Campus Crusade for Christ changing name

[nebula]

Campus Crusade Drops 'Christ' in New Name

CBNNews.com

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Campus Crusade for Christ International is planning to change the name of its U.S. ministry, including nixing the use of "Christ" in its title.

Starting early next year, Campus Crusade for Christ's work in the United States will be done under the name "Cru." The new name doesn't apply internationally.

"In the U.S., 20 percent of the people willing to consider the gospel are less interested in talking with us after they hear the name. We are changing the name for the sake of more effective ministry," the group explained on its website.

CCC leaders said the word "campus" in the group name doesn't "adequately represent" all of its ministries in the U.S., and is even confusing to potential partners.

They added that "crusade" is also offensive to some Christians and now carries "negative associations."

"There's only one reason we'd change. We want to do a better job of connecting people to God's love and forgiveness," they said. "It's all about helping people experience the good news that Jesus offers."

The ministry insists "Cru" is not to eliminate "Christ" from its name.

"Our mission has not changed. Cru enables us to have discussions about Christ with people who might initially be turned off by a more overtly Christian name," the group added.

Leaders say "Cru" was already a popular shorthand for the ministry.

Many campuses have already dropped the "crusade" language from their chapters.

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2011/July/Campus-Crusade-Drops-Christ-in-New-Name/

[OneLight]

Sad ... really sad.

[Guest]

The Gospel without Christ -- isn't the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[Ready1]

PC PC PC ENOUGH Already!!!!!!!

[nebula]

Just wondering - what do you think of their concerns?

1. "Campus" doesn't reflect the scope of their ministry anymore.

2. The name as-is loses their audience before they had a chance to begin.

[methinkshe]

Just wondering - what do you think of their concerns?

1. "Campus" doesn't reflect the scope of their ministry anymore.

2. The name as-is loses their audience before they had a chance to begin.

We've had something similar in the U.K. "The Crusaders" - a Christian youth work - have changed their name to "Urban Saints". I'm not sure what rural saints are meant to make of that - lol! I think it is an unhelpful change of name that panders to worldliness in general and Muslims in particular. It's as though Christians have become frightened of proclaiming the cross of Christ and wish only to "tone down" their message so as to accommodate all and any naysayers. "Crusade" and "Crusaders" isn't necessarily associated with THE Crusades, but it IS etymologically derived from THE cross. And if we can no longer preach the cross (albeit via the name of a Christian organisation) then our preaching is fast becoming in vain.

http://www.secularism.org.uk/crusaderschangenamesoasnottocaus.html

The latest organisation to change its name to avoid causing offence to hypersensitive Muslims is The Crusaders, an evangelical Christian youth group with a claimed 20,000 members. From January it will be known as The Urban Saints

“Our new identity is part of a recognition that we are now a 21st-century organisation and are not still stuck in the last century,” said Matt Summerfield, executive director. “There are some people who love the name Crusaders, but we recognise that others get very offended by it, as they think we are harking back to the historical crusades.”

Some schools and fundraising groups had rebuffed approaches from Crusaders because of the “emotive” nature of their name, he said.

“We have had situations with certain schools who felt they couldn’t run clubs under our name because they have a number of Muslim pupils. People are very wary these days about the possibility of being portrayed as politically incorrect and insensitive to other faiths.” But the name change would not alter the Christian character of the organisation.

Rob Rawson, director of Crusaders Scotland, said the name Urban Saints was more relevant, but it is not without its own problems. “In the west of Scotland the term ‘saints’ often has Catholic overtones. We are stressing that the name is based on the biblical term – basically a follower of Christ. Crusaders is a strong, almost aggressive name which was fine in 1906, but is certainly not appropriate in 2006.”

Phil Gallie, the conservative MSP, was appalled that the Crusaders felt compelled to abandon a century of tradition. “Anyone with a modicum of common sense would recognise that the word Crusader doesn’t necessarily refer to Richard the Lionheart,” he said. “These politically correct gurus who forced this group to change their name are off their trolleys and should be ashamed of themselves.”

Muslim leaders applauded the change. Sajid Quayem, of the Islamic Society of Britain, said: “The term crusader is still seen as offensive by many Muslims and Christians, particularly after George Bush misguidedly referred to the war in Iraq as a crusade. The name Urban Saints is quite groovy and will not cause offence to anybody.”

[Arthur Durnan]

No Christ? No salvation! Evangelical Christians are fleeing from Jesus & I.D. with Him; false cults & false world religions are gaining. "Youth For Christ" is now "Youth International". Next, "Campus Crusade For Christ" becomes "Cru." Soon, "XYZ Bible Church" will be "XYZ Church" or "XYZ Fellowship" minus its pulpit & any cross on top of the building! Zowie, sounds like a universal back-tracking from all things Jesus, the Word of God and salvation by the blood of Christ only! Why does the processing Church of Christ Jesus continue to run away from a hostile world? Isn't today with its abounding periods of madness, its festivals of fools, its own aberrant Saturnalias, its papier-mache politicians and ultraliberal denominational power-structures extremely ready & ripe for a fresh infusion of Bible-based, Christ-honoring & Spirit-filled preaching which unapologetically elevates the only Savior from sin, death & hell? Why be so shamefully taciturn? Onward (Evangelical) Christian Soldiers indeed!Arthur Durnan.

[other one]

Just wondering - what do you think of their concerns?

1. "Campus" doesn't reflect the scope of their ministry anymore.

2. The name as-is loses their audience before they had a chance to begin.

My daughter was on staff at Cru for some time until she got married. Thier reasoning is valid and it's a good move.

Campus does not reflect their whole mission, Crusade is offensive to many of the people they are trying to reach and they get a very quick introduction to Christ when comversations start up.

It's a good thing.

[ayin jade]

Im not seeing the problem. Although I like the old name, but in truth that is because of memories I have of 2 folks who led it in my area, it isnt like they have changed the gospel. They are still preaching Christ crucified for our sins.

[other one]

No Christ? No salvation! Evangelical Christians are fleeing from Jesus & I.D. with Him; false cults & false world religions are gaining. "Youth For Christ" is now "Youth International". Next, "Campus Crusade For Christ" becomes "Cru." Soon, "XYZ Bible Church" will be "XYZ Church" or "XYZ Fellowship" minus its pulpit & any cross on top of the building! Zowie, sounds like a universal back-tracking from all things Jesus, the Word of God and salvation by the blood of Christ only! Why does the processing Church of Christ Jesus continue to run away from a hostile world? Isn't today with its abounding periods of madness, its festivals of fools, its own aberrant Saturnalias, its papier-mache politicians and ultraliberal denominational power-structures extremely ready & ripe for a fresh infusion of Bible-based, Christ-honoring & Spirit-filled preaching which unapologetically elevates the only Savior from sin, death & hell? Why be so shamefully taciturn? Onward (Evangelical) Christian Soldiers indeed!Arthur Durnan.

Arthur, these people are still out there preaching the gospel, both on campus's within the USA and in places so dangerous that they are not allow to mention names of where some of their people are....... There are code names for some places where the Staff people go...... These Staff people have to raise thier own finances to support themselves in whatever they do and talk like this can easily affect their support........ When people read these kinds of things they could very well stop supporting the Staffers and they would have to interrupt their placements to regroup and find new finances.

This kind of talk can actually stop the spreading of the word and you and any others doing this should be ashamed.

These people have been spreading the gospel for over 50 years and doing an excellent job, and if they deem it necessary to change their name to be more effective, you nor anyone else has the right to question their actions.