Wesleyans like to talk about being “made new.” It’s a shorthand way to signify The Wesleyan Church’s vision of transforming lives, churches and communities through the hope and holiness of Jesus Christ. We think each of these components three: lives, churches, and communities, are key in how God is working to make things new. God makes lives new through his power, and as those transformed lives gather together intentional, they make the church new. This results in communities that are transformed through the church’s intentional witness and service in the area.

To see a series of stories featuring what God is up to through Wesleyans check out these short video stories.

The Wesleyans have a rich history we are proud of for being so devoted to pursuing God with singular focus, as well as transforming the world around us as those willing to sacrifice in our opposition to slavery and to fight for the right to vote for women. This history of course compels us forward in seeing lives, churches, and communities transformed today.

Watch this video to hear some of our history since a key merger happened in 1968.

Then read more about our history here https://nca.livedesign.dev/about

On a strategic level, we have language that drives us to get specific about our priorities, which we call our “strategic focus.” This is that statement:

Celebrating every time a disciple makes a disciple and a church multiplies itself until there is a transforming presence in every ZIP code.

As you can see right from the start discipleship and multiplication are the bread and butter of our work. We are working on several levels to get to a movement-level of multiplication percentage. We want to see God work through us in a way that gets a little out of our control and more influenced by the Holy Spirit than ever before!

Each of our districts prioritizes funding for new church plants and many of our churches designate funds for sending out church plants as well. We are currently working on a new plan to designate funds from every Wesleyan Church for multiplication that is being voted on at our 2020 General Conference.

We use a multi-faceted approach to church plant funding that you can find outlined here. send to page content below where funding opportunities are outlined

At this page you will find a video and more information that explains our financial model and the approach we call our “United Stewardship Fund.” https://nca.livedesign.dev/fundingthemission

In an effort to not restrict churches and to help spawn both innovation and more rapid multiplication we have summarized and simplified our theology of the church (ecclesiology) in what Wayne Schmidt, General Superintendent, has called “What’s a Church? – the Essential Ecclesiology for Wesleyans.” That can be found here: https://nca.livedesign.dev/whats-a-church

We ask leaders in The Wesleyan Church to make a commitment over an above what we would ask a member to make—as an example to the rest of the church and also to be above reproach. The full list of these commitments is found in The Discipline of The Wesleyan Church, 260. Below you’ll find a relevant summary in bullet form:

• Reverence the name of God and to honor the Lord’s Day
• Seek only the leading of the Holy Spirit and to abstain from all forms of spiritism
• Exercise faithful stewardship through the wise use of their time and material resources
• To demonstrate a positive social witness by abstaining from all forms of gambling and by abstaining from using or trafficking in any substances destructive to their physical, mental and spiritual health, such as alcoholic beverages, tobacco and drugs (other than proper medical purposes of drugs);
• Refraining from membership in secret societies and lodges which are oath bound
• To follow the teachings of the Scriptures regarding gender identity and sexual conduct.
• To follow the teachings of the Scriptures regarding marriage and divorce. We affirm that sexual relationships outside of marriage and sexual relationships between persons of the same sex are immoral and sinful.
• To preserve the sanctity of the home by honoring Christ in every phase of family life and by demonstrating Christlike love
• To work together for the advancement of God’s kingdom and for the mutual edification of fellow believers in holiness, knowledge and love
• To grow in the knowledge, love and grace of God by participating in public worship, the ministry of the Word of God, the Lord’s Supper, family and personal devotions and fasting.
• To preserve the fellowship and witness of the Church with reference to the use of languages.
• The Wesleyan Church believes in the miraculous use of languages and the interpretation of languages in its biblical and historical setting. But it is contrary to the Word of God to teach that speaking in an unknown tongue or the gift of tongues is the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit or of that entire sanctification which the baptism accomplishes…
• To do good as much as is possible to all people as God gives opportunity
• To respect the inherent individual rights of all persons, regardless of race, color or sex.
• To live honestly, be just in all dealings and faithful in all commitments.

The Wesleyan Church, whenever possible, chooses to connect over create. By this we mean we seek to connect churches to other churches through our general church, rather than create such content ourselves in the leadership. For this reason things like our https://nca.livedesign.dev/resources website have been developed, to feature the work of churches to be used by other churches. Our hope would be to help you resource other churches in ways you envision being a blessing.

We also seek to empower leaders from the grassroots to lead translocally whenever possible. In reality there is not much time needed to wait around while those in some select club are featured. Relative newcomers are often featured and given a platform quite quickly after joining the Wesleyan family.

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