Changing your church's name is an important decision for its community
A church's name is one of its most important signatures in a community. Its members should be able to identify with it and feel that it properly reflects the church and its significance. Whether it is named after a location, a patron saint or a common belief, the name is what initially distinguishes a church from all others. Therefore, the decision to change a church's name requires a lot of careful planning.
Instructions
1. Decide if your church is ready for a name change. Do not expect the notion to succeed if you are the only one who supports the idea. Propose a scheduled meeting to discuss it with other key members of the church.
2. Assess the reasons for a name change and contribute suggestions for a more suitable one. Making sure that the church agrees upon an established mission statement is a good way to start. Does your church's current name reflect its image? Could a better name more effectively reach out to the community?
3. It is best to not include too many individuals when agreeing upon a new name. Try to involve only leadership figures since voting among an entire community often alienates people. The intention of a name change is to strengthen the church and encourage growth.
4. Allow a period of transition once a new name has been chosen. Get the members of the church to anticipate some exciting news as the improved name is integrated into the culture of the church. This will allow an opportunity to attract new members or draw the attention of former ones.
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