BAPTISTS DEBATE DROPPING OF NAME

While Baptist churches in some parts of the country are dropping the denomination reference from their names, all in Cape Girardeau remain faithful to their designation.

The issue is most prevalent among Southern Baptist churches outside the southern United States. The churches hope that dropping any reference to the denomination makes them more attractive to nonbelievers.

The Rev. Roy Jones, director of missions for the Cape Girardeau Baptist Association, doesn't see the trend reaching Southeast Missouri.

"I think the characteristic of our area is not for any church to drop the denomination name," he said. "You find that trend most prominent in large cities outside the South."

He said it is a common practice in California and other western areas where fewer people have a Christian background.

Jones related a story about working with a new Baptist congregation in Minnesota whose members told volunteers not to mention that it was a Baptist church when relating the name to area residents.

The tendency has been, as the denomination moved out of the South, to drop any references to Southern Baptist and become Baptist, Jones said.

In the recent trend, most churches aren't trying to shy away from the name Baptist but think dropping the name helps eliminate negativity or labeling.

The denomination, with its 15.6 million members dominated by theological conservatives, has drawn fire for its 1997 boycott of the Walt Disney Co. over what it called gay-friendly policies. And last June the church's convention said women should "submit graciously" to their husbands.

The Rev. Roddy Clyde of Dallas said: "I'm not ashamed to be a Baptist, but a brand name can be a hindrance. Some people mistakenly associate the Baptist name with an angry, judgmental kind of fundamentalism."

In 1992, Clyde's church changed its name from Trinity Baptist Church to Fellowship of Forest Creek.

Others see dropping of the Baptist name as a move away from the traditions of the church. Harvey Tingle, another Dallas pastor, said there is little to gain by dropping the name.

Jones agreed. "For some it's a plus to have that identification. I'm not sure if you can get away from the identification of a denomination."

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has faced a different sort of dilemma. The church isn't just limited to congregations in Missouri, and some members think its name should reflect its broader reach.

The issue was first addressed during a convention meeting in July. The synod's board of directors agreed to consider a process but "not a name change."

The process would take several years and involves studying the current name and determining what members and non-members think of it. The Texas district of the church first suggested the change.

Gerald Kieschnick, president of the Texas district of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, said a name change should reflect the national and international elements of the church.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.