Should Your Church Hide It’s Denominational Affiliation?
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Wed, December 17, 2008
- Viewed 119
- (20) comments so far
You can read the article here at Tim’s blog...
But here are my questions:
1. If you’re an unsaved person who’s never been to church, do you look for a particular denomination? A cool looking building? A nice yellow-pages ad? A church where you know somebody? How do you pick the church you go to if and when you decide to go?
2. Isn’t the ‘dropping the denomination’s name’ from our churches name just another sign that denominations in America are decreasing in influence and importance? Is that good or bad?
Tim Stevens re-printed a great article over at his LeadingSmart.com blog about denominationalism and whether or not your church should brand itself as a part of a particular denomination. A great case in point is Granger Community Church (Tim's church) that is a United Methodist Church but does not, in any way, publically advertise itself as such.
This decision (Granger's specifically, and all churches in general) has some people all in a tizzy. Other's think it's great.
Let's face it. Over the past decade, many churches have shed their denomination's name from their church name for many different reasons. Some to distance themselves from a denomination that is changing; some to be hip or cool; and some to appeal to a wider audience...
Comments
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Tim Heerebout on Thu, December 18, 2008
Isn’t the answer to “why people choose a church” obviously because they feel connected to someone there?
Daniel on Thu, December 18, 2008
Hide your denominational affiliation if you’re ashamed of it, or otherwise think it’s problematic.
I attended a Baptist church for a long time that essentially hid its affiliation because the church is so different from your ‘standard’ Baptist church. The disadvantage here is the same one that attaches to so-called non-denominational churches: you become blind to your history. It’s dangerous! Only by being aware of your history do you do justice to the diversity of Christ’s Body, and do you avoid the temptation to think of yourself as The Church.
I currently am part of a Mennonite church in Milwaukee. It’s name? “Milwaukee Mennonite Church.” I love being able to embrace the denomination and to sink deep roots into the tradition. Mennonite and proud of it.
How many evangelical Baptists, Lutherans or Episcopalians even know the history of their denomination?
Peace,
-Daniel-
Brian L. on Thu, December 18, 2008
We are “Aberdeen Wesleyan Church,” and don’t have any reason to change that - for now.
However, I can think of reasons it might be good to change a name to not include the denominational tag:
1. The previous history of that church or denomination in that area may be totally negative, and the congregation wants to make a new start.
2. You’re a Baptist Church in Wichita, KS (home of Westboro Baptist Church of “godhatesfags” notoriety). If a Wesleyan church in our area was that kind of church, we’d be changing our name in a heartbeat.
Also, if a church has regular “membership” classes (or introductory classes or whatever you want to call them), then the denominational affiliation can and should be spelled out.
Duncan Aker on Mon, December 22, 2008
Wow…
Should a church ‘hide’ its denominational ties?
Absolutely not, but I would keep them close to my chest. Jesus Christ is saviour, God. He is Christianity, not names, denoms, etc.
However, the situation is this:
Many church denominations are quite liberal and anti biblical/tossing the bible when culturally convenient. Some church denominations and there are a few, are actually anti christian/anti American/Anti Jesus in their ideology/preaching etc.
So to ‘hide’ your affiliation-that entity that you support and you are connected to is akin to the same trap Satan set for Eve in the beginning, Dishonest, disinformation, hiding the truth.
If I were a member of Granger church and found out it was United Methodist, I would be furious at having been deceived and would never return. Trust is broken, Sin has entered in. Not condemning anyone. None of us get it ‘all right’ but at least we have a better chance when those we should be able to trust are honest with us.
Rev. K on Tue, December 30, 2008
I have seen many pastors split and even ruin congregations over this issue… IMO if you’re a preacher candidate for a church, candidate for the church in which denomination your theological doctrines line up with… I have seen far too many preachers accept a calling to pastor a congregation that was outside of their denominational affiliation… and to the congregation demise not soon after the theological doctrines they held dear has soon vanished and even changed to fit the pastors’ affiliation… I have witnessed this first hand… (without giving names) my former pastor was a Apostolic preacher who left the Apostolic denomination and took the calling of a Baptist church… soon after taking the calling and signing in agreement to teach Baptist doctrine… my former pastor started teaching his apostolic doctrine… soon after the church became confused on what to believe and division arose… IMO this pastor did more harm then he did good…
Denominationalism arose to safe guard particular doctrinal beliefs and to prevent heresy from arising within the congregations… I agree with Peter, denominations have lost its purpose and are fading away… today there are few congregations that hold true to their denomination doctrine… many pastors and congregations today are unlearned, uninformed and unwilling to learn the doctrines in which these denominations hold… it would be a shame on me being a Baptist preacher to take the charge to lead a Calvinist or Lutheran congregation… it would be negligence and pride on my behalf to do such a thing…
I agree with the many who stated, if the pastor doesn’t agree with the denomination in which he’s under then the best thing to do is just leave that particular denomination… (Congregation and all)… if you’re ashamed of the denominations doctrines then the best thing to do is not take the charge to lead those denomination congregations… (That would be like wolves in sheep clothing…)
Far too many pastors are taking the church from what it was and making it into what they want it to be… if the church has been known as being Jesus Baptist Church for over 100 years, who are we to come along and change it from Jesus Baptist Church to Jesus Church? (We knew it was Baptist before we took the charge)… Once the denomination affiliation is dropped then the pastor is free to teach whatever doctrines he desires… (That’s considered to be deception at best…)
just my opinion… should we hide our denomination affliation? No…
should we be concerned if a person likes us but not our denominational affliation? No (Tha’t just like saying, you like me as a person but you don’t like my name…)
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