Thoughts from DS Olivia
Many of us have just arrived home from the General Assembly and Conventions of the Church of the Nazarene. Typically this global event takes place every four years, but because of COVID it was postponed. After six years of being apart as a global church, it was good to be back together! It really is like a big family reunion. It also is a very important time for the business of our church to be done.
To refresh your memory, at our District Assembly and Conventions last year we elected delegates to represent us at these meetings. We were well represented by capable leaders at Nazarene Discipleship International, Nazarene Missions International, Nazarene Youth International, and the General Assembly. At General Assembly, we had the privilege of electing two new General Superintendents. In our church, we have six leaders that help to guide and shape our mission, ordain our clergy, and serve the church across 164 countries. We elected Rev. Dr. Scott Daniels and Rev. Dr. Christian Sarmiento. We also did the important work of amending and correcting the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene. It is an important process and was an honor to be a part of it. If you would like to watch any of the incredible services, you can stream them here!
While much of the time together was filled with incredible worship gatherings, powerful sermons from the General Superintendents, wonderful reunions with friends from around the world, and the business of the church there was also something very disappointing at work. I hesitate to bring attention to it but feel it is so important for us as the Upstate District to be alert to anything that would seek to divide or harm the church and the witness we have for Christ in the world. During the elections of our General Superintendents people were spreading lies about some of those receiving high votes. This was happening on social media, through blog posts, and even on the floor of the assembly as people were handing out flyers with disparaging comments to cause people to vote differently. We are better than this! We are holiness people who do not behave this way! We believe that Jesus is Lord and will guide and direct us by the Holy Spirit!
In a time where we are already so divided, I pray the church will be united and empowered by God to be who we are meant to be. So, can I encourage you? Don't join any groups on Facebook that are focused on bringing others down. Don't participate in spreading rumors, go to the person and ask if you have heard something that concerns you. Avoid blogs, videos, and groups that act as though they have the best truth, the secret knowledge, or the only way forward for the church. These things do not help us to cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit that we are leaning into this year together. If you are looking for good sources of information about our church, and the people within it, follow the Church of the Nazarene (Official) Facebook, the official pages for Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, NDI, NMI, and NYI. Stick with Nazarene News and our incredible magazine Holiness Today.
There are enough people out there trying to pull us apart. Let's be a model as a district of what it means to come together, even in our differences, to show the love of God
Pastor Olivia
| 
