on choosing a new church name

On Choosing a New On Choosing a New Church Name Church Name

Third Presbyterian Church Third Presbyterian Church

December 16, 2007December 16, 2007

Why a New Name?Why a New Name?

As part of the agreement for leaving the As part of the agreement for leaving the PCUSA, the John Knox Presbytery PCUSA, the John Knox Presbytery required us to change our name within two required us to change our name within two years as the name “Third” too directly years as the name “Third” too directly connected us to the PCUSA connected us to the PCUSA

The Name Change Process The Name Change Process

Why has it taken so long?Why has it taken so long? We asked the congregation for name We asked the congregation for name

suggestions via three surveys and in two suggestions via three surveys and in two congregational town meetings. congregational town meetings.

So everyone who wanted to have input in So everyone who wanted to have input in this decision has had ample opportunity to this decision has had ample opportunity to do so do so

The Name Change Process The Name Change Process

As a pastor, whose time here is inherently As a pastor, whose time here is inherently limited as all pastor’s tenures are, I chose to limited as all pastor’s tenures are, I chose to have as little influence on this decision as have as little influence on this decision as possiblepossible

This decision needed to be God-driven, then This decision needed to be God-driven, then Elder-driven, and then congregation-drivenElder-driven, and then congregation-driven

My only input was to lay out the pros and cons of My only input was to lay out the pros and cons of each type of name, and to suggest the options each type of name, and to suggest the options for deciding on a process to make this decision. for deciding on a process to make this decision.

Pros & Cons of Name CategoriesPros & Cons of Name Categories

When one researches church names When one researches church names across the country, it is interesting to across the country, it is interesting to discover two dynamics: discover two dynamics:

(1) that there are really only a very limited (1) that there are really only a very limited number of names in circulation that get number of names in circulation that get used repeatedly by congregations, and used repeatedly by congregations, and

(2) that these names fall into only five (2) that these names fall into only five major categories. major categories.


Theological Names: Theological Names: AdvantagesAdvantages: Biblically sound and theologically : Biblically sound and theologically

meaningful to Christians. meaningful to Christians. DisadvantagesDisadvantages: We are living in a “post-: We are living in a “post-

Christian” culture wherein the majority of people Christian” culture wherein the majority of people are clueless as to what these terms mean. are clueless as to what these terms mean. Therefore, such names could be a barrier to Therefore, such names could be a barrier to attract visitors due to all the negative attract visitors due to all the negative stereotypes the un-churched and de-churched stereotypes the un-churched and de-churched have of institutional Christianity. have of institutional Christianity.


Locational Names: Locational Names: AdvantageAdvantage: It helps people know where we are : It helps people know where we are

located, and for Third this would be a plus. located, and for Third this would be a plus. DisadvantagesDisadvantages: These names do nothing to : These names do nothing to

communicate the heart and unique vision of a communicate the heart and unique vision of a church. The location included only helps if you church. The location included only helps if you know the area anyhow.know the area anyhow.


Traditional Names:Traditional Names: AdvantagesAdvantages: They convey an image of stability, : They convey an image of stability,

longevity, and importance. longevity, and importance. DisadvantagesDisadvantages: They can also portray : They can also portray

pompousness, and also do nothing to reveal pompousness, and also do nothing to reveal unique vision. unique vision.


Contemporary Names: Contemporary Names: AdvantagesAdvantages: They can portray a church’s unique : They can portray a church’s unique

vision, and can more readily connect with our vision, and can more readily connect with our 21st century culture. 21st century culture.

DisadvantageDisadvantage: Some of them can be too hip and : Some of them can be too hip and trendy, and therefore can become outdated trendy, and therefore can become outdated quickly.quickly.


Hybrid Names: Hybrid Names: AdvantagesAdvantages: You get theological meaningfulness, : You get theological meaningfulness,

contemporary connection, and the communication contemporary connection, and the communication of unique vision. of unique vision.

DisadvantagesDisadvantages: would be the same as for the : would be the same as for the contemporary category of some being too trendy contemporary category of some being too trendy

Pros & Cons of Name CategoriesPros & Cons of Name CategoriesIncluding the denomination in the name: Including the denomination in the name: Since the majority of people seeking a church in Since the majority of people seeking a church in

our current culture do not choose a church based our current culture do not choose a church based on denomination, and in fact find denominations, on denomination, and in fact find denominations, especially mainline denominations like especially mainline denominations like Presbyterian, to represent everything that’s Presbyterian, to represent everything that’s distasteful about Christianity, you might want to distasteful about Christianity, you might want to consider seriously not including our denomination consider seriously not including our denomination in the main name. in the main name.

List of Suggested NamesList of Suggested Names All the suggested names fell into four All the suggested names fell into four

groups:groups: They all included some variation of either They all included some variation of either

“Windsor,” Grace,” Eagle Point,” or “Trinity.” “Windsor,” Grace,” Eagle Point,” or “Trinity.” The variations were simply whether you The variations were simply whether you

added “Evangelical Church” or “Evangelical added “Evangelical Church” or “Evangelical Presbyterian Church” or combined some Presbyterian Church” or combined some variation of the word “Grace” with our variation of the word “Grace” with our location of “Windsor.” location of “Windsor.”

