Thousands of Nazarenes will gather in Kansas City, Missouri, for the 31st General Assembly and Conventions, scheduled from June 25 to July 2, 2027. The quadrennial event serves as a time for celebration, discerning direction, and conducting business within the denomination.
The upcoming assembly will center around the theme "In Jesus’ Name." In preparation for the event, the Board of General Superintendents met to discuss this theme and emphasized its importance in highlighting why the Church of the Nazarene exists as a denomination. Gustavo Crocker said that the Board acknowledged that "the church exists primarily to elevate the name of Jesus."
“We gather in communion, in remembrance of him, in the name of Jesus,” Crocker said. “We baptize people in the name of Jesus. We face strongholds in the name of Jesus. We decided as we move forward as a denomination for the next generation, we want everybody to remember that we exist in the name of Jesus, and we work in the name of Jesus,” Crocker said.
Attendees at this assembly will see how this theme is integrated into both services and business sessions through various ministries. Unlike previous gatherings where services had specific ministry or regional focuses, this year’s events aim to highlight "the work of Jesus through various ministries" across regions.
“We’re going to highlight the purpose of the denomination,” Crocker said. “We’re going to say, ‘ministries and regions are doing the work in Jesus’ name.'” The service themes are intended to inspire attendees about how The Church is sent, saved, set apart, transformed, united, and empowered by its mission.
A new feature at this assembly involves joint opening and closing services for Nazarene Discipleship International (NDI), Nazarene Missions International (NMI), and Nazarene Youth International (NYI). Previously held separately by each group at their conventions, these joint sessions are designed to celebrate unity among different ministries within local churches. “When you go to the average church... you see the church as a whole,” Crocker said. “They (NDI, NMI, NYI) said: ‘While we conduct business by virtue of our designation... as a body we are one.’”
The opening service will focus on celebrating local churches while concluding with an emphasis on unity and diversity among groups—all open to any attendee present at General Assembly.
According to its Manual (300), General Assembly functions as "the supreme doctrine-formulating, lawmaking and elective authority" within The Church—bringing together members from every world region for business meetings alongside worship.
