A Name-Change Story
The journey of transformation from Whitehorse Baptist Church to Mountainview Church.
As the lead pastor of Mountainview Church, formerly known as Whitehorse Baptist Church, in 2018 our leadership team had the unique opportunity to guide our congregation through a significant transition—a name change. In many ways, this journey wasn’t just about altering a title; it was about reflecting the larger identity of being “Baptists” and a missional vision to reach our city with the Gospel.
The Shift in Christian Culture
The landscape of Christianity in North America has witnessed a pronounced shift over the past decade. Denominational affiliations have seen a decline, giving rise to larger nondenominational congregations. These churches appeal to a broader spectrum of believers, including those who may have been disengaged from church life due to denominational standards.
“Between 2010 and 2020, nondenominational churches expanded by 2 million attendees and 9,000 congregations, according to the 2020 U.S. (Religion Census – USReligionCensus.com). Nondenominational churches now constitute the third-largest religious group in the country after Catholics and the Southern Baptist Convention.”
Christian Standard. “A Movement Away from Denominationalism: What’s It Mean for Us?” May 2023. https://ChristianStandard.com/2023/05/a-movement-away-from-denominationalism-whats-it-mean-for-us/.
Our fellowship, the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptists (FEB), seemingly felt or anticipated this trend. We adopted more generic branding nationally (Fellowship National) and regionally (Fellowship Pacific) to reflect the culture shift but without forsaking our historical or theological heritage.
Our Local Church History
Founded in 1946 as “Whitehorse Gospel Chapel,” our church went through a couple of name changes in the 1950s. Initially, it was changed to “Whitehorse Independent Baptist Church” in 1955 before settling on “Whitehorse Baptist Church” a year later. This name remained for over half a century, until the mid-2010s, when it became evident that we were at a crossroads.
Following a Church Lifecycles consultation in 2015, we embarked on a journey of revitalization, culminating in the launch of a new vision in 2016: “To be an authentic, vibrant church, serving and reaching our city.”
As I think back and reflect on the vision-casting process, the old KJV Proverb proved true: “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Prov. 29:18a). This new vision paved the way for profound discussions, including evaluating the relevance of our church’s name in today’s cultural context.
The Challenge of Perception
The consideration of a name change was partly sparked by our realization of how cultural perceptions of the Baptist denomination had shifted, even within Christianity. Historically, Baptists self-identified as a denomination that holds tightly to Scriptural principles.
“Members of some Christian denominations have also embraced the term “People of the Book” in reference to themselves, foremost among them the Puritans as well as the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Baptists.”
Wikipedia. “People of the Book.” https://Wikipedia.org/wiki/People_of_the_Book.
That being said, over time, the term “Baptist” had become associated with negative connotations that didn’t align with our beliefs or practices. This awareness prompted us to question whether our name effectively communicated who we are as a congregation and who Jesus is calling us to be for our city.
The Process of Change
Our vision launched us in that direction, and then we engaged our congregation in open dialogue, accumulating name suggestions. Then we started a selection process for finalists, leading to a congregational vote between three names, and ultimately selecting “Mountainview Church” as our new identity.
Here’s a brief breakdown of our process:
- One month of taking name suggestions from the congregation, including reasons why that name should be chosen.
- The Board (Deacons, Elders and Pastor) took time to pray, discuss, then vote, to bring the number down to six names.
- The Pastor-Elder Team took more time to pray, discuss, and then vote, to bring that number down to three finalists.
- Those three finalists announced to the covenant membership, are to be voted on at our next meeting.
Throughout this process, we strived to balance respect for our heritage and congregation while highlighting the necessity for change; crucial for successful organizational transformations.
The Truth About Pastoral Leadership
Our name change process revealed the double-edged nature of power in leadership. On one hand, my position played a crucial role in initiating and guiding the change, which is a positive side of pastoral influence. Conversely, during the big reveal, I didn’t get my preferred name submission, “Discovery Church”.
This serves as a humbling reminder that there are (and should be) limits to a leader’s power. Sometimes even the pastor (or especially the pastor) has to submit to the will of the Holy Spirit, accepting the outcome of a voting membership.
A New Chapter
The transition to Mountainview Church marked the beginning of a new chapter in our congregation’s life. Now that a few years have passed, there’s evidence of renewed passion and vision-focused growth.
Our journey has revealed that lasting change in a church community isn’t just about the adoption of new strategies. It stems from a deeper spiritual transformation of hearts and minds. Embracing change often results in challenging traditions and perceptions, but it’s essential for growth and relevance.
As Mountainview continues to reach out to our city, the lessons learned through this process will undoubtedly shape our path forward. It will be a time-stamped reminder that change, although peppered with challenges and tough conversations, is a worthwhile journey for renewal and revival.
In the end, the story of our name change is more than just a tale of organizational decision-making; it’s a testament to the power of Gospel-centred vision, faith in the Spirit’s guidance, and willing hearts to embrace change.
