LOVING NAZARENES

her parents … told her to leave home and not return until she “straightened herself out.” With nowhere to go, Karen ended up on the streets, surviving through theft and, eventually, prostitution.

I cannot get around this idea that a certain way of interpreting the Bible is carrying more weight than the sanctifying power of God.

By: Laurie J. Braaten How do we form a Christian view on an issue?  Some would say it’s by finding Bible verses that speak to or settle the question. But does this always work? What is the biblical view on divorce? On slavery? On women as ordained lead pastors? Does it bother us that many…

By: Joe Ness The Wesleyan tradition I grew up and was educated in accepts the authority of scripture but humbly subjects interpretations to the filters of reason (does this make logical sense?), tradition (is it consistent with the historical tenets of the faith, embodied in the creeds?), and experience (is there evidence for this in…

By: Anonymous I grew up in a charismatic, Evangelical space that was very traditional in its views on sexuality and gender. I never questioned this, and acquaintance with conservative Evangelical scholarship only enforced those teachings with theological and biblical rigor. Yet, over the past few years, I have deconstructed my views on sexuality. Now, being…

by: Samuel M Powell For a somewhat longer version of this post, go to: Call for Dialog (samuelmpowell.com) As some of you may know, Tom Oord, Director of the Center for Open and Relational Theology, faces a trial this week. The charges against him, brought by two ordained ministers in the Church of the Nazarene, are…

By Adam Watkins The Hymn Refrain:I am the church!You are the church!We are the church together!All who follow Jesus,all around the world!Yes, we’re the church together! The church is not a building,the church is not a steeple,the church is not a resting place,the church is a people. Refrain We’re many kinds of people,with many kinds…