ABILITY STATEMENTS
The Nazarene movement is committed to a high standard of educational preparation for its ministers. The goal for every Nazarene minister leading a healthy church is to develop certain abilities and capacities, categorized into four areas of preparation: Content, Competency, Character and Context. CONTENT covers the basic knowledge and perspective you will need in the areas of Bible, theology, doctrine, and church history. COMPETENCY develops you for the wide-variety of ministry responsibilities involving communication, evangelism, disciple-making, administration, critical thinking, pastoral care and counseling, leading in worship, etc. CHARACTER builds up the life of the minister in the areas of personal awareness and growth, ethics, and spiritual formation. CONTEXT shapes in the minister capacities to analyze, engage, and reach the local community with the gospel as you plant or lead a church through the cycle of resurgence.
The focus of our Nazarene educational preparation is called the “Course of Study." This is an array of studies and practicums that develop the range of abilities described above, with a focus in leading a healthy church or ministry. The Church of the Nazarene has approved multiple paths for completing the Course of Study. Our goal as a Board of Ministry is to assist you in gaining the best preparation you can for a lifetime of leading a healthy church!
CONTENT: 14 Ability Statements
OLD TESTAMENT
CN1 Ability to identify the literary structure, the theological concepts and main storyline of the Old Testament.
CN2 Ability to describe the historical and cultural contexts of the major sections of the Old Testament.
NEW TESTAMENT
CN3 Ability to identify the literary structure, theological concepts and main storyline of the New Testament.
CN4 Ability to describe the historical and cultural contexts of the New Testament including an ability to Biblically affirm pastoral leadership of men and women within the Church.
INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE
CN5 Ability to describe the development of the canon and the historical and theological influences resulting in contemporary translations.
CN6 Ability to exegete a passage of Scripture using contextual, literary, and theological analysis.
THEOLOGY (General)
CN7 Ability to articulate the Nazarene Articles of Faith.
CN8 Ability to demonstrate an understanding of theological reflection, including its sources, its historical development, and its Wesleyan contemporary expressions.
DOCTRINE OF HOLINESS
CN9 Ability to articulate the doctrine of holiness from a Wesleyan perspective.
CHURCH HISTORY
CN10 Ability to tell the story of Christian history and the development of creeds and major doctrines.
CN11 Ability to describe the mission and practice of the Church throughout its history.
THE HISTORY AND POLITY OF THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
CN12 Ability to identify the formative influences of the American Holiness Movement and the Church of the Nazarene.
CN13 Ability to identify and explain the significance of the major events, and male and female figures in the Church of the Nazarene.
CN14 Ability to identify the directives of the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene that pertain to the organization and ministry of the local, district, and general church.
COMPETENCY: 14 Ability Statements
(students select one of the five ministry emphasis listed below in CP-12 thru CP-22)
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
CP1 Ability to communicate publicly through multiple methods (oral, written, media, etc.) with clarity, and creativity, utilizing gender inclusive language.
MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP, FINANCE, AND CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
CP2 Ability to oversee ministry using management skills including servant leadership, conflict resolution, administration, and team building.
CP3 Ability to cultivate, cast, and strategically implement vision.
CP4 Ability to lead congregations in the biblical stewardship of life resources.
ANALYTICAL THINKING
CP5 Ability to reason logically for discernment, assessment, and problem solving.
CONGREGATIONAL CARE AND COUNSELING
CP6 Ability to provide pastoral and spiritual care for individuals and families, discerning when referral to professional counseling is required.
EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP
CP7 Ability to lead evangelistically through preaching, modeling and equipping others.
CP8 Ability to lead in discipling and assimilating new converts into the Church.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
CP9 Ability to describe and apply knowledge of human development in leading people to Christian maturity.
CP10 Ability to envision and implement Christian education in the local church.
WORSHIP
CP11 Ability to envision, order, and participate in contextualized, theologically grounded worship and to develop and lead appropriate services for special occasions (i.e. wedding, funeral, baptism, and Lord's Supper).
MINISTRY EMPHASIS (Preaching/Chaplain)
CP12 Ability to prepare, and deliver biblically sound sermons using appropriate techniques and skills demonstrating cultural sensitivity.
CP13 Ability to develop sermons in various forms (evangelistic, pastoral care, doctrinal teaching, lectionary, etc.).
CP14 Ability to assess the strengths and weaknesses of current homiletical models in light of enduring theological and contextual perspectives.
