What's in a Name?

tfelice · #1 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 03:19 PM

I am in the early stages of planting a church here in my community and we were discussing today the naming of the church. We are likely going to be joining with the Bible Fellowship Church (a small regional denomination), but the name "Bible Fellowship Church" means little or nothing to people in this community. A pastor friend of mine mentioned that he noticed that there are some PCA churches that do not use the name Presbyterian church in their title and are simply {town name] Community Church, Grace Church of [town name}, etc

Any thoughts on this?

Blueridge Baptist · #2 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 03:34 PM

I understand the tendancy to try and show our openmindedness to the community but I have always been a little uneasy about a church that doesn't identify itself upfront. I believe if your a baptist you ought to say so and if your a presbyterian you ought to do the same. Adopting a confession of faith upfront is important too so that false or dividing doctrince is stopped at the door. My prayers are with you dear brother. God bless you in your labor.

panta dokimazete · #3 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 03:40 PM

I'd name it something illustrative...I really like the "trend". We all know that the original church had no naming conventions, so - where there is silence, I believe there is some liberty.

Dayspring - a Bible Fellowship Church

Riverwind - a Bible Fellowship Church

Morningstar - a Bible Fellowship Church

something like that...my

ADKing · #4 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 03:47 PM

A congregation with "Community Church" in its name is converying something to me about its approach to doctrine etc whether it actually fits my stereo-type or not. The other thing I notice is that whereas many of these congregations would really love to be a genuine "community church" they too suffer the same problems of living in our society and age in which there are not very many truly community churches. Calling yourself one doesn't necessarily make you one.

PuritanCovenanter · #5 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 05:01 PM

I have always been fond of the Name...

Christ's Church or Christ's Chapel.

panta dokimazete · #6 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADKing

A congregation with "Community Church" in its name is converying something to me about its approach to doctrine etc whether it actually fits my stereo-type or not. The other thing I notice is that whereas many of these congregations would really love to be a genuine "community church" they too suffer the same problems of living in our society and age in which there are not very many truly community churches. Calling yourself one doesn't necessarily make you one.

Nor are there many true "communities"...

KMK · #7 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueridge Baptist

I understand the tendancy to try and show our openmindedness to the community but I have always been a little uneasy about a church that doesn't identify itself upfront. I believe if your a baptist you ought to say so and if your a presbyterian you ought to do the same. Adopting a confession of faith upfront is important too so that false or dividing doctrince is stopped at the door. My prayers are with you dear brother. God bless you in your labor.

What happened to standing up for your convictions?

How about this: "1st Baptist Church of He That Believeth Not the Son Shall Not See Life; but the Wrath of God Abideth On Him."

PuritanCovenanter · #8 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KMK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueridge Baptist

I understand the tendancy to try and show our openmindedness to the community but I have always been a little uneasy about a church that doesn't identify itself upfront. I believe if your a baptist you ought to say so and if your a presbyterian you ought to do the same. Adopting a confession of faith upfront is important too so that false or dividing doctrince is stopped at the door. My prayers are with you dear brother. God bless you in your labor.

What happened to standing up for your convictions?

How about this: "1st Baptist Church of He That Believeth Not the Son Shall Not See Life; but the Wrath of God Abideth On Him."

There ya go.

victorbravo · #9 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 06:01 PM

Steinbeck in Travels with Charlie talks about attending "John Knox Church" (or John Knox Presbyterian, I can't remember exactly) and feeling a bit uneasy after being dosed with old fashioned preaching. He should have been on notice.

ADKing · #10 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdlongmire

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADKing

A congregation with "Community Church" in its name is converying something to me about its approach to doctrine etc whether it actually fits my stereo-type or not. The other thing I notice is that whereas many of these congregations would really love to be a genuine "community church" they too suffer the same problems of living in our society and age in which there are not very many truly community churches. Calling yourself one doesn't necessarily make you one.

Nor are there many true "communities"...

