Nazarene Theological Seminary

October 1-9, 2008, Nazarene Theological Seminary’s celebration of the Church of the Nazarene’s 100th birthday began on October 1 with Dr. Harold Raser, Professor of the History of Christianity, and Dr. Stan Ingersol, director of Archives at the Global Ministry Center, who led a forum on the role of NTS in the history of the denomination. Dr. Raser stated that one area of NTS’ influence was that it “had a significant role in the ‘renaissance’ of Wesley studies in the church. Beginning in the late 1960s especially, NTS became a center of teaching and learning about John Wesley and the broader Wesleyan tradition.” Dr. Raser is the author of More Preachers and Better Preachers: The First Fifty Years of Nazarene Theological Seminary (Nazarene Publishing House, 1995).

On October 2, Dr. Keith Schwanz, Assistant Dean and Instructor in Church Music, led a chapel service in which those gathered sang traditional songs known to most Nazarenes. The Church of the Nazarene has had four official hymnals with 210 hymns common to all four. Songs were sung in NTS’ chapel from this “core hymnal.” Between songs, Dr. Schwanz told stories about the song writers and described the context in which some of the songs were written. One student commented that when singing “I Will Praise Him” he felt as if he was back in the church building he attended as a child, even remembering where people sat, and the smell of the room.

Additionally, the annual faculty retreat, October 4-5, included time to celebrate the centennial. On Saturday morning the faculty shared their Nazarene memorabilia – first edition books, photos, news clippings, magazine articles, etc. – and told stories. The worship time on Sunday morning included the reading of a sermon by Dr. J. B. Chapman, former Nazarene educator and General Superintendent. The chapel at NTS is named in memory of Dr. Chapman.

Concluding NTS’ days of centennial celebration, Dr. Jim Diehl, General Superintendent, preached during NTS’ Spiritual Dedication Week (October 7-9). During the Tuesday chapel, Dr. Diehl highlighted several characteristics of the Church of the Nazarene throughout the past 100 years and challenged the NTS community to carry them into the future.