On February 26, 2007, an historic action was taken by the General Board that, while unnoticed by the world at large, is destined to touch the soul of the church! That action was the adoption of the following resolutions into our collective church life:

1. “We, the UCME (United States/Canada Mission Evangelism) Committee of the General Board of the Church of the Nazarene, believing that expressing the compassion of Jesus in practical ways to the marginalized of our society is central to the gospel and integral to the making of disciples, do hereby ask UCME to begin discussion with appropriate bodies to help us find ways to encourage all our people and churches in USA/Canada to embark on ministries of practical compassion to the poor, widows, orphans, addicted, imprisoned, immigrants, or otherwise marginalized in their communities as God directs. We believe that taking the fragrance of Jesus through deeds of mercy to persons in need will ease their pain, deepen our discipleship, and bring Glory to our Lord.

2. On motion we would also encourage the Board of General Superintendents to incorporate the call to compassionate works of mercy as a vital dimension of holiness as a core value of the church.”

The goal of this action is to facilitate widespread Christ-like discipleship that achieves integration of evangelism and compassionate works of mercy for persons in poverty and the “lepers” of our day-those who are marginalized for whatever reason. Christ-like discipleship will allow the church to be all God needs her to be in our day.

The foundation of the action is biblical, historical, and theological truth. The Father’s tender heart for the hurting is expressed repeatedly throughout the Old Testament. Jesus’ genuine compassion for them is poignantly described in the gospels. Historically and theologically, the Way of compassionate discipleship is modeled from the earliest Christians to Wesley, revivalists such as Jonathan Edwards, and our own Phineas Bresee.

This is not a renewal of the social gospel of the last century, a works gospel, or a humanitarian effort. Nor is it intended to reduce or replace vital works of personal piety such as studying the Word, prayer and fasting. It is simply living out who we are!

We Nazarenes are a compassionate people, it’s in our DNA. Practical compassion is not only missional, it’s at the heart of holiness and the core of Christ-likeness.

For many of us, however, the rush and busyness of today’s world have pre-empted this indispensable component of discipleship. The world of the middle class and the world of the poor and marginalized don’t normally intersect, so a chasm opens and gradually widens between the two worlds. As a result, while there is genuine love for God and the church, practical compassion to the poor and marginalized often doesn’t make it onto our everyday agendas or the agendas of our local churches. Reengagement can bridge that chasm. Praise God!

The unity longed for is not organizational or programmatic, it is personal. It must not be fueled by human charisma and leadership, but by Jesus Himself empowering us to take His love to our neighborhood worlds in practical ways. The main concern is that this venture not be perceived as a program, however good and logical that might be. Our prayer is that God will renew in us a deep compassion for the hurting, lost people in our midst; that a God-given burning compassion to ease their hurts and introduce them to Jesus will so overtake us that we will be “thrust out” into our neighborhoods to interact with them, understand their hurts and bind up their physical and spiritual wounds in Jesus’ love.

Oliver Phillips, Mission Strategy US/Canada Director, has appointed a “Blue Ribbon Commission” to recommend ways to facilitate this reengagement. The Commission is asking for input from Nazarenes across USA/Canada, and around the world. Please send your ideas, thoughts and recommendations to the Commission at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

by Jim Couchenour
General Board Member