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Church of the Nazarene (1908 - Present) - Religious Group

Religious Family: Holiness
Religious Tradition: Evangelical Protestant
Description: The Church of the Nazarene is a Holiness church founded in 1908 by Phineas Bresee, a former superintendent in the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was founded as the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene, and the word "Pentecostal" was dropped in 1919 to avoid confusion with the "speaking in tongues" sects.
Official Site: https://www.nazarene.org/

Connections: Church of the Nazarene


 
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Maps: Church of the Nazarene1

Adherence Rate per 1,000 (2020)

Congregations (2020)



Top 5 Church of the Nazarene States (2020)1 [View all States]

Rank State Congregations Adherents Adherence Rate
1 North Dakota 28 17,585 22.57
2 Idaho 53 23,106 12.56
3 Kansas 157 28,507 9.70
4 Indiana 290 61,639 9.08
5 Oklahoma 179 32,848 8.30

Top 5 Church of the Nazarene Counties (2020)1 [View all Counties]

Rank County Congregations Adherents Adherence Rate
1 Houston County, TN 2 1,007 121.57
2 Cumberland County, KY 2 652 110.73
3 Douglas County, MO 4 1,211 104.59
4 Mason County, KY 4 1,444 84.35
5 Smith County, KS 2 277 77.59

Top 5 Church of the Nazarene Metro Areas (2020)1 [View all Metro Areas]

Rank Metro Congregations Adherents Adherence Rate
1 Maysville, KY Micro Area 4 1,444 84.35
2 Seymour, IN Micro Area 7 3,303 71.14
3 Decatur, IN Micro Area 4 2,475 69.12
4 Fargo, ND-MN Metro Area 4 14,304 57.25
5 Lima, OH Metro Area 3 5,619 54.98

Church of the Nazarene, Members (1925 - 2010)2


Church of the Nazarene, Ministers & Churches (1925 - 2010)2


Church of the Nazarene, Trends (1925 - 2010)2

YEAR MEMBERS MINISTERS CHURCHES
1925 59,767 2,920 1,486
1929 77,662 3,091 1,774
1933 109,984 1,974
1935 127,649 3,809 2,170
1937 140,291 2,341
1940 165,532 2,612
1942 180,243 2,898
1944 187,082 2,965
1946 201,487
1947 209,277 3,316
1950 226,684 4,552 3,480
1951 235,670 4,673 3,616
1952 243,152 4,785 3,710
1953 249,749 4,886 3,826
1954 260,551 5,027 3,970
1955 270,576 5,188 4,090
1956 277,618 5,269 4,169
1957 281,646 5,317 4,225
1958 291,036 5,497 4,309
1959 300,771 5,593 4,418
1960 307,629 5,736 4,458
1961 315,647 5,807 4,486
1962 323,491 6,242 4,509
1963 342,032 6,304 4,849
1964 337,033 6,058 4,569
1965 343,380 6,194 4,580
1966 350,882 6,273 4,623
1967 358,346 6,364 4,652
1968 364,789 6,386 4,674
1969 372,943 6,481 4,662
1970 383,284 6,585 4,636
1971 394,197 6,774 4,654
1972 404,732 7,195 4,861
1973 417,732 7,055 4,717
1974 430,128 7,130 4,727
1975 441,093 7,223 4,733
1976 449,205 7,286 4,727
1977 455,648 7,485 4,730
1978 462,724 7,590 4,719
1979 474,820 7,745 4,831
1980 484,276 7,841 4,853
1981 492,203 7,945 4,888
1982 498,491 8,043 4,902
1983 507,574 8,223 4,931
1984 516,020 8,439 4,973
1985 522,082 8,494 4,989
1986 530,912 8,667 5,018
1987 543,762 8,811 5,080
1988 552,264 8,988 5,129
1989 561,253 9,138 5,158
1991 573,834 9,363 5,172
1993 591,134 5,161
1994 597,841 9,628 5,156
1995 601,900 9,741 5,135
1996 608,008
1997 619,576 9,907 5,118
1998 627,054 9,998 5,101
2000 636,564 9,898 5,070
2002 643,649 9,877 4,983
2003 621,048 10,271 4,922
2004 631,253 10,310 4,868
2005 636,296 9,355 5,225
2006 640,027 9,226 4,814
2007 642,523 9,385 5,096
2008 645,048 9,391 5,090
2009 645,846 10,926 5,063
2010 649,836 10,900 5,058
       

Demographic & Public Opinion Data

The following table provides information from Church of the Nazarene respondents on demographic characteristics and a variety of attitudes and experiences using data from the 2014 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, collected by Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

