Nazarene Theological Seminary

October 24-26, NTS hosted an education dialogue attended by nearly 60 pastors and lay leaders-individuals from different generations and varied geographical areas (12 states in six of eight educational zones in the U.S. represented).

The reason for the conference was to “make space” for a conversation that is taking place in churches and communities across the country—around the world. “There is a sense that something is changing,” shared Dr. Keith Schwanz, Assistant Dean and Director of the NTS Center for Lifelong Learning. “Experienced pastors recognize that things are different when compared with their start in ministry. Women and men entering pastoral ministry struggle to function in a church culture which seems out-of-sync with their identity as the first postmodern generation. People in both of these groups have found helpful insights in the emerging church conversation. Through this dialogue and others that we are planning at NTS, it is our intent to provide a venue where people can explore important issues facing the church.”

The emerging church is a broad term which describes those who are exploring what it means to be the church in a postmodern culture. For more than a year now, NTS has been in dialogue with denominational leaders on the subject. Through the NTS Center for Lifelong Learning, a group of Nazarene pastors, professors, and denominational leaders are involved in online emergent discussions with the intent of producing a book. This dialogue is exploring such issues as Christology and what it means to be incarnational in our culture.

Nine different presenters helped to facilitate discussion among participants, and time was given for small group discussion as well. The final session before the closing chapel was a “Generational Dialogue” between Dr. Jess Middendorf, General Superintendent, and his son, Rev. Jon Middendorf, Senior Associate Pastor at Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene. Feedback received from participants indicates that this dialogue is taking place everywhere and that it is very important—a few comments from participants are shared below.

From Rev. Jeremy Scott, Pastor, North Street Community Chapel (Hingham, MA)
“I am very appreciative that this conversation was initiated by NTS. Beyond the emergent discussion, the Church needs to be in constant dialogue about what it means to be the presence of Christ on earth; pastors need to be in constant reassessment of what it looks like to lead the people of God with cultural and societal considerations; all followers of Christ need to think and talk passionately about what it means to be citizens in the present Kingdom of God.”

From Dr. Dean Blevins, NTS Professor of Christian Education:
“This conference signals a shift in ways that we will see churches, new and old, engaged with society for the sake of the Gospel. I think we are seeing a movement that will place positive pressure on the way we conceive and implement ministry in the future. The good news is that it is a movement that really wants to participate with what God can do in our world."

From Rev. Christa Klosterman, Pastor Nicholasville (KY) Church of the Nazarene:
“I’m excited about how this dialogue seems to center around the strong desire to truly embody/live out our faith. Nazarenes are taking this call to discipleship in a postmodern context seriously—in both word and action—in their relationship with the world around them.”

From Dr. Jay Akkerman, Professor of Pastoral Theology, NW Nazarene University:
“I am convinced that postmodernism is not merely a generational hiccup but a cultural shift with long-term global and spiritual implications. To me, this underscores the importance of entering into intentional dialogue. I believe our Wesleyan-Holiness vantage point positions us particularly well in this respect. Likewise, I am encouraged by the creativity that is welling up from within our tradition as we seek to engage the culture in meaningful ways, and also to help us realize how we Christians have been shaped unconsciously by the modern world, too.”