionaries, pastors, and denominational leaders are being trained.
Some of the excuses for not acting on the situations above include a myriad of reasons. Some include a supposed inability to take the appropriate action. Hands are "tied" to be able to "fire" personnel or cancel "legal" contracts. This represents a legal snare that is, in reality, impotence of leadership or an unwillingness to act.
6. What is your response?
Some people have become "institutionalized." They will automatically defend the institution no matter what. It might come from a sense of loyalty to the organization or the social structure. Like me, they care deeply about the denomination they are part of, but will refuse to see any wrong in what is written above.
They will accept the "scripted" answers from some people in hierarchy. "We believe in the articles of faith and the statement on sexuality from the Church of the Nazarene's Manual." It is a painful thing to come to terms with the fact that the institution you love has divorced it's original mission and spiritual DNA.
If you address these issues you will probably receive responses that sound something like this: "We need to be willing to have difficult conversations." "Discussions that involve varying viewpoints are always had at graduate level theological institutions of higher learning." "Our denomination is a big tent that is representative of many people from differing perspectives." "You are harming the unity of the church." These excuses, at the end of the day, simply do not hold up to Biblical imperatives and standards. Our polity can be manipulated to become a smoke screen for agendas of worldly ideologies pushing for change. Real Christian unity is always "unity in Christ". That is, division is created in the body when people reject the truth of Christ.
Let me propose a course of action...
1. Pray. No, seriously, stop and pray. This information may be new to you and has a tendency to evoke anger. This is a temptation. Spend some time sincerely praying for Nazarene Theological Seminary. If you are not willing to pray, I would ask that you not do anything. After praying...
2. Call, e-mail, and/or visit the Seminary. Express your concern with boldness but make sure your speech is seasoned with grace. Do not be dissuaded in your resolve for measurable action to be taken. Do not dilute your concern by using angry rhetoric. Do not attempt to be a bully, but do not be distracted by flowery rhetoric.
3. Act. Prayerfully consider what future actions to take if our seminary continues to persist in actions that undermine Biblical truth and the historic teachings of the church. Acting consistently with grace and firmness is important. Should you stop supporting this institution financially? Should you stop referring students? Those questions need to be answered in light of much prayer and contact with the seminary leadership. (Please do not take such action based solely upon reading a blog. Prayer and personal communication with someone or multiple people at the seminary is essential before taking further action.)
4. Stand up for Truth and Grace. Do not accept the temptation to either ignore Biblical truth or become an "angry protestor." Lead in your local congregation or denominational position with integrity on these issues. Make sure it is clear to those around you about your adherence to Biblical morality as we outline in our stance on issues like Human Sexuality in the Church of the Nazarene.
This is quickly becoming a major issue on every level of the universal Church of Jesus Christ. The United Methodist church is preparing to split over the same issue and countless other denominations have suffered the division that comes from people rejecting Biblical morality in favor of cultural and philosophical idols. Be faithful to God's Word. He hasn't changed His mind. Neither should we.
This is quickly becoming a major issue on every level of the universal Church of Jesus Christ. The United Methodist church is preparing to split over the same issue and countless other denominations have suffered the division that comes from people rejecting Biblical morality in favor of cultural and philosophical idols. Be faithful to God's Word. He hasn't changed His mind. Neither should we.
Many pastors and denominational leaders are fatigued with the conflict. Many will not act because they just long for harmony and unity within the church. I understand the fatigue. I too, long for harmony and focus on the mission of Christ and the promotion of full salvation & holiness again. I too, am tired of the incessant push by some toward a cultural agenda which normalizes sin and diminishes the need for real evangelism. I too, wish to be focused on being fruitful in the harvest.
There is an incessant push from the world for the church to adhere to it's morality rather than Biblical morality. Some leaders are afraid of the conflict. They know that standing against something is unpopular and costly (personally, emotionally, financially, etc). My prayer, and please don't read sarcasm here, is that they would develop a back bone. Uncle Bud Robinson, a Nazarene Evangelist, said: "Oh Lord, give me a backbone as big as a saw log, ribs like the sleepers under the church floor, put iron shoes on me and galvanized breeches, give me a rhinoceros hide for a skin, and hang a wagonload of determination up in the gable-end of my soul, and help me to sign the contract to fight the devil as long as I've got a fist and bite him as long as I have a tooth, then gum him till I die. All this I ask for Christ's sake. Amen."
See also: "Why I Like the Church of the Nazarene"