Demographics (Church of the Nazarene)
Percent
Percent that live in the South. 29.7
Percent that are currently citizens of the United States 99
Percent that are 60 or older 41.6
Percent female 51.5
Percent of Hispanic origin or descent 3
Percent that are white 89.1
Percent born in the United States 93.1
Percent that are currently married 56.4
Percent with a family income of less than $40,000 a year 42.6
Percent that have a B.A., B.S. or other 4-year college degree 29.7
   

Religious Practices (Church of the Nazarene)
Percent
Percent that are members of a local house of worship 81.2
Percent that pray at least once a day 78.2
Percent that meditate at least once a week 49.5
Percent that attend religious services at least once a week 67.3
Percent that read scripture outside of religious services at least once a week 63.4
Percent that participate in prayer groups, Scripture study groups or religious education programs at least once a week 48.5
Percent that share their faith with "non-believers or people from other relgious backgrounds" at least once a week 36.6
Percent that did volunteer work in the last seven days 39.6
Percent that speak in tongues at least once a month 5
   

Religious Beliefs (Church of the Nazarene)
Percent
Percent that believe in God or a universal spirit 100
Percent that believe in Heaven 92.1
Percent that believe in Hell 85.1
Percent that believe in reincarnation 0
Percent that say religion is a very important part of their life 80.2
Percent that believe their holy book is the word of God 90.1
Percent that believe that their church or denomination should preserve its traditional beliefs and practices 61.4
Percent that look most to "religious teachings and beliefs" when it comes to questions of right and wrong 62.4
Percent that believe that churches and other religious organizations bring people together and strengthen community bonds 92.1
Percent that believe that churches and other religious organizations play an important role in helping the poor and needy 93.1
Percent that believe that churches and other religious organizations protect and strengthen morality in society 89.1
Percent that believe that churches and other religious organizations are too involved with politics 26.7
Percent that believe that churches and other religious organizations are too concerned with money and power 27.7
Percent that believe that churches and other religious organizations focus too much on rules 33.7
Percent that think about the meaning and purpose of life at least once a week 53.5
Percent that feel a strong sense of gratitude or thankfulness at least once a week 87.1
Percent that feel a deep sense of wonder about the universe at least once a week 52.5
Percent that feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being at least once a week 70.3
Percent that think many religions can lead to eternal life 56.4
   

Moral Attitudes (Church of the Nazarene)
Percent
Percent that believe that there are clear and absolute standards for what is right and wrong 52.5
Percent that think homosexuality should be accepted by society 31.7
Percent that "strongly favor" allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally 5.9
Percent that think more women in the workforce is a change for the worse 19.8
Percent that think that more people having children without getting married is a change for the worse 86.1
Percent that believe that abortion should be illegal in all cases 15.8
   

Political Attitudes (Church of the Nazarene)
Percent
Percent Republican 43.6
Percent that are conservative or very conservative 61.4
Percent that are not registered to vote 17.8
Percent that personally know anyone who is gay or lesbian 87.1
Percent that believe that government aid to the poor does more harm than good 62.4
Percent that think that growing immigration is a change for the worse 48.5
Percent that believe that stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. 36.6
Percent that would prefer a smaller government, with fewer services 77.2
   

Other Beliefs and Attitudes (Church of the Nazarene)
Percent
Percent that are very satisfied with their health 46.5
Percent that are "very satisfied" with family life 68.3
Percent that say they are "very happy" with life these days 32.7
Percent that believe that humans and other living beings evolved over time 37.6
   

Sources

1 The 2020 data were collected by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB) and include data for 372 religious bodies or groups. Of these, the ASARB was able to gather data on congregations and adherents for 217 and on congregations only for 155. [More information on the data sources]

2 All data on clergy, members, and churches are taken from the National Council of Churches’ Historic Archive CD and recent print editions of the Council’s Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. The CD archives all 68 editions of the Yearbook (formerly called Yearbook of the Churches and Yearbook of American Churches) from 1916 to 2000. Read more information on the Historic Archive CD and the Yearbook.

Membership figures are "inclusive." According to the Yearbook, this includes "those who are full communicant or confirmed members plus other members baptized, non-confirmed or non-communicant." Each denomination has its own criteria for membership.

When a denomination listed on the Historic Archive CD was difficult to identify, particularly in early editions of the Yearbook, the ARDA staff consulted numerous sources, including Melton’s Encyclopedia of American Religions and the Handbook of Denominations in the United States. In some cases, ARDA staff consulted the denomination’s website or contacted its offices by phone. When a denomination could not be positively identified, its data were omitted.

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