Latest news with #Nazarene
Washington Post
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Faith leaders rally to support immigrants facing deportation in Southern California
SANTA ANA, Calif. — Outside a Southern California immigration court, the Rev. Oona Casanova Vazquez sat beside a nervous Peruvian national as he waited for a judge to call his name — talking, smiling, even handing him a mint. Vazquez, lead pastor of the South Bay Church of the Nazarene in Torrance, has been spending her Thursdays this summer with other faith leaders and church volunteers observing court proceedings and handing out leaflets about the Trump administration's immigration enforcement.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nazarene denomination sues breakaway congregation
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – A court battle broke out this week after a Nazarene congregation voted to 'spiritually disaffiliate' from the Nazarene denomination. The Oklahoman first reported that the congregation of what was Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene is now called OKC First. The church is located near 4400 NW Expressway. The report detailed that 98% of the congregation that was there during an April special meeting voted to spiritually disaffiliate. The reason for that disaffiliation, according to members, was that the denomination was pressuring them to be less welcoming to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Cleveland County Sheriff says no layoffs needed despite lower budget approval The OKC First Reverand Jon Middendorf posted a letter after the vote that read in part: 'As you may know, OKC First has been spiritually aligned with the Church of the Nazarene for many years. We have enjoyed a shared fellowship and collaborated in ministry, and each of us has benefited from the other's wisdom and friendship. Recently, however, things have changed. In particular, our insistence that God's love is inclusive and welcomes all who seek His grace, and the Church of the Nazarene's opposition to our position, has made it abundantly clear that we must part ways.' 'We were not willing to sacrifice any part of our community to retain a relationship with the denomination,' said Eric Jergensen, Secretary of the Board. Jergensen said that it wasn't an easy decision, but they discussed with just about everyone within the church and outside the church and felt it was the right thing to do. 'People just have a sense of home in that building, and we would not like to lose that,' said Jergensen. The last week of May, the Oklahoma District, Church of the Nazarene, filed a lawsuit against OKC First that claimed the district should get possession of the church's building and property. It's a 196-page suit that includes the Nazarene manual/guidelines in which the district explains it gets ownership of all church properties in the event of disaffiliation. However, OKC First filed an objection this week, including the deed to the actual property. In court documents, they argued, '..the deed makes no mention of or reference to any entity other than OKC First.' Jergensen said that they don't necessarily need the physical building in order to conduct worship, but that it's needed for them to stay in the community. 'We have connections to that neighborhood,' said Jergensen. They work alongside other non-profits in that area that feed the hungry, help find housing for the homeless, and perform many other services. 'We have relationships with those people. We have relationships with the children in that community who come to our after-school program. Those things would be really hard to keep if we weren't in that building,' said Jergensen. News 4 reached out to the district and asked for a response to why the lawsuit is needed. It is with a measure of sadness and deep reflection that we acknowledge the expressed desire of First Church of the Nazarene, Oklahoma City, to disaffiliate from the Church of the Nazarene denomination. For eighty-eight (88) years, First Church of the Nazarene, Oklahoma City, has been a valued part of our denominational family, sharing in our common mission, theological heritage, and commitment to serving God and neighbor. We honor the faithful ministry and dedicated members who have made significant contributions to both the local community and the broader denomination. As a denomination, our polity and trust clauses regarding church property are foundational to our collective work and mission. These provisions, established through a democratic and prayerful process over many years, ensure that church properties are held in trust for the furtherance of the denomination's mission objectives. This structure safeguards the long-term ministry of the church, extending beyond any single congregation or generation, ensuring that resources remain dedicated to the kingdom of God as understood by our shared covenant. We understand that discussions around disaffiliation can be complex and emotionally challenging. Our primary concern remains the spiritual well-being of all members, both within First Church of the Nazarene, Oklahoma City and across our entire denominational family. We are committed to an orderly and transparent process, guided by our established denominational policies and procedures, which are designed to address such matters with fairness and integrity for all parties involved. We extend an invitation for continued dialogue with the leadership of First Church of the Nazarene, Oklahoma City as we seek to navigate this period. Our hope is always for reconciliation and for the flourishing of Christ's church in all its expressions. We pray for wisdom, grace, and discernment for everyone involved during this time of transition. We remain steadfast in our commitment to our calling: to make Christlike disciples in the nation and around the world. We will continue to support and nurture our congregations across Oklahoma as they faithfully live out our shared Christian witness. Oklahoma District Church of the Nazarene Assistant District Superintendent Rev. Dorothy Whipp Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Passing pastor likely saved couple from fire, family says
David and Kim Cline escaped injury when their Lebanon home and garage caught fire Sunday morning, but the house and everything in it are likely a total loss, family said. Aaron Cline said a passerby probably saved his father and stepmother's lives. 'There was a Nazarene pastor driving by, but this wasn't the road he usually takes,' Aaron said. 'At first he thought he drove through fog, but he smelled the smoke and came back. Then he saw the glow at the back of the house. 'He pounded on the doors. No one answered, and he did what he had to do and went inside and made sure everybody was getting out.' Aaron was sorry he didn't get the man's name in all the chaos that followed. But he's certain his being there at the right time was God's doing. 'I don't see how you could argue against it,' he said. 'After seeing the inside of the house, yeah, he was there for a reason.' Flames began in a detached garage and moved to the house, Aaron said. A carport collapsed and siding melted off the east side of the house. The exterior didn't look like the house suffered devastating damage. But it got so hot inside that the couple's belongings melted. 'We were trying to get things out of my dad's bedroom,' Aaron said. 'There was no actual fire in there, but when we were taking stuff out, it was so hot as if the fire had gotten in.' Strangers showed up to help immediately. 'I talked to some people all of five minutes yesterday,' Aaron said Monday morning. 'They drove away and 25 minutes later came back with a $100 store gift card. It's humbling, but I think that kind of shows you what a small town is all about.' Aaron and his siblings and step-siblings were keeping an eye on the house Monday, and staying with their parents when an insurance adjuster came. They wanted to take some pressure off the couple. Lebanon Fire Department Capt. Matt Young was still wrapping up his investigation Monday afternoon. He said the fire likely began in the garage and was not suspicious in nature. But his official statement was to come after press time Monday. He said the house is likely a total loss because of fire and extensive heat and smoke damage. The Salvation Army of Boone County put the Clines up in a Whitestown motel on Sunday night. They don't know where they will stay long-term, Aaron said. He thinks they have enough clothing for the immediate future but said store gift cards would be immeasurably helpful. The couple's daughter-in-law, Suzanne Mace, set up a GoFundMe page with a goal of $3,000 to help the couple with daily expenses and housing costs in the interim. Search for 'Rebuilding lives after devastation fire' at to donate.
