The Nazarene Denomination
Rooted in a rich tradition of holiness and Christian service, Nazarene institutions unite strong academics with vibrant student life, equipping students to grow in faith, pursue their calling, and make a lasting impact.
2.7M
Members
30,000
Congregations
Nazarene Christian Colleges
The Nazarene institutions shaping faith and education. Select the Christian colleges and universities below that interest you to receive more information.
Overview
The Nazarene denomination was influenced by the holiness movement of the 1830s and the doctrinal teachings of John Wesley. By the 1900s, the holiness movement had fallen apart, but 1907 saw the first general assembly of some remaining holiness factions through the efforts of leaders like Phineas F. Bresee, C. B. Jernigan, and C. W. Ruth. During this assembly, the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America and the Church of the Nazarene merged in Chicago, giving way to the beginning of the Nazarene denomination. The next year, in 1908, holiness churches in the south would merge with the denomination in the north during the second general assembly held in Pilot Point, Texas. In the years to follow, the Nazarene denomination saw rapid growth, merging with denominations in Scotland, planting churches and doing evangelistic work in Canada, the British Isles, India, Africa, Mexico, South America, and more.
Find a college where faith and future meet.
Join over 200,000 students who rely on The Christian Connector to explore faith-based higher education resources.
More to know about the Nazarene Denomination
By the 1980s the Nazarenes committed to “internationalization,” which was an intentional effort to be a global denomination with representation from all over the world, rather than split into national sections. By the 2001 general assembly, the denomination reported 47% of delegates as either speaking English as a second language or not at all, reflecting the diversity of their denomination. Today, the Nazarenes are comprised of around 2.7 million members and over 30,000 churches spread across the globe.
Affiliated Christian Colleges
Faith and learning go hand in hand within the Nazarene tradition. Discover affiliated Christian colleges dedicated to academic rigor, spiritual formation, and preparing students to live out their faith and calling. Please note that these listings are for research purposes only and do not link directly to the schools' websites.