Baptist Churches without Baptist in the Name

I have no problem with the idea or theory of not using the name (the New Testament Church does not appear to have a proper name); but I sometimes have a problem with the practice (the motivations being "iffy"). Some with which I am personally familiar became weak Baptists before they changed their name. Others appeared to want to hide the fact they were Baptist from their "prospects" until the prospects were drawn into the church. Of course, that doesn't have to be true of all.

Under "My Home Church" in the profile, for example, one could put something like "Grace Church (Baptist)". Something needs to be in the profile to help the moderators so they don't have to personally ask everyone if they are Baptist.

 

I guess Mr. Spurgeon would be in great difficulty with his Metropolitan Tabernacle. It lacks the name Baptist.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Having the the word "Baptist" as part of the name is advantageous though - to Baptists. As a former career military man (with my family), I looked for Baptist churches when I moved every three years of my life (my dad was military, too). I didn't look for "community" church - I looked for a Baptist church.

Nothing wrong with dropping the word, but for folks that move from time to time, it becomes more difficult. Because of it, I may have discounted many fine Baptist churches that for some reason didn't want to put it in their name. If a person's Baptist, they ought to be happy to say so. Why hide it?

 

I agree with the idea that using the Baptist name helps those coming into the neighborhood looking for a church to be able to know what to expect from you.

But there is a movement in our church, with a new pastor, to drop the name because he feels that it does not make everyone feel welcome. His thought is that people think "that place is only for Baptists - I don't know what that means, but I'm not one, so why should I go in there." But a name like "Community Church" or some other such designation makes a person feel "that place is for everyone in the community."

If it turns into a more heated debate, I'm going to push for "Community Baptist Church." I wonder if that suggestion will fly.

 

Debby, I have seen it put this way successfully:

Top Line (big letters) Community Church
2nd line (smaller letters) a Baptist Fellowship

In this way, you change the name of the church, but haven't hidden your identity.

 

Our churches name is Skyline Fellowship. On the church sign we have the logo of the SBC, with the letters SBC under the logo. That way people who know the difference and prefer to be in an SBC church know who we are affliated with. We do not try to hide, but our emphasis is not being in the SBC, our emphasis is being a church where the Word is taught.

Bro Tony