Victorian church rebrands itself "St. Mike's" to appeal to the youngs

[John Dule]

The church will also open a coffee bar, which is sure to become the newest, hippest place in all of Bournemouth.

[Big Abraham]

The only thing that will foster a resurgence of church attendance/activity among young people is if it goes hand-in-hand with some kind of broader respect for, or identity with, the institutions of society at-large, which would have to reverse the decades-in-the-making process of societal alienation and the disintegration of social norms.

Church leadership attempting to be the bee's knees by bribing people with hipster coffee is as pathetic as corporate techbro or hedge-fund types trying to attract yuppies with craft beer and foosball tables in the break-room that screams "look at hyper-modern and hip our firm is."

[If my soul was made of stone]

I'm looking forward to what BRTD has to say about this.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

These are not the types of churches that young people go to.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I'm looking forward to what BRTD has to say about this.

Actually I really can't put it any better than this:

These are not the types of churches that young people go to.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

But actually the names of churches that do attract young people tend to be more along the lines of not having "church" in the name at all, much less "Saint" and sound more like a night club or something. Or have the name be just some one word succinct thing like "Fabric" or "Tides" or "Mosaic" and leave it at that.

On a side note it recently hit me that while they definitely like her, the kids at my church probably don't consider my church's youth director "cool" because a 33-year old woman who listens to emo and hardcore to them is...basically their parents.

[beesley]

These are not the types of churches that young people go to.

Yes, in the sense that they are much less likely to go to Church of England churches of their own accord.

Anyway, I have nothing good to say about this, and the Church of England's decline in membership is deserved given their decline in many other areas.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

These are not the types of churches that young people go to.

Yes, in the sense that they are much less likely to go to Church of England churches of their own accord.

Anyway, I have nothing good to say about this, and the Church of England's decline in membership is deserved given their decline in many other areas.

The Church of England's big problem is it sounds like it tried to he the equivalent of Kyrsten Sinema in regards to all theological and political issues and thus ends up pleasing absolutely no one.

[Statilius the Epicurean]

The Church of England's big problem is it sounds like it tried to he the equivalent of Kyrsten Sinema in regards to all theological and political issues and thus ends up pleasing absolutely no one.

I'm not exactly sure what is meant by the reference to Krysten Sinema in this context, but the Church of England's self-conception as the via media is absolutely central to its tradition and even its theological legitimacy. Dunno what's left if one abandons that idea.

[Santander]

St. Mike's is a common colloquial nickname for institutions named St Michael's anyway. While actually changing the name is a bit silly, there's probably far more absurd things that go on at BRTD's church every week.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

"Mike" is, on top of everything else, a deeply middle-aged name at this point.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The Church of England's big problem is it sounds like it tried to he the equivalent of Kyrsten Sinema in regards to all theological and political issues and thus ends up pleasing absolutely no one.

I'm not exactly sure what is meant by the reference to Krysten Sinema in this context, but the Church of England's self-conception as the via media is absolutely central to its tradition and even its theological legitimacy. Dunno what's left if one abandons that idea.

The Church in Wales? (i.e., a Protestant High Church)

[afleitch]

My former Catholic Church is known colloquially as 'St Al's'. Short handed names are quite common and whether official or unofficial seem less trite to me than churches called things like Hope, Mercy, Vine or Destiny.

It's just aesthetics.

[Agonized-Statism]

That would be a fourth or fifth Great Awakening (the existence of the 1960-1980 one is debated).

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

That would be a fourth or fifth Great Awakening (the existence of the 1960-1980 one is debated).

The Fourth Awakening, even if it be counted as a true awakening, was more a response to the Cold War than anything else. It certainly focused more on surface aspects than spiritual development.

[LabourJersey]

The Church of England's big problem is it sounds like it tried to he the equivalent of Kyrsten Sinema in regards to all theological and political issues and thus ends up pleasing absolutely no one.

I'm not exactly sure what is meant by the reference to Krysten Sinema in this context, but the Church of England's self-conception as the via media is absolutely central to its tradition and even its theological legitimacy. Dunno what's left if one abandons that idea.

Also an established church needs to be a big tent, at least in theory. Not necessarily a fan of established churches but they are meant to be for all people in the nation.

Also I kind of agree with BRTD here, in the sense that if you want to re-name a church to "appeal more to young people" (which I think isn't that helpful but still), if it's still "St. [Name]'s Church of Bournemouth" you are not really changing the mental image people will have

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Also I kind of agree with BRTD here, in the sense that if you want to re-name a church to "appeal more to young people" (which I think isn't that helpful but still), if it's still "St. [Name]'s Church of Bournemouth" you are not really changing the mental image people will have

Especially given that it's in Bournemouth, geez louise. I'm sure it's not the same place it was in the days when it was a retirement enclave for people similar to J.R.R. Tolkien at best and Gerald Gardner at worst, but I can't imagine its popular image within England has changed that much.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Especially given that it's in Bournemouth, geez louise. I'm sure it's not the same place it was in the days when it was a retirement enclave for people similar to J.R.R. Tolkien at best and Gerald Gardner at worst, but I can't imagine its popular image within England has changed that much.

And Tolkien didn't even like it!

As for Bournemouth now... well, the reality has shifted a bit, but the image has not. It does (somewhat randomly) have a good symphony orchestra, mind.

[Mr. Illini]

This is cultural appropriation of Catholics. I’ve been to St Mike’s, St Joe’s, and St Al’s. None officially named that but that’s what we call ‘em.

[_.]

There should a be "Church of St Tony Soprano" in New Jersey somewhere

[DaleCooper]

Churches need to offer a serious theological and philosophical outlet for their parishioners if they want to stay relevant going forward. Balloons and skateboards and terrible modern music are not drawing anyone in. You'll attract more people if you actually give them what you're advertising, which is some sort of answer to the big questions we face in this world.