I’ve just come from a visioning committee meeting, a gathering of folks interested in starting a “new faith community” (Is that what the kids are calling it these days?) in a growing part of Santa Fe, NM. Many on the committee are retired PC(USA) clergy; I’d say the average age of those doing the visioning is around 60 years including me—a thirty-two year old.

As we were envisioning something new, discussion came up regarding a flyer/mailing to be circulated to the target communities announcing an initial information session for any would-be interested community members looking for a new faith community. As we considered focus and direction for such a faith community, I noticed that there was a phrase on the flyer saying something like: “Sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Presbytery of Santa Fe.” I asked: Do we have to say that?
Subsequent discussion commentary such as: being “up-front” about who we are, about liability of all things, and not being deceptive. A vote was taken and the majority felt it important that this new church plant have Presbyterian written on its advertising.

So I’m throwing it out there. Do we, in this—according to Nishioka and others—post-denominational age, have to announce we are Presbyterian when doing new church plants? If so, why? (and please don’t tell me for liability…good-grief). Would it be disingenuous not to say our denomination on advertisements? If a group of new church planters opts to “conceal” denominational identity, when would/ should this information be revealed? What would be the reaction when this information is revealed to those who didn’t know?

In very simplistic observations, it seems that those “denominations” that don’t advertise their denomination when doing a church plant have had good “success,” and perhaps recognize that people just don’t care so much. But this “success” doesn’t just come from them not advertising their denomination. So the question, I suppose is, can we be Presbyterian without having it written on our advertising? (Ironically, the PCA seems to have accomplished this.)

Oh, by the way, in case you are wondering who I am, I’m a recently ordained Presbyterian MWS, serving a small church in Santa Fe. This is my first post to this blog. We’ll see how it goes.