Hoosier hospitality will welcome global Nazarenes to Indiana once again.

The General Assembly Site Commission unanimously chose Indianapolis, Indiana, as the site of the Church of the Nazarene's next General Assembly. The host city was announced in January, and the dates were recently finalized. The quadrennial event will be held June 21 through 30, 2017.

This will be the sixth time Indianapolis has hosted the event. Most recently, the Hoosier State hosted the 2013, 2005, and 2001 assemblies.

General Assembly is the "supreme doctrine-formulating, lawmaking, and elective authority of the Church of the Nazarene" (Manual, 300). The Assembly, conventions (Nazarene Missions International, Nazarene Youth International, and Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International), and additional activities bring Nazarenes from every world region together for a time of business, celebration, and worship.

Planning for the 2017 event was originally delayed by a resolution brought to the 2013 General Assembly that could have lengthened the interval between assemblies from four to five years. Ultimately, the decision was made to keep the interval at four years. 

Ten cities were examined for 2017, and two finalists chosen based on space availability, dates, housing potential, and proximity to Nazarene population centers.

"Indianapolis was one of two cities that met our criteria, and it met our criteria better than any other," Wilson said at the time of the host city announcement.

While General Assembly is returning to a familiar place, the event may not resemble its predecessors. 

"Some ideas have emerged on ways to give a facelift to General Assembly, making it more appealing to new Nazarenes and the younger generation," Wilson said. "These ideas that have emerged could also help us with funding for global delegates.

"The best place to utilize these ideas is the city of Indianapolis."

The city was notified of the church's decision.

"We are very excited about the city of Indianapolis; it fits us well," Wilson said. "They are eager to have us come back."

The Site Commission is working in advance on the 2021 General Assembly.