"Cru": "We believe wholeheartedly that God has given us this new name"

Sounds like but not to be confused with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krewe] Krewe

“We believe wholeheartedly that God has given us this new name,” said Steve Sellers, vice president for the U.S. for Campus Crusade for Christ.

Isn’t it just a wee bit blasphemous to blame God for that unbelievably silly name?

I hope some disgruntled board member puts out a 600 page document revealing all the discussions about how they came up with this. I promise I’ll read it all.

I’m missing how “Cru” will increase effectiveness. Is it because it sounds cool? Is it becasue without the name “Christ” they might attract people to their meetings who would otherwise not come if they knew the meetings were Christian related?

“We want to remove any obstacle to people hearing about the most important person who ever lived – Jesus Christ.”

Obviously making the name more abstruse and removing the name of Christ will result in fewer obstacles to people hearing about Christ.

I’m sorry, the logic has escaped me. http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php] http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-confused001.gif

I read all the links , and I didn’t see any where what CRU is supposed to stand for.

Career Resuscitation Unit
College Reachout Uber-hip
Chronic Relational Uses

I’m confounded, wait, that’s it,

Confused Radicals Underground

maybe not, ……….

Having worked with Drexel’s Cru for the last year, as well as chatting with Penn Students for Christ leaders (PSC being Penn’s chapter of CCC), I heard rumors that this change was in the works for almost a year now. The Drexel group has been going (informally) by Cru for a while now. The reason they changed it is because until now it’s informally been “Campus Crusade” - not Campus Crusade for Christ - likely because it’s shorter and easier to say. And when you’re dealing with a lot of Middle Eastern students, self-identifying as any sort of “Crusade” is just a bad idea. To a new student unfamiliar with the organization, “Cru” isn’t readily identifiable with “Crusade,” at least not initially, so it really does avoid the problem of the name being an instant turn-off. To anyone who doesn’t know any better it’s just a catchy name for a student organization.

I concur with Mounty. In a college context it makes good sense to no longer use “Crusade” at a time where both domestic and international students have no context for the word. I have spoken at Cru gatherings at both Dexel U. and University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and we have several Cru members attending services. I’ve seen a great desire to reach other students with the gospel and in my opinion students who attend campus meetings know it’s Christian related.

Do I think more non-Christians will be attracted to meetings with a name change? Not sure that’s the point. When I have been there the meetings were not geared primarily toward the lost. I don’t know how many or how often unsaved students attend. Cru members are encouraged to witness on campus and be involved in a local church. The campus Cru meetings, apart from special events, are more for Bible study, prayer, and discipleship. I don’t think there’s much for compromise sniffer outers to find in the name change.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/julyweb-only/campus-crusade-na…] Christianity Today has a longer article about the name change.

article quote:

“We’re constantly trying to eliminate things that are a barrier or obstacle.”

Today no crusade. Tomorrow no Christ.

What else would be expected from one of the worlds leading New Evangelical organizations.

Hide your bibles! Don’t let them know! Shh, we’re really Christians but on with the show! 8-)

XYZ Baptist Bible Church changes name to XYZ Baptist Church. Why? Clearly because they no longer believe the Bible.

;)

Unfortunately, this new name also shares a lot of commonality with the nick name for the heavy metal band Motley Crue.

[Skip Tilton] Unfortunately, this new name also shares a lot of commonality with the nick name for the heavy metal band Motley Crue.

Are you serious? I have heard of Motley Crue but had never made the connection. How about crew cut, J. Crew, rowing crews, and oh yeah I hear there’s a Crew Bar in Chicago. All these commonalities are confusing.

[Bob T.] Today no crusade. Tomorrow no Christ.

What else would be expected from one of the worlds leading New Evangelical organizations.

Hide your bibles! Don’t let them know! Shh, we’re really Christians but on with the show! 8-)

What else would we expect from Bob? He’s usually uptight and thinks he’s got da right position. Bash these nasty neo’s they ain’t got Bob’s permission. :-)

I get people’s unease with removing “Christ” from the title, but I’m glad they finally got rid of “Crusade.” That’s just got way too much baggage nowadays.

I was also glad to learn that Northern California IFCA decided to change the name of their regional church planting agency away from “Bible Church Crusade.” None of those names convey the right sense when I’m trying to share with someone like Mohammed, my next-door neighbor.

[Skip Tilton] Unfortunately, this new name also shares a lot of commonality with the nick name for the heavy metal band Motley Crue.

If you’re going to mock Mötley Crüe, at least use the right diacritics, huh? ;)

Honestly, though, I really don’t think you’d have a pleasant college student approach you and ask if you wanted to go to a study group where everyone was going to sit around and discuss the musicality of a heavy metal song. Unless you were approached at a conservatory, but even then I’m having a hard time seeing it. They’re not going to let themselves be misrepresented that way, and I’m not even sure they’d need to defend themselves against that misconception in the first place.