{"id":8326,"date":"2004-12-07T17:49:00","date_gmt":"2004-12-07T22:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/?p=8326"},"modified":"2011-07-06T08:28:37","modified_gmt":"2011-07-06T13:28:37","slug":"3998","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/2004\/12\/07\/3998\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Year of the River’ Inspires Name Change for Church"},"content":{"rendered":"

ORANGE, CA (December 7, 2004)\u00a0 – Orange Covenant Church, a southern California\u00a0 congregation, voted to change its name to River47 during a recent\u00a0 congregational meeting, senior pastor Frank Riley said.<\/p>\n

The new moniker is in line with the church’s vision, which is taken from\u00a0 Ezekiel 47:1-9, added Riley, who will begin his fourth year at the\u00a0 church in January. A number of factors played into the decision, he\u00a0 said. The church designated 2004 as “The Year of The River” as it prepared to change the name.<\/p>\n
“We felt the Lord was asking us to focus on existing for the community\u00a0 around us, seeking to bring God’s life to everything we touched,” Riley\u00a0 said of the change. “Core values of becoming a River Wide (keeping\u00a0 growth and seeking to bring persons different than ourselves) and a\u00a0 River Deep (depth of relationship with fellow believers; depth of\u00a0 commitment to Christ’s church past, present, future; depth of\u00a0 relationship with the Triune God and mysteries of the faith, depth of\u00a0 care for a broken world) were developed. As we moved through the year, we realized that being a “river church” –\u00a0 whatever that meant – was becoming central to our identity and sense of\u00a0 the Lord’s call for this congregation.”<\/p>\n
After establishing that it wished to change its name, the church\u00a0 received suggestions from the congregation before deciding on “River47.”\u00a0 The congregation believed that the name itself would be a conversation\u00a0 starter, giving parishioners an opportunity to explain the church’s vision. And, because the word “Covenant” was part of the names\u00a0 of other area congregations, it had confused some seeking to find a church.<\/p>\n
River47 would still be under the name Orange Covenant Church in its\u00a0 legal documents. However, publicity materials are reflecting the new\u00a0 moniker as River47, an Evangelical Covenant Church, clarifying the\u00a0 denominational status.<\/p>\n
Although the new name of his church is unique, the person who suggested\u00a0 the name is also unique. The individual lived in a rehabilitation\u00a0 facility across the street from the church and gave their life to Christ\u00a0 while awaiting trial for a crime that had been committed. The individual\u00a0 is currently serving a sentence at a correctional facility, but is still\u00a0 connected with the church and supported by its members.<\/p>\n
“We thought it was amazing that the name we were led to should come from\u00a0 a member of our body that was most peripheral and seeking to bring life\u00a0 to others in a place many might consider the most barren of wastelands,\u00a0 the state’s correctional system,” said Riley.<\/p>\n
Founded in 1960 as Bethel Covenant Church, River47 has an average\u00a0 worship attendance of around 200. It is located in a city of 100,000\u00a0 that is one hour away from Los Angeles. A unique discussion group format\u00a0 has served the function as a Sunday school ministry. Riley answers\u00a0 questions about previous sermons and adds details that might not have\u00a0 been covered. The process is “taking the text of a sermon a few steps\u00a0 deeper,” said Riley. “In this way, even first-time visitors have a frame\u00a0 of reference.”<\/p>\n
For more information about the church and its ministries, call\u00a0 714-633-6464 or visit the church’s current website at www.ocov.com. The\u00a0 updated site, www.river47.org, will be in operation soon, Riley said.<\/div>\n
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ORANGE, CA (December 7, 2004)\u00a0 – Orange Covenant Church, a southern California\u00a0 congregation, voted to change its name to River47 during a recent\u00a0 congregational meeting, senior pastor Frank Riley said. 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