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July 28, 2006

All Pilgrims Lucky Stop First United Church of the Rock and Burning Bush of Souls Harbor: The Meaning of Congregational Names

Is the name of your church invitational, exclusive, aversive, or perhaps just benign?
I pass legions of church signs during my travels—and I’ve noticed that many places beckon me to worship. I’m extraordinarily curious about where and how other people practice their faith, and I have noticed that some churches appear much more welcoming than others.
I continue to wonder about a possible correlation between the names of churches and other variables. If perception is related to reality, what might be an outsider’s perception of the name of your place of worship?
If I think of life as a pilgrimage, then the name All Pilgrims Christian Church seems a reasonable fit. If on the other hand, I think about being rooted, I am drawn to a small church in the mountains of Kentucky named Church of the Rock. The metaphor is solid, and the church building was appropriately situated on a rocky bluff.

DreamSeeker Magazine Autumn 2004: Donald E. Kraybill

Posted by thdyck on July 28, 2006

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