509

The elder or licensed minister who is an evangelist is one devoted to traveling and preaching the gospel, and who is authorized by the church to promote revivals and to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ abroad in the land. The Church of the Nazarene recognizes three levels of itinerant evangelism to which a district assembly may assign ministers: registered evangelist, commissioned evangelist, and tenured evangelist. An evangelist who dedicates time to evangelism, outside his or her local church as his or her primary assignment and who does not sustain a retired relationship with the church or any of its departments or institutions, shall be an assigned minister.

509.1

A registered evangelist is an elder, or a district licensed minister, who has indicated a desire to pursue evangelism as his or her primary ministry. Such registration shall be for one year. Renewal by subsequent district assemblies shall be granted on both the quality and quantity of work in evangelism in the year prior to the assembly.

509.2

A commissioned evangelist is an elder who has met all the requirements of a registered evangelist for two complete years. The commission is for one year and may be renewed by subsequent district assemblies for one who continues to meet the requirements.

509.3

A tenured evangelist is an elder who has met all the requirements of a commissioned evangelist for four complete and consecutive years immediately prior to application for tenured evangelist status, and has been recommended by the District Ministerial Credentials Board and approved by the Committee on the Interests of the God-Called Evangelist and the Board of General Superintendents. This role designation shall continue until such time as the evangelist no longer meets the requirements of a commissioned evangelist, or until he or she is granted retired status. (228.2, 534)

509.4

A regular self-assessment and review similar to the church/pastoral review shall be conducted by the evangelist and district superintendent together at least every four years after the election to the tenured role. The district superintendent shall be responsible for scheduling and conducting the meeting. This meeting shall be scheduled in consultation with the evangelist. Upon completion of the review, a report of the results shall be forwarded to the Committee on the Interests of the God-Called Evangelist to evaluate qualification requirements for continued approval. (208.20)

509.5

An elder or licensed minister who sustains a retired relationship with the church or any of its departments, and who wishes to perform a ministerial function through revivals or evangelistic meetings, may receive certification for “retired evangelism service.” Such certification shall be for one year, shall be voted by the district assembly upon recommendation by the district superintendent, and may be renewed by subsequent district assemblies on the basis of actual work in evangelism in the year prior to the assembly.

509.6

An elder or licensed minister desiring to enter the field of evangelism between district assemblies may be recognized by the general office of Global Clergy Development upon recommendation of the district superintendent. The registration or commission shall be voted by the district assembly upon recommendation by the district superintendent.

509.7

Guidelines and procedures for certification of evangelists’ roles will be contained in the Sourcebook on Ordination.