This blog may be the perfect place for wild brainstorming of new names for the church that is currently, but not permanently, known as “The Church of the Brethren.” No one name can capture all of the essence of a church , but maybe we can find one that inspires us. Let’s just keep coming up with them until we find one we like. I’ve heard ideas before, so I’ll throw those out along with new ideas:
Church of the Beloved
Kindred Church
Church of Reconciliation
Family Church
Peace Church
Church of Love
Church of Jesus
Hope Church
Church of Giving
Church of Serving
Church Together
Church of the Beatitudes
Dunkard Church
Church of the Love Feast
Church of Community
Please keep the list growing and comment on those you like!
8 responses so far ↓
Audrey // July 9, 2007 at 10:37 pm |
I like Church of the Beatitudes, but we’d have to call ourselves Dunkards, because we need something concise. Dunkard Church is also good, nice and short, getting us back to our roots. Yet, today we are defined more by our Love Feast than our baptism style, so make Church of the Love Feast would be good too – but then, what would we be? Lovers? Feasters? Hmmmm. Peace Church is pretty clear and prophetic, too.
So many good choices out there!
womaenscaucus // July 25, 2007 at 7:09 pm |
What do you all think about The Church of Hosts? It would emphasize hospitality and the Love Feast, it would have resonance with ‘heavenly hosts,’ and it would be cool to call each other ‘Hosts’ like the Quakers call each other ‘Friends.’
Jan Fairchild // August 8, 2007 at 11:12 pm |
My favorite is Church of the Beloved, then Church of the Beatitudes.
Comment on “Church of Hosts”…. we would trade one “Male” word for another.
I recently reviewed the history of efforts to change the name ….. kinda depressing exercise. Thanks for stimulating the conversation, AGAIN!
Carla Kilgore // August 9, 2007 at 2:24 am |
I’ve noticed a certain attachment to “Church of the . . . ” in the potential names, and that might be a good link between present and future, but I’ve noticed most denominations don’t phrase their names that way, and I’m thinking that something like Beloved Church or Kindred Church might also work. I know that one of the arguements for getting rid of Brethren in the name is that it is archaic, but that isn’t what I find objectionable about it. I like how the word kindred brings in the feeling of family, but also of kindred spirits, those who seek to understand each other’s souls. And, beloved is all about loving and being loved, so that sounds good to me!
Brethren Priestess // August 9, 2007 at 4:21 am |
I agree with Carla that what we need is not another ‘Church of the…’ but a new ‘…. Church,’ ideally with something we can call ourselves as well as our fellowship. This is why I like Dunkard Church – we would be Dunkards. If we go as the Kindred Church, which is an even cooler name in some ways, what will WE be called? Kindred? I guess that’s okay.
Yes, yet again I agree wholeheartedly with the wisdom of Carla!
Jan Fairchild // November 28, 2007 at 3:55 am |
I was reminded of our ongoing discussions as I listened to Rev. Robert M. Hardies, a participant in 2005 Faith and Fairness discussion — http://www.hrc.org/issues/religion/5067.htm. The name of the church he pastors is “All Souls Church” —-
I encourage you to listen to his discussion of this special name. Click on:
http://anon.newmediamill.speedera.net/anon.newmediamill/Religion/hardies_256k.wmv
I would like to believe I was part of a church that welcomed ALL Souls! Methinks that our judgementalism sometimes reflects that we are a church of “Some Souls” and that our God is too small. Do we embrace a God of All Souls? are we courageous enough to claim a name which describes God’s boundless Love? a Love that is bigger than we can define or limit?
Change the Name? « Womaen’s Caucus of the Church of the Brethren // December 1, 2007 at 1:06 am |
[...] Past blog discussion. [...]
Idetrorce // December 16, 2007 at 7:04 am |
very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce