What's in a name?
Why Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church?
Discussion in the session meeting last night over the name was far ranging. Some of the negative comments included:
1. Why not choose a name more specific to the identity of the New Church as it emerges?
2. Isn't this too early? What if the new church doesn't reflect this very traditional name?
3. Boring. Sure it describes what we are doing, but what about something a little more theological like Missio Dei, or inclusive like Capitol Hill church or imaginative like ...
This name was not chosen lightly, but after a sustained period of reflection and discussion by the Executive Committee over several weeks. The name was first proposed several years ago by a member of Westminster, who wrote a thoughtful essay defending the name change as an appropriate and biblically modeled response to the immense changes the church had gone through as its former culture had changed.
A few reasons for Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church.
Capitol Hill
1. It reflects the New Testament custom of identifying churches by their geographical locations. The Apostle Paul wrote to "the church at Ephesus" and "the church at Corinth". He didn't name the churches according to a ministry emphasis or a doctrinal stand such as the church of grace, or Imago Dei.
2. A place name merely identifies the location of the particular mission outpost for God's kingdom in that area. Also, Capitol Hill is an inclusive term embracing the diverse population that inhabits, works and parties in this neighborhood.
Church
1. Look at the building. It would be hard to look any churchier.
2. It says to outsiders, "we're a church, a spiritual place where followers of Jesus Christ gather to worship, fellowship and go forth from to serve."
3. It doesn't apologize or dodge cultural criticism by hiding behind a euphemism.
Presbyterian
1. Ah, there's the rub--especially for some of the denizens of CATC. This tells the world much about who we are, including:
a. Our theology. To be Presbyterian is to embrace the essential tenets of Reformed Theology. (if the word Reformed confuses you replace it with "biblical") emphasizing the Sovereignty of God, the all pervasiveness of sin in our lives, the irresistable movement of grace, preferencing God's choosing us over our choosing God, the authority of Scripture, the centrality of Jesus Christ, the priesthood of all believers, salvation by faith alone.
b. Our polity. We join together using covenants--binding ourselves to each other with promises of love and mutual trust. We elect and ordain elders to govern us. We expect the elders to diligently seek God's will on our behalf and we agree to honor their decisions.
c. We are part of a connectional church. We understand the church as the body of Christ is one and we attempt to realize this through submitting to a consitution. While God alone is Lord of our conscience, officers in the Presbyterian church agree to govern their actions according to the rule of this document.
d. We have a heritage in the city of Seattle, where the Presbyterian church has had a long and significant role in the shaping of this particular community. Early in the 20th century the 1st Presbyterian Church in downtown Seattle was one of the largest churches in the city with the largest membership of any Presbyterian church in the country.
All in all, I believe that Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church is a name that will wear well. Remember, although future sessions can always change the name, this name most likely will remain for decades or longer. The church itself will go through many more seasons, changing through the years in order to present the unchanging message of God's love to a city that never stays still.
posted by Scribe @ 3:48 PM
16 Comments
16 Comments:
like james, michael, matthew, etc, Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church (CHPC) will wear well, but we'll probably shortened to cap hill pres. Didn't make my heart sing with flashiness, but that's okay.
While this is true, we should not hide a way or shy a way from the "Presbyterian" roots. This said, part of CATC history is being a church that is not churchy. However we like it "presbyterian" is churchy sounding. I think an underlining theme about moving to Capitol Hill, even though moving into a church build, is coming back to CATC roots, being appealing to unchurch folks. The name envokes the standard church feel. I thought there would be more church discussion regarding the name.
James & co: very well-intentioned points, yawner of a result. Not that we need a flash name, but...it needs a little more life somehow. Perhaps this is one aspect best not left to committee with a million things on its plate. Maybe better yet, we leave the name until either divine intervention and consensus yeild something better, or the Holy Spirit convinces the 75% of us who are currently underwhelmed.
I encourage all of us to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit on this one. Ask the Spirit to guide our hearts on the importance of the name. Should we be focusing on the name or the mission, or is it both? What will bring glory to God?
i'm really excited about this name, actually.
