Open Icon Baptist Church is a punchy memorable name that contains allusions to both our past and our future. Icons were a notable feature of our liturgical and spiritual practice for the past few decades and, in our new reality, you open an icon to get into Zoom and into our online gatherings.
In terms of the five criteria we have been playing with, Open Icon Baptist Church is:
- Inviting curiosity – it makes it clear that it is a Baptist church, and it contains hints that it may be online and/or may appreciate aspects of ancient spiritualities such as icons, but it doesn’t spell any of that out definitively.
- Punchy – short, easy to say, no need for abbreviation.
- Borderless – no reference to any geographical place.
- 50:50 on ‘Digital’ language – You can “open an icon” to enter our online worship. That language can be understood as a digital reference, but since “openness” and “icons” also have other meanings in church, it is not fully explicit. Thus it avoids necessarily putting off people who think they hate online worship, but it also won’t leave anyone feeling that the name implied a physically gathered group.
- Symbolic – “Open icon” can refer to an online entry point, but it can also speak of the use of icons in prayer. The traditional “Rublev” icon of the Trinity is often described as an icon that is “open” at the front, inviting the viewer in to a place at the table. In both the digital context and in prayer, icons are things by which people seek to enter into a much larger reality.
Other Criteria:
- Good double meanings – it’s great when names can have two or more meanings and all those meanings are appropriate. It allows the name to say more without getting long and complicated. “Open icon” can speak of a digital entry point or a prayer practice and worship style. Both very appropriate.
- History – The use of icons in prayer and worship was part of our history for 20 years prior to going online
- Domain Name Availability – OpenIcon.church are several other variations are available as an internet domain name.
‘Icon’ is a good clue to our worship style. Short and easy to say I think is a positive. I think this name is less likely to be a negative trigger to past/previous church experiences.
The strong connection to the Rublev icon is greatly in its favour.
Using the word ‘open’ links us to Open Baptists. There might be reasons in the future why we don’t want this link.
This view continues to baffle me. Even at the level of basic grammar, it is clear that the word “open” is qualifying the word “icon”, not the word “Baptist”. If we were one day no longer associated with the Open Baptists, I don’t think being called “Open Icon” would be a problem. Being called “Something Open Baptist Church” would, because the words are consecutive, but when they’re not, it is quite different. There is already a church called “Open Door Baptist Church” in Melton. They are not part of Open Baptists and I don’t think they will be feeling the have to change their name to avoid any possible association. There is also an “Open Chapel” in the CBD and an “Open Church” in Perth. They are not part of Open Baptists.
I don’t think that is what most people would hear when there is another word in between.
I think most people would hear “Open” as signalling welcome immediately. It clearly communicates theological, relational, and spiritual hospitality without needing explanation.
This name fits us really well, and has continued to grow on me over time. The double meaning is so effective, communicating important and distinctive things about our past and our future. Praying with “open icons” was a distinctive part of our physically gathered past, and “opening an icon” is how we now connect with one another when we gather online.
I asked ChatGPT for some comments on this name focused on how it may land with insiders, other Christians, and people with no church background. This is what it returned:
This is a strong name for our church for all of the reasons already mentioned.
I particularly like the connection to the Rublev Trinity Icon.
The name is unique, as we as a church are unique.
In-house we could be OIBaps!
I like this name very much. It references our liturgical approach. “Open” has many conotations and is thus appropriate to our church.
When accompanied by the graphics submitted by Nathan in a earlier posting, it goes to the top of the list for me.