What’s in a Name? Announcing Our New Name & Logo

What’s in a Name? Announcing Our New Name & Logo

Our first “Letter to the PC(USA),” sent out in early February, referred to the formation of “The Fellowship”; a working name for a new movement that was testing the waters with new ideas, new vision, hope, prayer, and possibilities. Koinonia — true “fellowship” deeply rooted in mutually held convictions about Christ and Scripture that nurtures trust and inspires new levels of commitment to evangelistic mission — has always been central to our vision for new ways of “being” church. The original addition of “PC(USA)” identified our starting point.

As we continue to grow in number and begin to clarify our focus, however, it may be confusing to keep “PC(USA)” in our name, as our core commitment is not to renewing the structure and systems of our denominational bureaucracy, nor is our sole focus on congregations remaining within the PC(USA).  At the same time, we honor and claim our theological and confessional heritage as Presbyterians.  And so, as we complete the final stages of incorporation as a 501(c)3 organization, we officially announce our name: “The Fellowship of Presbyterians.”

As part of this evolving identity, our web address has also been modified to www.fellowship-pres.org (please update your bookmarks). We also have a new logo.  Central in our logo is the Celtic cross, anchoring every aspect of the Fellowship’s identity in our resurrected Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and marking this movement as a contemporary expression of our Presbyterian heritage.  Behind the cross is what first appears to be an arrow, a reminder that the movement of our efforts must always be forward and our focus must always be outward.  But that portion of the logo also represents an opened Bible, revealing God’s plan and purpose, the first and final authority in all matters of life and ministry.

A modified name and a new logo may not seem critically important in these times of denominational crisis and competing values, but they symbolize a deeper reality.  To date, more than 1,200 people have indicated their support of this fledgling movement now called “The Fellowship of Presbyterians.”  We thank God for these people because their support indicates their conviction to uphold orthodox Christian faith and their willingness to do the hard work of discerning together what God is doing in these unpredictable times.  As we prayerfully anticipate the Gathering of nearly 2,000 Presbyterians in Minneapolis, we hope this name and logo will also affirm and direct the vision God placed in the hearts of seven pastors over a year ago that is now a growing movement into a new reality.

15 Responses

  1. Jim Toole says:

    I love the fact that this started as a catalyst for innovation in our denomination. But I am heart broken that now there is a logo and have become an official non-profit organization. You started out as a beautiful non centralized starfish and now you are in danger of becoming a centralized spider. To be honest this took the winds out of my sail, the movement just became an organization. I still have hopes but now I fear more of the same.

  2. Marlene Stewart says:

    I like the logo. I like its simplicity. The blue field behind the cross also reminds me of a church window, or even a house. These give me a sense of creativity/art and family/inclusiveness. I like it.

  3. Alan Adams says:

    I like the logo and the symbolism – good work. I don’t feel the danger of becoming a ‘spider’. There was a middle ground in ‘The Starfish and the Spider’, the authors called it the hybrid organization. I think I’ve heard enough to know, and know the cast of characters well enough to know, that this isn’t a move to another centralized, spider type, body. Instead, it is an important step forward to allow congregations to focus on missional engagement rather than on pointless theological argument or rancorous political maneuvering.

  4. John Gilman says:

    Excellent, welcoming logo and a very appropriate name. Good work!

  5. Cyndi Hayes says:

    If PC(USA) isn’t ready to support this yet (or ever?) until after this August meeting, this movement needs a way to put money, and resources together, and report it (taxes, tax-free, whatever). And as seems natural, in line with the original innovation (as an “arm” of PC(USA) or not), a logo makes sense; like the youth Triennium or the resource center have their own logos, but are part of PC(USA), and which I believe (although I’m making an educated guess here) have their own non-profit status as well.
    Love the logo!

  6. Lonny Hopkins says:

    I am all for the name change and logo, we need to be idenified as the people of that Word and not as conforming to the misleading school of thought that is overtaking the PCUSA. However Mr. Toole does bring up a good point worth considering.

  7. Harry Bolick says:

    To Jim Toole’s comment, we all need to learn from the many attempts to both state what we believe and to have gatherings that would stimulete FELLOWSHIPS. But they all failed, or ran out of steam for lack of the “O” word – Organization. We Presbyterians need this! The new logo is “simple beauty!” It will be very useful in our travels prior to GA 2012.

  8. David F Katt says:

    Organizations that are committed to their members do not have to become centralized spiders. They must admit from the beginning that if they are successful, then the need for them will become obsolete. Praise be to our triune God that He is our decentralized Focus.

  9. Heekyun Kim says:

    Yes, I like the logo and its simplicity, too. Nicely done!

  10. Tom Gard says:

    At last, a name that is simple, a logo that is not cluttered,a meaning that is clear. Do I see a bird rising from the ashes?

  11. Lottie B. Haswell says:

    I am an old, retired missionary who has worn a celtic cross for the past 38 years, so of course the design met my approval. As a new missionary in Brazil (back in 1972) I was told that “protestants don’t wear crosses”, but my husband discovered that our first churches in this country were forbidden to “look like churches” i.e. have crosses. So he authorized me to wear my cross, and hundreds of times I have had oportunities to share my risen Lord, when someone ? My USA pastor, Jeff, and all of you in the Fellowship are in my prayers. Courage!!

  12. Bruce Rux says:

    Eventually a new denomination will evolve. When it does why not draw on our history(PC(USA), United Presbyterian, and PCUS) and call ourslelves Presbyterians United in America. I hope I am not getting ahead of everyone.

  13. EUGENE TIMS says:

    Please let us not forget what it is that we are all about: The Six Great Ends of The Church.

  14. Richard Snow says:

    Let us band together to form, or reform, a church based on the Bible, not on the politics of the day. What served us well for over 200 years has not changed, what has served Christendom well for 2000 years has not changed.

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