Indeed, which makes church planting "interesting" in all sorts of ways

Southern Presbyterian · #11 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueridge Baptist

I understand the tendancy to try and show our openmindedness to the community but I have always been a little uneasy about a church that doesn't identify itself upfront. I believe if your a baptist you ought to say so and if your a presbyterian you ought to do the same. Adopting a confession of faith upfront is important too so that false or dividing doctrince is stopped at the door. My prayers are with you dear brother. God bless you in your labor.

Amen, Brother James.

To quote a line from a recent movie we watched, "Keep an open mind, you'll never know what might wander into it."

IMO, the name should indicate something about your doctrinal stance and/or form of governance. Like "Providence Reformed Presbyterian" (I'm kind of partial to that one for some reason

) or "Sovereign Grace Baptist" or, in your particular case "Grace Reformed Bible Fellowship." Just some thoughts.

May the Lord bless your efforts!

tfelice · #12 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 07:22 PM

Thanks for the comments so far. Lots to think about, and it is a big decision. Once you pick the name, you are pretty much stuck with it. I do agree with some that state that the name should identify us - if we were joining with a Baptist or Presbyterian group that would be fairly cut & dry. However, the BFC is not a name that most people recognize so having it on the sign, so to speak, doesn't do much one way or the other.

For those not familiar with the denomination (which should be most of you) we are Reformed, Credobaptist with Presbyterian polity. It's a small, but nice denomination of 60 churches - most of them in PA, NJ, & DE.

PuritanCovenanter · #13 (**permalink**) 09-08-2007, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by victorbravo

Steinbeck in Travels with Charlie talks about attending "John Knox Church" (or John Knox Presbyterian, I can't remember exactly) and feeling a bit uneasy after being dosed with old fashioned preaching. He should have been on notice.

We have one of those here in Speedway. John Knox Presbyterian..... He is rolling over in his grave trying to figure out why. It is PCUSA and has pics of a Jesus character all over it.

PuritanCovenanter · #14 (**permalink**) 09-08-2007, 12:09 AM

One more thing.... From my experience, most of the Bible Fellowships or Bible churches around the country are of the Dallas Theological Seminary persuasion.

bookslover · #15 (**permalink**) 09-08-2007, 12:23 AM

I think it's dishonest for a church to hide behind some anonymous-sounding generic name. As has been said, if you're Presbyterian, Baptist, etc., you need to come right out and say so.

I also think a church's name should be specifically Christian. "First Avenue Church" tells you nothing about Christianity, much less about the church. "Christ the Redeemer Baptist Church" tells you something about both the faith and the church right up front.

AV1611 · #16 (**permalink**) 09-08-2007, 06:07 AM

I believe that men's names should be out, even Scriptural names save one of course. I am not sure of your denomination but some suggestions for mixing and matching:

Christ Church [placename]
Trinity Church [denomination]
Bethel Church
Grace
Covenant
Gospel

Chapel
Fellowship
Assembly

tfelice · #17 (**permalink**) 09-08-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CredoCovenanter

One more thing.... From my experience, most of the Bible Fellowships or Bible churches around the country are of the Dallas Theological Seminary persuasion.

The BFC in our region is Reformed. A lot of the pastors within the denomination are Westminster grads including the potential senior pastor for this plant. My wife and I are members of a BFC church in our old hometown.

Coram Deo · #18 (**permalink**) 09-08-2007, 01:23 PM

I have thought about this alot.... I am somewhat torn alittle... But not much.... Here is what I think is preferable.. It would show our unity as Reformed Christians but give our distinctives by stating the confession at the bottom of the sign. Also all churches should have their confessions readily available for readers to see and read....

Here are some examples...

Trinity Reformed Church
A 1689 London Confessional Church

or

Faith Reformed Church
A 1646 Westminster Confessional Church

or

Covenant Reformed Church
A 1561 Belgic Confessional Church

ruel · #19 (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 04:34 AM

How about disregarding the name for a time until you see certain number of converts as a result of your church planting ministry. When you reach that stage, bring the matter to the people and admonish them to pray and decide for an appropriate name. But in the mean time, when people ask your purpose, just simply say you are a church planter and called to share with them the Word of God. This is only a proposal that I think would fit in our context. I do not know your specific context. Ultimately, it is you who will decide.