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"We really don't want something with the word "church" in it but rather more of a description of what the Christian life is all about."

Probably not what your fishing for, but this traditionalist Christian believes that "what the Christian life is all about" is....Jesus Christ. Call it "His Place" or "The Rock" or maybe even "The Way Home." Just hope you realize that unique names and catchy slogans may well get folks to walk in the door, and a nice band with contemporary praise music projected via Powerpoint may even get them to stay and drop money into the collection plate. But, think on this...Our Lord is watching. Unless the whole point of your "emerging church" is to lead people to redemption from sin and to salvation through Jesus Christ, you don't have to worry about being mistaken as a "church" no matter what you call yourselves.

In the advertising world, I believe it's referred to as "all sizzle and no steak." I don't mean to presume that that's what you folks are about. I've just witnessed entirely too much of this new age, universalist, "Church of What's Happenin' Now" nonsense passing for Christianity and tend to be suspicious of an organization that shys away from identifying itself as a church.

It sounds like you are tring to trick these folks into something. A little music the right atmosphere and then slip them a little Jesus under the table when no one is watching. My advice would be to pray and see how the Lord would have you do this. Test the spirit too it sounds like the spirit of this present age that you are hearing from.

How about "The Newfangled Chapel of Creative Theology".

Your slogan can be "We just make it up as we go".

Hi A2J

Well, too bad the only replies so far are mostly folks criticizing you.

I commend you for having a heart for these young folks. Some of them have never heard the Name of Jesus except used as a curse. Some of them have parents and grandparents that never darkened the door of a church, so they have no clue that this is something that should be an important part of their life.

And it's been 32 years ago now, but the way I first heard about Jesus in a way that meant something to me personally was by reading a copy of "The Cross and the Switchblade" by Nicky Cruz ... which allowed me, as an unchurched teenager, to hear the Gospel (I was from the suburbs, though, so the whole gang-to-saved story was not similar to my own life) ... at that time, I was 14 years old, and I didn't DO anything about it such as pray to invite Him into my heart or start attending church, but for the first time I was aware of Who He was and *what* I could/should do to find my way to Him.

Then, I found saving faith, at the age of 16, by coming across a gospel tract, and praying the prayer on the back page. The change in my heart was real. I had committed my life to Christ. That was July 1974, thirty years ago (Thank You Lord!) and He is still my savior, He is still my Lord.

If I have any ideas for your endeavor, I will let you know.
God bless you!

A spiritual center is a phrase that will tell them about it without saying church. Perhaps mention spiritual learning.

Praise the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Salutations to you and the "emerging flock" you are attempting to gather. As the Lord is surely at work in this undertaking, I would like to share with you my thoughts. My family and I are recent(within 1 year) additions to our local church after "shopping" for a home church for quite some time. We were led by the Lord to a small, Christ centered church in our area with a dynamic pastor, youth groups, Wednesday night bible study, and praise and worship services.
They were recently separating from another church organization that was "old school". We found them to be welcoming and friendly. The name was really what brought us to the church in the first place. It caught my eye several times, and the Spirit of the Lord led us there. The name just summed it all up for me, and they are completely autonomous. It is called Family Fellowship Center.

35 Years Ago Flip Wilson did a Skit...
I think he called "his church"
The Church of What's Happenin' NOW!

I believe you will discover that the writers of the actual Book... The Bible ... where not really interested in
conforming to the world in order to gain physical "numbers".

Rom 12:1 Therefore, brothers, I call on you through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is the good and pleasing and perfect will of God.
Rom 12:3 For through the grace which is given to me, I say to everyone being among you, not to have high thoughts beyond what is right to think. But set your mind to be right-minded, even as God divided a measure of faith to each.

You may find out that Jesus is capable of doing much more than you tend to give Him credit for.
Rather than conforming to the world , people will be transformed when the CROSS is preached ...
Paul said

1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1Co 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
1Co 1:20 Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
1Co 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1Co 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]:
1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Hay Ive got it !

How about ...
THE CROSS!
or
THE Ministry!
Or
The Burden ...
Or
THE YOKE!
OR
something that will really get the carnal Attention of teen youth in the unregenerate world , HOW ABOUT...

The Righteous Faithful Narrow Road!

Name - New Family Fellowship

Slogan (based on what you have written) Helping you find the answers.

You might note that the model you are planning to follow is no longer considered "cutting edge" in more urbanized areas, but given your market, it may still be a viable niche.

If you are going to follow this model, go all out. Have your meetings on Friday or Saturday evening instead of Sunday morning. Your target audience of unchurched 18 -35 year olds will want to sleep in on Sunday morning, and it will seem less like church. Sing happy-clappy praise choruses instead of old hymns with possibly disconcerting theological themes.

Don't do expository preaching. Have inspirational talks with life application. Don't pass the plate-have boxes by the exit doors.

Your flock can the be happily led astray.

we are a 3 yr old plant project targeting the same demographic. We started with 4, and now have about 45. Probably our biggest wall was the necessity of a child / youth Sunday School program. I would suggest that you make allowances for the implementation of same - despite an initial lack of numbers.

We found it better to have the infrastructure in place, than to install it as we grew.

Most importantly you need a core group of tithing faithful witnesses who posess a deep deep love of the Lord.

Having that allowed us to grow from a living room to a warehouse, and ultimately grow to a point where we were asked to recover a split - which meant we also inherited a huge building, almost for nothing

Best wishes to you