There are at least three good reasons to make the name change:
1) We are a zoo at Wedgewood. We have people from Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Unitarian/Universalist, Catholic, United Church of Christ, Jewish, Buddhist, atheist, agnostic, etc. leanings or backgrounds. Although we are a Baptist congregation, “Baptist” in our name is not an accurate description of who we are.
2) Denominationally, we should be dually aligned with the American Baptist Churches and the United Church of Christ. We currently are aligned only with the American Baptist Churches. (We are aligned with Alliance of Baptists, and should continue to be aligned with the Alliance, but the Alliance is not a denomination.) Wedgewood’s 30 by 2013 committee has selected two of its members to join me in meeting with a United Church of Christ committee to explore a possible alignment. This process involves several steps. After this meeting with the UCC group, we will have information to share about the UCC, details of what a relationship with the UCC would entail, and a timeline for us to decide.
The UCC was the first denomination to ordain gay clergy and to approve of same sex marriage. It is a denomination we fit perfectly.
Ten years ago we looked into aligning with the UCC and we discovered some homophobia on the UCC’s state level. This no longer exists. The UCC is very excited about the possibility of our alignment.
If we do align, changing our name to “Wedgewood” would more accurately reflect our denominational status, stressing neither the Baptist nor the UCC.
3) Having “Baptist” in our name hurts us. Many of the loudest voices against GLBT rights have been Baptist voices. It’s hard to overcome that type of negativity, even when we spell out who we are.
It’s been nice to be tell the world we are Baptist and that we have the views we do, but doing that comes at a great cost.
I highly value our Baptist heritage. We will continue to incorporate our Baptist heritage into the life of our congregation. We, however, can be Baptist, along with being other things, without having “Baptist” in our name.
I find this idea of removing ‘baptist’ from your name sad. As a member of the gay community and coming out of a baptist heritage it was nice to come across a church that successfully blends the two ‘gay and baptist’ with acceptance and not simply tolerance. Personally I find we as humans find it easier to run away from names that put us in a negative light than to put the effort into reclaiming and redefining that name.. such as ‘faggot’ or ‘queer’ which to me were very negative labels in my younger years but today have been reclaimed. I am not familiar with the UUC but I assume they are similar to the UCC (United Church of Canada) who are great supporters of the Pride Community but who, to me, do not offer an experience which is ecumenical enough for me as a Baptist to be part of. Baptism by immersion (offered as an option). Salvation by grace and not works (works seem far more important than grace to most UCC church people I know). A biblically based, personal relationship with the person of Jesus. Priesthood of all believers. Congregational ownership of the church building, and not the denomination. Congregation makes all their own decisions (including theology, calling, hiring and firing of ministers, etc). Ministers who ‘dress up’ to look distinctly different than their congregants, etc.
Just my thoughts!
Terry
I can tell you from experience that we had heard of your church for a couple of years but were hesitant to try it because the word “baptist” had such negative connotations for me. It took actually meeting ya’ll at the Charlotte Pride festival in 2010 to overcome my fear. There is definately a difference between “tolerance” and “We are so happy to have your family join us for worship”. We miss being able to be a part of the Wedgewood community. I know you will make the best decision possible for the Wedgewood family.
I have heard from time to time that this pops up at MPBC, and that one of the stated reasons for dropping baptist is that the word baptist has such negative connotations that it will keep people will away. I heard that the last time this came up someone stood up and said something like — well if we are really serious about this, I think we should remove the words Myers Park from our name — for this too keeps some people away. As you may imagine, this was a conversation stopper. Personally, as Bill Leonard recently said, I have often been embarrassed by my baptist family and most recently shamed by Pastor Worley, and his congregational, who I heard gave him a standing ovation the next Sunday. With all the embarrassments and yes the recent shame, I still want to hold on to the name baptist. As a baptist, I feel that I have lost so much and have given up so much with the takeover of my baptist life and heritage by the fundamentalist within the denomination. Personally, I just refuse to to give up and to give over to them my baptist name. Wedgewood and MPBC, are in judgment, with all their richness of diversity are baptist and what it means to be baptist at the very best. I confess that on Sundays when Steve says — Welcome to MPBC, an ecumencial congregation in the baptist tradition, I find myself saying — Yes– that is baptist at its best and true to its heritage …
Myers Park Baptist has represented the best of the Baptist traditions. A long time ago when I was in seminary I read about Myers Park Baptist and the church gave me great hope. And then I met in Chapel Hill an elderly former Myers Park member. She is probably the best human being I’ve ever known.
Feel compelled to offer one insight liberal Baptists don’t want to hear. There has never been just one Baptist tradition so liberals claiming to be the true Baptists is highly problematic.
http://www.liberalbaptistrev.com/?p=4857
In the West, many churches simply say: ___________ Community Church.
They do not express their affiliations (in name or signage), other than to preach that they are Christian.
I recently attended a church ( a “Community” church) where the exterior signs
had dual affiliation – the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ.
The nearest Catholic church is: St. ______________ Catholic Faith Community.
In considering the congregation of Wedgewood, I sort of like:
Wedgewood Community of Faith Church (or simply Wedgewood Community Church)
Only suggestions.