The call came from an eager young man starting a new church in Florida. He already had 50 people meeting in homes in Bible studies. They had secured a leased space to launch the church in just a few months. But they were having trouble coming to a consensus on the name of the church. What could I tell him about church names? Were there pitfalls or opportunities where they needed greater awareness for their church’s name?
While I could not provide a precise church name for their congregation, I could share with him these seven trends I had seen emerge. Perhaps “trend” is not the best choice of a word, since some of these issues have been around for quite a while.
- Newer churches are consistently using descriptors in their names other than denominational affiliation. Some are focusing on their location. Others are at least implying a distinctive doctrinal leaning. And still others are using more trendy and less common terms.
- Denominational names, though, are still dominant among church names. Though the information is four years old, OpenBible.info did a fascinating study of church names. Some of their conclusions are still valid today. Denominational names still dominate, and “Baptist” is the major denominational name.
- The most common church name is “First Baptist.” Over 5,000 churches have this name. Of course, this name by itself does not specify which Baptist denomination; and there are many different denominations that have Baptist in their own name.
- Many words are becoming common in newer church names. Some of those words are Christ, Community, Fellowship, Assembly, Center, Chapel, Life, Faith, Bible, Grace, and New.
- Outsiders are often confused about church names. Several years ago, I did an informal survey of the preferred denomination among unchurched persons. The second most frequent response was the “Community” denomination. Of course, that denomination does not exist; but it is in a lot of church names.
- The Internet has led to shorter church names. Churches are choosing names that don’t become a long URL.
- Church names may be important, but they are not the most important factor in people choosing a church home. Relationships, personal invitations, good preaching, and friendly people, among other reasons, still trump the church name as the reason someone chooses a particular church.
One of the more challenging features of a church name takes place when the church is named for a location, but that location no longer exists. Or, perhaps, the church moved from that location. So if Hickory Avenue Community Church is no longer located on Hickory Avenue, guests may be confused by the name related to the location. Still, many churches tenaciously hold on to such names, even if it engenders confusion.
I also see a number of churches take a name after a church split. For example, a group of people split from the Harmony Church after an ugly church fight, and took on the new name of Greater Harmony Church.
I would love to hear your thoughts on church names. I also hope some of you can share some interesting and, perhaps, humorous church names of which you are aware.
Posted on April 23, 2014
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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I have passed by this several times while in Orlando: Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe
Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe
And it’s HUGE! You should visit their website. It will creep you out even more.
My husband and I were in a church called Doolittle Baptist Church in Missouri. He was preaching while the pastor was out of town. “Doolittle” fit the size of the church.
There is a church in Slaughter, LA called “Slaughter Worship Center”. I always giggle about it.
There is a wide spot in the road on HWY 24 in NW Alabama called “Burnout” and you guessed it there is a Burnout Missionary Baptist church.
My favorite church name was for a small, contentious church in MS. Police had actually been called there to break up fights. The church name? Little Hope Baptist Church. No kidding.
I was once on staff at a church in Colorado Springs, Colorado that had their name “Skyway SOUTHERN Baptist Church” stated boldly on a brick wall that jettisoned through the roof. There is nothing SOUTHERN about Colorado Springs, Colorado. The only people this church reached were transplants from southern states. The pastor and I unsuccessfully attempted to persuade some on the staff and the membership of the church to remove the “SOUTHERN”.
The best was the “New Little Mount Zion” xxxx Church, where the xxxx is the denomination which I forgot. Many churches are dropping the denomination title due to baggage from the denomination. It just means that the website is relied upon even more to figure out what the church stands for.
First, those math questions in order to post are getting harder, please no algebra! ;o)
A number of years ago our church decided to do a name change. We allowed people to put in suggestions over a month’s period. We had over 100 different ideas, some rather funny. One of my favorites, which is one of those “location” names, was The Zayante Zealots!” Needless to say, we when with something different.
We had people pick the top three they liked out of the 100, (using a reverse numerical system) this was done at the beginning of the service (Palm Sunday) at the end the service the top three had been decided, when then had the people list their favorites in order of preference. We kept the “winner” secret and revealed it on a new sign as people came to church on Easter morning. All kind of fun!
And Felton (location) Bible (foundation) Church (whatever THAT means) was moving forward . . . and still is!
I agree about the math problems! I have a friend who hates math. I think of her every time I fill in one of these spam bot equations.
Two of my favorites come from a road trip through rural South Carolina. Rapture Ready Baptist Church and Weeping Mary Baptist Church.
There is a Weeping Mary Baptist Church just outside of Alto, Texas
My favorite name I ever saw was just north of Nashville. The church was named “Little Hope Baptist Church”, as it was in an area once referred to as Little Hope. It has since been renamed to “New Hope Baptist Church”.
My favorite is name of a church is… Country Club Christian Church …really, it is in Kansas City.
Alan, I once attempted to pastor a ‘country club (mentality) church’. By the way, they’re everywhere!
My favorite church name is Flippin Church of God. It’s real and in a town called Flippin.
My husband currently pastors a church in which we just tried to change the name: Blue Ball Church. A name that, 100 years ago, connoted “the globe”, now has a negative sexual connotation. Upon coming here, we thought that once they understood the problem, they would change the name. That has not been the case, however. Even after giving solid biblical support for why we should change the name in an effort to bring people in (rather than scare them away, and rather than be an internet joke), they have staunchly refused. Most didn’t even know the true meaning behind the name before this discussion. They simply have a tenacious grip on tradition. There is a definite insider/outsider divide at this church, and the insiders refuse any type of change that an outsider proposes. Any attempt to reason falls on deaf ears. My husband and I, and a few others in our church, have just finished reading “Autopsy of a Deceased Church,” and you have very accurately described ours as one that is very sick or dying. I had to laugh at how well you described the congregational meeting of the church who wanted to change the pulpit–it sounded exactly like ours! If only others would read it with an open heart. We came here (our first church) thinking it could be revived; but it has become increasingly apparent that this church is spiritually dead already. It’s so sad.
That is a sad situation – thank you for sharing. I totally agree that the church should change the name since it is obviously an obstacle to reaching your community. However, if you did succeed in leading the church to change that name, it would likely still not result in the revival you so appropriately want. I am praying for your husband and church right now.
Unless there is more than one, I know where that church is (Kentucky), and one of my classmates was the pastor there about 20 years back. One of the most uncomfortable names for a church that I’ve ever heard.
Just curious if you are still at this church. We took a struggling church 3 yrs ago. Stuck in tradition. Unwilling not wanting change. They were killing it.