Centennial Corner: Nazarene Districts

Phineas Bresee, previously a district superintendent in the Methodist Episcopal Church, instituted the district structure for Nazarene churches in 1904, creating the Northwest District that year. The Chicago Central District came next (1905), then the San Francisco (1906) and Southern California (1907) Districts. When the Southern California District convened its first district assembly on September 4, 1907, with 14 churches and 2,074 members, its boundaries encompassed the southern half of California and all of Arizona. The Arizona District was separated in 1921. Then in 1950, the Los Angeles District was carved out, taking with it the majority of the churches on the original Southern California District. In 1987, the remaining Southern California District was divided again to form the Anaheim District. Within the boundaries of the Southern California District that we know today, not one church was listed in the minutes of the Southern California District that officially organized in September of 1907. So you could say that the name, but not one church, was inherited from the original Southern California District. However, San Diego First Church is listed in the 1908 district journal with 75 members. Therefore, San Diego First Church will soon celebrate its centennial anniversary. According to 2005 statistics, what began as 14 organized congregations and 2,074 members 100 years ago has grown to 204 congregations and almost 30,000 members. —Excerpted from District Superintendent John Denney's report to the 100th assembly of the Southern California District. Additional information provided by Stan Ingersol, manager of the Nazarene archives.
Holiness Today, November/December 2006

 

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