Why dropping denominational labels may not be important
Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 7:37AM I've had this conversation a couple of times recently. I'll be curious to know if you think I'm making any sense.
There was a trend in the 90s up until today to drop denominational labels from church names. A church would become a community church or just church period. So, in our case, we would drop Baptist and become Richview Community Church or just Richview Church.
The thinking behind this is that Baptist is a bit of a turnoff. So is Presbyterian, Alliance, Anglican, or whatever.
The problem today is that people aren't turned off by the type of church. They aren't staying away because it's a particular type of church. It's more that church isn't on their radar. As Reggie McNeal said, you can build the perfect church and they still won't come.
In fact, the labels are increasingly meaningless. They used to carry baggage; now people just aren't sure what they even mean.
The example I use is of a vegan passing by a fast food joint. Inside the restaurant, they're very concerned that everyone know they're McDonalds and not Burger King. But to the vegan walking by, McDonalds is the same as Burger King. There may be differences, but the differences don't matter to a vegan. He's simply not interested.
So, there are many outward focused churches that have dropped their denominational names. But it really doesn't matter as much as we think. There are also many outward focused churches that keep their denominational names. In a post-Christian world, it matters less and less. It just might not be as important as we think.
Am I right? Thoughts?
(By the way, community church has probably become the equivalent of a denomination or flavor in some ways.)
Reader Comments (7)
You're right Darryl. Labels are unavoidable. The names of our churches say much about what we are, denominational label or not. Anyone think that the "Tabernacle of Fire Ministries" in Rexdale is a Baptist Church? And names like "The Meeting Place" "Sanctuary" etc. are just as telling.
Second the motion. To strip out the label is to display either a surprising theological naivete or an even more surprising obfuscation of issues we know darned well are there but choose to gloss over.
Ya - I think you're right. Names and labels are both somewhat useless and unavoidable. But McDonalds has taken "hamburgers" out of their name for a reason. Their emphasis changed, and they needed people to know. Words change in meaning over time, and I think it is important to admit it and communicate well. I don't use the word "gay" when I'm happy because words ARE important. The truth is that "Baptist" doesn't mean what it used to mean. If you take a denominational label out because you want your church to be different, you are asking for trouble. But take it out because it doesn't describe you well or you're already different, why not...? The marketing language of "turn off" or "won't come" really messes with the church, doesn't it?? It actually makes it "label-able". Why should a community of people need a label anyway?
How many RBC members live in the Richview neighbourhood? Maybe "Richview" is the label we should drop. Tongue firmly in cheek.
I think you're right that the real problem is that churches just aren't on people's radar screens. The label is meaningless at best. But if that's the case, why add something that could only serve to confuse? Let's be honest, the denom label serves only those already well entrenched in the denom system. Leave it out.
Maybe it isn't so much that a word like "Baptist" is pejorative, as it is that in a world where rapid change is the only constant, certain words have simply become dated.
If we truly lived our lives as followers of Jesus, labels or the lack thereof would become irrelevant. We should be known in our communities, not by our identities as Baptists or Lutherans, or whatever, but by the fact that we are lovingly engaged with and speaking truth in the lives of the individuals around us who are outside our church community. I think people care much more about a church's heart than its name. And I know that God judges us, not by our labels, but by whether we hold to the Truth, and Love people on His terms. See Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3; Matthew 9:13. If people found Jesus through us, they'd come with us to church, regardless of the label. Acts 2:47. Unfortunately, I think its our individual lives that aren't on people's radar screens.