MINISTRY EMPHASIS (Christian Education/Children/Youth/Adults)
CP15 Ability to prepare and lead discipleship ministries that are biblically sound, age-appropriate, intergenerational, and culturally sensitive.
CP16 Ability to assess contemporary approaches to ministry in light of enduring theological and contextual perspectives.
MINISTRY EMPHASIS (Compassionate Ministry)
CP17 Ability to prepare and lead compassionate ministries that are biblically sound and culturally sensitive.
CP18 Ability to exegete a community utilizing a Wesleyan paradigm for hospitable engagement.
MINISTRY EMPHASIS (Music)
CP19 Ability to prepare and lead a music ministry that is biblically sound, utilizing appropriate techniques and skills demonstrating cultural sensitivity.
CP20 Ability to assess contemporary approaches to church music in light of enduring theological and contextual perspectives.
MINISTRY EMPHASIS (Administration)
CP21 Ability to manage and implement biblically sound church administration utilizing appropriate techniques and skills demonstrating cultural sensitivity.
CP22 Ability to assess and implement contemporary approaches to administration in light of enduring theological and contextual perspectives.
CHARACTER: 8 Ability Statements
CHRISTIAN ETHICS
CH1 Ability to apply theological and philosophical ethics to nurture faithful living in the Christian community.
CH2 Ability to discern and make ethical decisions in the midst of a complex and/or paradoxical context within a Wesleyan framework.
CH3 Ability to practice a moral pastoral leadership, informed by philosophical and theological ethics.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
CH4 Ability to pursue holy character (Christlikeness) by practicing faith formation and the classic Christian disciplines as means of grace.
CH5 Ability to locate, understand, and use resources for individual and corporate spiritual formation.
PERSON OF THE MINISTER
CH6 Ability to articulate his or her call from God to ministry as affirmed by the Church.
CH7 Ability to demonstrate a realistic self-understanding including personal strengths, gifts, weaknesses, and areas of needed growth.
CH8 Ability to practice holistic stewardship (mutual submission in gender relationships, sexual purity, marriage and family, personal finance, professional conduct, practicing Sabbath, etc.).
CONTEXT: 8 Ability Statements
ANTHROPOLOGY AND CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
CX1 Ability to understand, appreciate, and work sensitively with cultures and sub-cultures.
CX2 Ability to identify and apply the principles of cross-cultural communications.
CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
CX3 Ability to discern sociological dynamics, (including the power dynamics of gender, age and ethnicity) and to apply that information to specific ministry settings.
CX4 Ability to analyze and describe congregations and communities.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
CX5 Ability to place the ministry context in light of the large schemes of world and national history.
CX6 Ability to analyze and describe the ministry context in light of its local history.
MISSIONS
CX7 Ability to understand and articulate the biblical, historical, and theological bases for Christian mission.
CX8 Ability to describe basic missiological principles and to apply them to the development of ministry in the local church.
Do not be overwhelmed with these ability statements of content, competencies, character and context. You are on a journey that will take several years to complete, but you are not alone! There are dozens of ministers around you who are committed to helping you.
In consultation with trusted and well-informed advisors, make a plan for your journey through the Course of Study and write it down. Share this plan with your pastor or mentor and with your District Board of Ministry. Some Districts require a specific pathway with prescribed coursework, depending on your educational background. Be sure your plan meets the District’s guidelines as you continue your studies. Refer to this plan often and use it to mark your progress. Celebrate the milestones and remember that in your preparation you are answering the call to ministry.
GRADUATION AND BEYOND
A period of 10 years is allowed for the completion of the Course of Study. This period of time begins the date you are granted your first district license. In extenuating circumstances, a District Board of Ministry may approve a leave of absence and extend the time limit accordingly.
Once you have completed the Course of Study, your achievement will be recognized by action of the District Assembly to graduate you from the Course of Study. This action by the District Assembly is not to be confused with graduating with an academic degree. Nevertheless, being classified as a graduate of the Course of Study is an important milestone in the journey of your candidacy for ordination in that it certifies you have completed the basic educational preparation required.
With this recognition comes the responsibility of continuing to be an active learner. Of course, you do not have to wait until you complete the Course of Study before you look for and participate in lifelong learning opportunities. The sooner you develop the habit, the better. In fact, from this point forward you are to complete at least 20 lifelong learning hours each year and to report your learning activity annually to your District Assembly. For annual reporting, every minister is required to establish an account on the Lifelong Learning Registry.