400

The Church of the Nazarene, from its inception, has been committed to higher education. The church provides the college/university with students, administrative and faculty leadership, and financial and spiritual support. The college/university educates the church’s youth and many of the church’s adults, guides them toward spiritual maturity, enriches the church, and sends out into the world thinking, loving servants of Christ. The church college/university, while not a local congregation, is an integral part of the church; it is an expression of the church.

The Church of the Nazarene believes in the value and the dignity of human life and the need for providing an environment in which people can be redeemed and enriched spiritually, intellectually, and physically, “made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work” (2 Timothy 2:21). The primary task and traditional expressions of local church activity—evangelism, religious education, compassionate ministries, and services of worship—exemplify the church’s love for God and concern for people.

At the local church level, the Christian education of youth and adults at various stages of human development intensifies the effectiveness of the gospel. Congregations may incorporate within their objectives and function childcare/school educational programs at any or all levels, from birth through secondary. At the general church level, the historic practice of providing institutions for higher education or ministerial preparation will be maintained. Wherever such institutions are operated, they shall function within the philosophical and theological framework of the Church of the Nazarene as established by the General Assembly and expressed through the Manual.

400.1

Educational Mission Statement. Education in the Church of the Nazarene, rooted in the biblical and theological commitments of the Wesleyan and holiness movements and accountable to the stated mission of the denomination, aims to guide those who look to it in accepting, in nurturing, and in expressing in service to the church and world consistent and coherent Christian understandings of social and individual life. Additionally, such institutions of higher education will seek to provide a curriculum, quality of instruction, and evidence of scholastic achievement that will adequately prepare graduates to function effectively in vocations and professions such graduates may choose.

400.2

General Assembly authorization, upon the recommendation of the International Board of Education, is required to establish degree granting institutions.

Authorization for the development or change of status of existing institutions may be granted by the General Board upon recommendation of the International Board of Education.

No local church or combination of churches, or persons representing a local church or group of churches, may establish or sponsor a post-secondary level or ministerial preparatory institution on behalf of the church, except upon the recommendation of the International Board of Education.

401

There shall be a Global Nazarene Education Consortium composed of the president, principal, rector, or director (or his/her designated representative) of each International Board of Education institution of the Church of the Nazarene, regional education coordinators, education commissioner, Global Mission office director, and general superintendent in jurisdiction for the International Board of Education.

402

The International Board of Education shall be the general church advocate for educational institutions in the Church of the Nazarene.

This board shall be composed of twelve members: eight elected by the General Board, plus these members ex-officio: two education representatives on the General Board, Global Mission office director, Global Clergy Development director, and education commissioner. A Nominating Committee composed of the education commissioner, Global Mission office director, two education representatives on the General Board, and general superintendents in jurisdiction for the International Board of Education and Global Mission office shall present eight nominees approved by the Board of General Superintendents to the General Board for election.

In an effort to insure broad representation throughout the church, the Nominating Committee shall submit nominees as follows: one regional education coordinator; three laypersons; two assigned ordained ministers from Global Mission regions where no person who is an education coordinator has been nominated; two “at large” nominees. No Global Mission region shall have more than one elected member on the IBOE until each region has a representative.

Throughout the nominating and election process, attention shall be given to the election of persons with cross-cultural perspective and/or experience as educators.
The functions of the International Board of Education are to:

402.1

Insure that institutions are under legal control of their respective governing boards whose constitutions and bylaws shall conform to their respective charters or articles of incorporation and that shall be in harmony with the guidelines set by the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene.

402.2

Insure that members of governing boards of Nazarene institutions shall be members of the Church of the Nazarene in good standing. They are to be in full accord with the Articles of Faith, including the doctrine of entire sanctification and the usages of the Church of the Nazarene as set forth in the Manual of the church. Insofar as possible, the membership of the higher education boards of control shall have an equal number of ministers and laity.

402.3

Receive such funds as may be contributed for educational purposes through gifts, bequests, and donations, and shall annually recommend allocations from these funds to each educational institution in accordance with policy adopted by the General Board. Institutions shall not continue to receive regular support unless their education standards, plan of organization, and financial reports are filed with the International Board of Education.

402.4

Receive and deal appropriately with a yearly report from the education commissioner summarizing the following information from all International Board of Education institutions: (1) annual statistical report, (2) annual audit report, and (3) annual fiscal budgets for the upcoming year.

402.5

Recommend and provide support and advocacy, although its role is advisory to the institutions, to the Board of General Superintendents and to the General Board.