Харрисбургская церковь сменила название, убрав слово «баптист» ради инклюзивности

Historic Myers Park church changes name to become more inclusive Myers Park Covenant Church used to be have ‘Baptist’ in its name CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - An 83-year-old Charlotte church has a new name after the congregants voted to drop the word “Baptist” from its title in an aim to be more inclusive. Myers Park Baptist Church was founded in 1943 and is across the street from Queens University of Charlotte. Now, after more than 800 people who attend the church voted for a name change; it will be known as Myers Park Covenant Church. The vote ended a two-year process during which congregants put forward more than 80 possible new names. “Covenant” was chosen because of the church’s decades old set of rules. “In the 21st century, ‘Baptist’ has become almost toxic in some ways,“ said Interim Rev. Dr. Tim Moore. ”The Southern Baptist Convention currently spends time talking more about who it excludes in membership and leadership than who it includes. We really want to be a congregation that is truly open to all and closed to none. We felt in some senses the name Baptist was a barrier to that.” Discussions about tweaking the church’s title happened two decades ago as well. That’s when the church left both the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. “There was a fidelity to the name even though there was a more of a disconnection between us and Southern Baptists, which is what led to us leaving or being kicked out of the convention,” said Rev. Moore. The church has also had a longstanding history of hospitality and acceptance that has paved the way for today’s change. “In the 1960s this congregation was one of the churches that really helped push desegregation. In the early 1970s they began supporting women in ministry. For over a quarter of a century, the church has been welcoming and inclusive of gay, lesbian and transgender persons,” said Rev. Moore. Copyright 2026 WBTV. All rights reserved.