To Baptist or not to Baptist, that 'tis the question?

[Keith Mullins]

Should a independent Church that holds to Baptist doctrine include Baptist in their Church name?

Should the belief statement include Baptist or should they simply state what they believe?

Thoughts?

 

[1689Dave]

Should a independent Church that holds to Baptist doctrine include Baptist in their Church name?

Should the belief statement include Baptist or should they simply state what they believe?

Thoughts?

I think Baptist is appropriate. But to say Free Will Baptist, or Sovereign Grace Baptist would be more honest. It lets people know what to expect. Southern Baptist is honest. Fundamental Baptist is good but fundamentalism reminds people of the crackpots in the Middle East.

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

That may depend on whom it is designed to reach. If the goal is to bring in unaffiliated, unchurched people, then using Baptist in the name may be counterproductive. If the goal is to bring in more Baptists, then using Baptist in the name may help them find your church.

 

[Salty]

But to what extreme should you go?
ie Calvary KJO pre-trib abstinence , ect,ect,,,,,,Independent Fundamental Baptist Church

 

[Marooncat79]

Independent
Pre-millinial
Fundamental
Dispensational
KJV Only
Died in the wool
Born
Bred
Never changin
Sin hatin
Foot stompin
Glory shoutin
Separated
United
Holy
Non Pentecostal
Single time dunkin
Baptist

how bout that?

 

[Salty]

Independent
Pre-millinial
Fundamental
Dispensational
KJV Only
Died in the wool
Born
Bred
Never changin
Sin hatin
Foot stompin
Glory shoutin
Separated
United
Holy
Non Pentecostal
Single time dunkin
Baptist

how bout that?

I think you left out a few

 

[Keith Mullins]

That may depend on whom it is designed to reach. If the goal is to bring in unaffiliated, unchurched people, then using Baptist in the name may be counterproductive. If the goal is to bring in more Baptists, then using Baptist in the name may help them find your church.

So, if the goal is to reached unsaved regardless of background?

Are you being honest if your church is Baptist but has a name like 12th St Christian Fellowship or some cool relevant name like Hillsong or Elevation or some other garbage?

 

[Marooncat79]

I think you left out a few

I did

Jesus Praisin for one

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

So, if the goal is to reached unsaved regardless of background?

Are you being honest if your church is Baptist but has a name like 12th St Christian Fellowship or some cool relevant name like Hillsong or Elevation or some other garbage?

Well, if you want to put it that way, then use one of the names the apostle Paul used for the church and be done with it. Perhaps using the term "Baptist" in the name belongs in that "some other garbage" category.

 

[Yeshua1]

Should a independent Church that holds to Baptist doctrine include Baptist in their Church name?

Should the belief statement include Baptist or should they simply state what they believe?

Thoughts?

We are part of the Great Lakes Baptist assembly, under North American Baptists, but we do not say Baptist on the bill board, think due to many of the members, including pastors, were ex Catholics and do not want to get people upset over Baptist name!

 

[Keith Mullins]

We are part of the Great Lakes Baptist assembly, under North American Baptists, but we do not say Baptist on the bill board, think due to many of the members, including pastors, were ex Catholics and do not want to get people upset over Baptist name!

Do you draw unchurched, unaffiliated people on a regular basis? Are people familiar with the term "Baptist" able to easily find your church?

One of the things that prompted this thread is the fact that my Son has relocated. He has never been interested in attending any church as an adult but made the comment he was looking for a Baptist church online. I'm not sure he is aware that there are 7,324,749 different types of Baptist.
As I was searching online some have Baptist in the name, some do not. I can see advantages to both and just wondering if anyone had opinions on the subject.

 

[Ziggy]

I find it peculiar that Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Lutherans, etc. have no problem in identifying their denomination in their church name—so also independent Baptists.

For whatever reason, it seems like only a wide range of charismatic churches and (in my experience) a lot of Southern Baptist churches try to avoid explaining who they are. I want to go to a church that says it is Baptist....

 

[37818]

. . . there are 7,324,749 different types of Baptist.

Actually the number maybe much higher. Given that every Baptist church is autonomous.

 

[Salty]

Actually many denominations are taking their denomination name out.
Recently a Nazarene church became Discover, at least a couple of Free Methodists have done so, as well as a few others - here in our local. Some churches are using unusual names - one has an AKA "imperfect church"

 

[Keith Mullins]

I find it peculiar that Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Lutherans, etc. have no problem in identifying their denomination in their church name—so also independent Baptists.

For whatever reason, it seems like only a wide range of charismatic churches and (in my experience) a lot of Southern Baptist churches try to avoid explaining who they are. I want to go to a church that says it is Baptist....

And that is the quandary. You and I may be drawn to a church with Baptist in the name. Someone else may have had what they consider a bad experience in a Baptist church and avoid it. Imagine someone familiar with Westboro Baptist looking for a church.

If your goal is to get unchurched, which is better? Bob's Baptist or Bob's Church.

Also, while on the topic. What does the name Bible Baptist mean?

 

[37818]

How to have a Baptist church without using the "Baptist" label.
In the statement of faith and church Covenant place accordingly the distinctives as needed. And under the church Name: We are a New Testament church. [Or not.]

 

[Reynolds]

Actually many denominations are taking their denomination name out.
Recently a Nazarene church became Discover, at least a couple of Free Methodists have done so, as well as a few others - here in our local. Some churches are using unusual names - one has an AKA "imperfect church"

A lot of the Baptist churches in this area are dropping Baptist out of their name.
On a side note, all the Church Of God have dropped the denom name.

 

[Yeshua1]

Do you draw unchurched, unaffiliated people on a regular basis? Are people familiar with the term "Baptist" able to easily find your church?

One of the things that prompted this thread is the fact that my Son has relocated. He has never been interested in attending any church as an adult but made the comment he was looking for a Baptist church online. I'm not sure he is aware that there are 7,324,749 different types of Baptist.
As I was searching online some have Baptist in the name, some do not. I can see advantages to both and just wondering if anyone had opinions on the subject.

Nearly all of our founding members were ex Catholics, including pastors and elders, and the new members have been pretty much unchurched, as they came in response to our Trunk and Treat, or neighborhood outreach activities!

 

[Reynolds]

Nearly all of our founding members were ex Catholics, including pastors and elders, and the new members have been pretty much unchurched, as they came in response to our Trunk and Treat, or neighborhood outreach activities!

What's y'all's name? Bethany ex-Catholic Baptist Church?

 

[Yeshua1]

What's y'all's name? Bethany ex-Catholic Baptist Church?

Stony Creek Church!