As someone who became "Presbyterian" when I became a member at Church at the Center, not because I was looking to change denominations but because I thought I'd found a family and a home to worship with/in - I'm not 100% comfortable with the connotation that this name gives which to me is "just another Presbyterian church". I guess the flip side of this feeling is "what's in a name?" and maybe that should encourage me to not care as much as what we are called as what we will stand for. I agree with the poster here who hopes that we will refocus on being a church for those who have not been served or comfortable in a traditional church. I think a lot of folks are uneasy about moving into a "churchy" church building -- this will give us some great opportunities facility-wise -- but maybe the traditional building AND the ultra-traditional name are a little scary for a few of us.
I love the comments on mission being the real focus. The name attracts the attention because its the only thing that looks absolute at this point. I'm really down with letting it sit -- if it really matters when the rest is put together I'm sure the Lord will direct us accordingly, or we'll learn that it is fine or somehow secondary. I think its important to chill about it, and don't like how biting my first post seems now...sorry about that but flying off the handle is a family pasttime around here!
Totally off the cuff, but something even slightly mixed up like Church at Capitol Hill might draw folks more into that image of the localized outpost of the church universal... something to subtly highlight the thought process behind it. Although we know better, I don't see anyone outside the church thinking of it as anything more than a bland institutional title.
I also assumed the naming might correspond more with the mission both in timing and style. The name doesn't begin to approach the calling and nature of this new body in importance, and it's going to take a lot more than a pheromone-pumped name to be attractive to and effective in the community, but I see a name as an opportunity to communicate that calling and nature to world. I get that right now our understanding of that call is to be the (Presbyterian) Church in that place and leave ourselves open to figuring out what that means, so maybe this really is the end-all-be-all name for us. Maybe for some of us it will require the same humility to submit to a churchy name as it does to a churchy building - something that seems boring and institutional from the outside but is inwardly defined by the creative movement of God.
Personally, it's a no-brainer not to fuss too much about something like this if it's done (this post is properly termed rambling, not fussing, people :)- I'm not going to skip this party just coz I don't like the name, and I don't think anyone else is either. It's just that so much of our collective experience together at CATC has emphasized for us (or me, at least) that the truth of God and the heart of God are anything but boring and I think we're a group of Christians united in our desire to communicate that, so we're going to instinctively react against anything that might intimate otherwise - perhaps from pride at times (because it reflects poorly on us), but also faithfully as a result of our convictions. I expect every step of this new creation will be marked by a need for corporate and individual discernment in tensions like these and I can't think of anything better for our church and the area we're called to serve.
As someone who transfered into the PNW and went looking for a church home, I visited dozens of churches of all denominations. I went to churches based on what I had about them, what they stood for, what they offered, who and what they were known for - I never considered the name. When I first heard of CATC, I frankly thought is was a wierd name, but I came here because I heard you had good preaching and worship going on. I came here in spite of the name and found exactly what I was looking for. It was probably a year before I sat back and gave thought to what the name meant. It wasn't the name that drew me to this church, it was who you guys were and how you walked me into my relationship with the Lord - and that's why I stayed. Thanks!
I kind of like the name. It's not the shell but the stuffing, right?
I assumed the naming would be a result of prayer and mission conversation. In the end, it may not matter, but I'd like more people to pray about it. If it matters to God what we call it, He will tell us. If it doesn't...
Speaking of stuffing- How about a nifty logo Y'all? From the Cap Hill Press? Maybe we should start our own weekly periodical to compete with the Stranger.
Speaking from a novice background in marketing related fields...
The name is always going to seem underwhelming UNTIL we get down to doing the work of God. Once we establish ourselves in the community, the name will begin to mean something. When you think about it, what does "Clean Ex" does have to do with blowing your nose? "Zeer Oxe" doesn't leave me thinking about picture taking machines or computer systems. I'm sure some creative marketing person thought they were really hip. Or maybe the Lord led them to the name.
While I agree that the name doesn't strike a chord, it might just be a matter of time before it does. I'm staying openminded enough to trust that the work done by our committees that came up wth this is work done by listening to the Lord.
It's now our job to remain open and listen to the Lord's leading in the direction that will either justify the name, or grant us a different one--one that is creative genius or one that's plain jane.
**Dan
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Hey Ken,
Assuming I have the right Ken Biornstad,... This is one of your students in Wenatchee Wa, once upon a time. Hope all is well.
Roger
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