Narrowing Down the ListNarrowing Down the List

After abundant, persistent, fervent prayer After abundant, persistent, fervent prayer over the past year and a half, and after over the past year and a half, and after taking into account all the input received taking into account all the input received from the congregation, and after weighing from the congregation, and after weighing the pros and cons of each type of name as the pros and cons of each type of name as just presented, the Elders came to the just presented, the Elders came to the following guidelines and name choices…following guidelines and name choices…

Narrowing Down the ListNarrowing Down the List

Guidelines the Session Used:Guidelines the Session Used: Not to incorporate the denominational name in Not to incorporate the denominational name in

the main name (because of the barrier it the main name (because of the barrier it presents, and this will be included in many of our presents, and this will be included in many of our bylines making it redundant )bylines making it redundant )

Not to combine our location with another name Not to combine our location with another name (as this would be too restricting to future (as this would be too restricting to future generations should the church need to move, generations should the church need to move, and because it just sounds too awkward) and because it just sounds too awkward)

And The Top Three Choices Are…And The Top Three Choices Are…

Windsor ChurchWindsor Church

Advantage of this name is that it directly includes Advantage of this name is that it directly includes locationlocation

Trinity ChurchTrinity Church

Advantage of this name is that it has a continuity Advantage of this name is that it has a continuity factor from “Third” to “Trinity,” and has relevant factor from “Third” to “Trinity,” and has relevant theological significance. theological significance.

And The Top Choice is…And The Top Choice is…

GracePoint GracePoint Here are the advantages to this name:Here are the advantages to this name: It captures our God-given vision of being a place of grace for the It captures our God-given vision of being a place of grace for the

hurting, the spiritually lost, and the disconnected, and a place of hurting, the spiritually lost, and the disconnected, and a place of equipping as grace is the power to be saved and to grow in Christequipping as grace is the power to be saved and to grow in Christ

It is a unique name in Dubuque which will match the unique niche we It is a unique name in Dubuque which will match the unique niche we believe we are called to fill in Dubuque in fulfilling our new vision believe we are called to fill in Dubuque in fulfilling our new vision

It is a “hybrid” name that incorporates both the “theological” and It is a “hybrid” name that incorporates both the “theological” and “contemporary” categories without being too trendy“contemporary” categories without being too trendy

Having “Point” as part of the name gives us the locational advantage Having “Point” as part of the name gives us the locational advantage connecting us to the “Point” area of Dubuque without the connecting us to the “Point” area of Dubuque without the restrictiveness or awkwardness of a name like “Grace on Windsor” restrictiveness or awkwardness of a name like “Grace on Windsor”

We can easily include the phrase “on Windsor” as part of our logo We can easily include the phrase “on Windsor” as part of our logo giving us an additional Locational aid giving us an additional Locational aid

It lends itself to thematic use (e.g. GracePlace for Kids, Grace Groups, It lends itself to thematic use (e.g. GracePlace for Kids, Grace Groups, GraceNotes, etc) GraceNotes, etc)

Congregational InputCongregational Input Since we are a Presbyterian church who believes Since we are a Presbyterian church who believes

that God works through elected elders, as that God works through elected elders, as opposed to a “Congregational” church who makes opposed to a “Congregational” church who makes all decisions via majority vote, we must give all decisions via majority vote, we must give considerable weight to the prayer-birthed, considerable weight to the prayer-birthed, Spirit-led choice of the current elected Elders. Spirit-led choice of the current elected Elders.

Nevertheless, as this is such a far-impacting and Nevertheless, as this is such a far-impacting and longstanding decision, the Elders desire to make longstanding decision, the Elders desire to make this decision with as high a degree of this decision with as high a degree of congregational input and majority agreement as is congregational input and majority agreement as is possible possible

Congregational InputCongregational Input To solicit this input and to seek majority To solicit this input and to seek majority

agreement, the Elders would like you to submit agreement, the Elders would like you to submit your feedback as to how you would rank these your feedback as to how you would rank these three namesthree names

This input should be driven by what you have This input should be driven by what you have discerned in all your fervent prayer over this discerned in all your fervent prayer over this matter to be Christ’s choice of a name, and not matter to be Christ’s choice of a name, and not driven by your personal preference!driven by your personal preference!

Congregational InputCongregational Input On your input form, please rank the three names On your input form, please rank the three names

in order of what you believe to be the best in order of what you believe to be the best Spirit-led choices by placing the numbers “1,” Spirit-led choices by placing the numbers “1,” “2,”or “3” beside each name marking you highest “2,”or “3” beside each name marking you highest choice “3,” second highest “2,” and least choice “3,” second highest “2,” and least preferable “1.”preferable “1.”

The Elders will then incorporate the The Elders will then incorporate the congregation’s input in making a final name congregation’s input in making a final name choice in the Session meeting on December 19.choice in the Session meeting on December 19.

on choosing a new church name

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