Remember when denominational names were en vogue? Remember when you could figure out which denominational church came to the city first: First Methodist; First Baptist; First Presbyterian? Remember when you could tell two churches that split: Harmony Baptist Church and Greater Harmony Baptist Church?
Those days are gone. But what has not changed is that many churches have commonalities in names. In their attempts to be different, they have become common. I went to social media and to Church Answers to learn from my community about church names. Their responses were both fascinating and funny.
- “Point” has become ubiquitous. LifePoint. CrossPoint. Add an “e” to be fancy: GracePointe; LifePointe; CrossPointe.
- “Life” has a new life: Life Church; Real Life; New Life; LifePoint or LifePointe (see above).
- Tim Keller put Redeemer back into vogue. Both Redeemer and Redemption get a lot of love.
- City Church, usually with another name in front of it. These churches can be found in the city, suburbs, and the country.
- Christ Church. It’s simple and popular.
- Five biggies the past ten years: Journey, Bridge, Foundry, Mosaic, and Generation.
- Cross has made a surge. Cross Church. Cross Fellowship. Cross Roads. CrossPoint or CrossPointe (see above).
- Simple Church. Sorry, that was a book (available at LifeWay.com).
- Meaningful names. Impact. Potential. Epic. Transformation. Renovation. Innovate.
- Fellowship can be found in almost any town. It usually has other words, but sometimes it’s just Fellowship Church.
- Grace. Especially in the Reformed churches.
- Many churches like the new factor: New Life. New Hope. New Song. New Now (I made up the one). NewPoint. NewPointe (see above).
- Moving on up. Elevate. Vertical. Summit.
- Not English. Pick a Greek or Latin name you remember from seminary. Eklessia. Ecclessia. Koinonia. Agape. Many others.
What are some contemporary church names you could add? Got any funny examples? Let me hear from you.
Posted on June 18, 2018
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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199 Comments
In Brazil, many churches are using “church” instead of “igreja” (the Portuguese word for church) just to look more international and to sound like “Bethel Church”.
So “Church” becomes the foreign name!
There is a church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma called “Humble Road”, a biker church. Lot’s of Harleys and other big motorcycles in the parking lot on Sundays.
Love it.
Hayseed Cowboy Church, Thaxton, Mississippi
Burnout Baptist Church,
Red Bay, Alabama
(How many have pastored there?)
Burnt Fields Baptist Church, south of Belmont, Mississippi
(Unknown if it’s white unto harvest)
Drivers Flat Baptist Church,
Calhoun County, Mississippi
(Always carry a spare)
Open Door Worship Center,
Fulton, Mississippi
(Doors were shut every time I drove by)
You need to do more of these, Gary.
First Baptist of Central Florida, in Orlando, has a giant cross on its property and changed its name to The Church at the Cross. The name is both locational and theological in nature.
Our church hosts a new cell tower located near our worship center that is like a bell tower in style. I have commented to the congregation that when we do outreach, people in the area will recognize us by the locational statement, “We are the church at the cell tower.” Before long we will be known locally as “The Church at the Tower” and we may want to consider a new name at that time. First Baptist Sweetwater has been here for 40 years but our new cell tower is likely making us more visible than we were previously so it may precipitate a name change.
The Cross is back!
How about The Church of the Dedicated Few? I had to drive around the block a second time to make sure I read the sign correctly. The congregation is located in Rock Island, IL.
Another winner!
While certainly not original, we got the name for our new church plant, Graceway Church, from Exodus 33:13. “… if I have found grace in Your sight, show me Your way, that I may know You …”
I like it!
How about “Fantastic 4 Church” 3 divine elements (fire, water., air) acting on the 4th (the earth)…
I just don’t know . . .
An area in rural Illinois is known as “Goofy Ridge” and yes, a church did use this in its name. A congregation in a city of Michigan used the historic name “Bad Axe” in their name.
Wow x 2!
There are some churches who were obviously started in the late 90’s who are still ‘Extreme,’ or even better ‘ Xtreme.’
While the world is concerned about extremism as it is often associated with not good things, we have a few down here that are still ‘extreme,’ which I guess means the rest of us are ‘cautious?’ I don’t know.
If a church is started off a split from an Extreme church, I would think the only way to keep that same ethos would be to name the new church start/split ‘Radical’ something. (Note: I like the book ‘Radical,’ but it may create unnecessary, confusing barriers to engaging a community).
As others note: I also struggle with churches who try to portray themselves as non-denominational and yet are SBC or Assembly of God (two biggest culprits down here). The denominational information is only available if one is diligent enough to examine every possible link and page on the church’s website. The information is buried somewhere in there. Personally, I think it’s best to just say ‘we are affiliated with…’ and make that clear.
This is one of my favorite strange stories related to this issue: I have an acquaintance at the gym who knows I’m a pastor. He said, ‘I thought I was non denominational for over a year and then found out I was in an Assembly of God church. I left the church and joined another ‘non denominational’ church.’
I don’t have the heart to tell him (yet) that his new church was started years ago off a Baptist church split and is for all practical purposes, still a Baptist church, only without Baptist in the name. He seems to enjoy it there.
Surprise! You’re now a Baptist.
What a trade off!
A friend use to get a lot of harassment when he pastored Slippery Rock Baptist Church. It was named after the city and before he was the pastor.
Yep. A decided path to liberalism.
I remember a church named Mountain Valley; isnt that an oxymoron? Also, if you’re in a growing area you may want to avoid using North, South, East, or West. I know of one famous church named North (city name) and as the city has grown its now central.
Great points.
One community I pastored in had a church by the name “New Design Old Fashion Baptist” I always got a laugh when I read the sign.
Downright confusing.