General Assembly Resolution: Tongues

 

In June of 2027, the Church of the Nazarene will be conducting its General Assembly.  The General Assembly is the supreme doctrine-formulating, lawmaking, and elective authority of the Church of the Nazarene. During past quadrenniums, I have presented to my district delegation, and through them to the General Assembly, a number of resolutions.  Some of them have passed and impacted the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene.  Some were amended.  Others were rejected. 

This year I have presented nine resolutions to my district delegation.  -  If you are a district superintendent or a delegate from another district, I would draw your attention to these and hope you might consider supporting them.  If you are not a ds or delegate, but you know a ds or delegate from a district other than SWID, please consider sharing these resolutions with your superintendent and/or delegates.

Note: Strikedthrough words are to be deleted from the current Manual. Underlined words are to be added to the current Manual. 

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  926. Evidence of Baptism with the Holy Spirit . . .

  To affirm that even a special or any alleged physical evidence, or “prayer language,” is evidence of the baptism with the Spirit is contrary to the biblical and historic position of the Church. The biblical and historic position of the Church of the Nazarene is that the true gift of tongues is a missionary gift to clearly spread the gospel to those who speak in other human languages, as is demonstrated in Acts 2, 10, and 19. We do not believe that speaking in unknown tongues is the evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit. 

 

FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

1. This addition is reflective of the consistent statements from the board of general superintendents throughout the history of the denomination. 

 2. It has become clear that neo-Pentecostal views, contrary to our biblical and historic views, are finding inroads into the Church of the Nazarene in various parts of the world.

3. While clear statements have been made by the board of general superintendents, it is time that the Manual include a clear statement concerning the nature of the biblical gift of tongues.  -  This addition provides such a statement.