A report finds new churches dropping the word 'church'

CHURCHTIMES.CO.UK

'new things'

SUMMARY

A report has found that new churches in the Church of England are increasingly abandoning the term "church" to describe their initiatives, causing theological questions about the identity of the church itself. Research revealed that in the last decade, approximately 900 "new things" were established across 11 dioceses, yet none referred to them primarily as churches.

The report indicates varied language usage, with some dioceses favoring terms like "worship," "congregation," or "community." This shift raises concerns about unity within the church, especially regarding traditional practices. It calls into question how these changes impact mission and theological understanding.