Church of the Nazarene

Church of the Nazarene năzˌərēnˈ [key], U.S. Protestant denomination established in 1908 through the union of the Church of the Nazarene, based in California; the Association of Pentecostal Churches, a New England group; and the Holiness Church of Christ, whose origin was mainly in the Southwest. An evangelical group, the Nazarenes believe in John Wesley's doctrine of entire sanctification. Local churches are autonomous in matters of worship and evangelism, but a representative body maintains Sunday schools, Bible colleges, publishing enterprises, and other activities. The church has about 630,000 members in the United States and Canada (1997).

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Protestant Denominations