Nazarene Theological Seminary, in association with The Nazarene Historical Society and Nazarene Archives, is presenting “Stories to Tell: A Conference on Our Nazarene Heritage and Mission.”

The two-day event, beginning on April 17, is designed to help pastors, church leaders, laypersons, and friends of the Church of the Nazarene better understand the denomination's history, identity, and faith tradition.

The nine main sessions will include a historical survey of pastoral ministry in the Church of the Nazarene, an overview of Hiram F. Reynolds and the contributions of women to missions in the Church of the Nazarene, a history of Black Nazarenes in America, a panel on writing and preserving local and district histories, and a session with biographical sketches of Uncle Buddy Robinson, Mary Lee Cagle, and C. W. Ruth.

Steve Hoskins, a professor of church history at Trevecca Nazarene University and a director of the Nazarene Historical Society, will deliver the keynote address, “History is Not the Past: The Catalyst & Purpose of Nazarene History.”

One session will be a Hymn Sing, drawing on Church of the Nazarene hymnody, and another session will feature a panel of speakers sharing who is in their Nazarene Hall of Fame. On April 18, there will be a lunch session that includes presentations on Nazarene Folklore and Recovering the Love Feast as a Spiritual Practice for Nazarenes.

Speakers, presenters, and panelists will include Steve Hoskins, Stan Ingersol, Mary Lou Shea, Roger Bowman, Brad Estep, Jim Fitzgerald, Ryan Giffin, Chet Bush, Andy Wood, Dirk Ellis, Abe Book, Tom Miles, and Gelien Matthews.

As a conference partner, Nazarene Archives will help present at some of the main sessions and coordinate some of the exhibits.

The registration cost for the in-person event includes all nine main sessions, two meals, two lunchtime mini-sessions, and a pre-conference Nazarene Cemetery tour. Nazarene districts will be offered discounted rates for pastors (including those with a local or district license or retired) who wish to attend the conference in-person or online.

An early bird registration discount is available for those who register by Sunday, March 31. The registration cost for the in-person event includes all nine main sessions, two meals, two lunchtime mini-sessions, and a pre-conference Nazarene Cemetery Tour. Also, while supplies last, all in-person registrants will receive a free book of their choice—either Nazarene Roots by Stan Ingersol or Phineas Bresee: Pastor to the People by Carl Bangs. Online participants will be able to view the livestream, as well as have up to 30 days to view the event.

All attendees will receive a free resource book on Nazarene history. Pastors can receive up to ten hours of approved lifelong learning credit by attending.

For more information about the conference or to register for the event, please visit www.nazarenehistory.org. Questions about Stories to Tell may be directed to Bryon McLaughlin at Bryon.McLaughlin@nts.edu or 816.547.2298.