Thousands of Nazarenes will gather in Kansas City, Missouri, for the 31st General Assembly and Conventions in just a year’s time. Held 25 June – 2 July 2027, the quadrennial gathering serves as a celebration of what God is doing, discerning God’s direction and conducting business.
The activities of the 31st General Assembly and Conventions will happen around the theme of “In Jesus’ Name.”
In preparation for the 31st General Assembly and Conventions, the Board of General Superintendents gathered to discuss the theme and determined it was important to emphasize why the Church of the Nazarene exists as a denomination. Gustavo Crocker said that the Board of General Superintendents acknowledged that the church exists primarily to elevate the name of Jesus.
“We gather in communion, in remembrance of him, in the name of Jesus,” Crocker said. “We baptize people in the name of Jesus. We face strongholds in the name of Jesus. We decided as we move forward as a denomination for the next generation, we want everybody to remember that we exist in the name of Jesus, and we work in the name of Jesus,” Crocker said.
Nazarenes in attendance will see how the theme is woven into the services and business in a variety of ways. While in the past, services may have had a specific ministry or regional focus, the 31st General Assembly and Conventions services will highlight the work of Jesus through the various ministries of the church.
“We’re going to highlight the purpose of the denomination,” Crocker said. “We’re going to say, ‘ministries and regions are doing the work in Jesus’ name.'”
The service themes will inspire attendees about the way in which The Church of the Nazarene is sent, saved, set apart, transformed, united, and empowered in Jesus’ name.
In addition to the six corporate worship services, the local church ministries’ conventions will feature something entirely new. In the past, Nazarene Discipleship International (NDI), Nazarene Missions International (NMI), and Nazarene Youth International (NYI) would open and close their respective conventions in separate services. Instead, NDI, NMI, and NYI have decided to open and close their conventions in joint services.
“When you go to the average church, when you enter to the typical congregation, you see the church as a whole,” Crocker said. “They (NDI, NMI, NYI) said, ‘While we conduct business by virtue of our designation, our own legislation, as a body we are one.'”
The conventions’ opening service will be a celebration of the local church, and the closing service will celebrate the unity and diversity of the respective groups. Both services will be open to any attendees.
General Assembly is the “supreme doctrine-formulating, lawmaking, and elective authority of the Church of the Nazarene” (Manual, 300). The assembly, conventions (Nazarene Discipleship International, Nazarene Missions International, Nazarene Youth International), and additional activities bring Nazarenes from every world region together for a time of business, celebration, and worship.
For more information on the 31st General Assembly and Conventions, click here.