Southern Baptists to Hear Proposed Name Change

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The nation's largest protestant denomination will remain "Baptist" but it's thinking about whether to stay "Southern" for much longer.

Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright is expected to present the recommendation of a task force studying whether the denomination should change its name.

No potential new names have been made public, but they could be revealed Monday night in an executive committee meeting. No change would be official until it is approved by members at the next two annual conventions.

Wright has said he is concerned the name is too regional and hinders efforts to plant new churches outside of the South.

Others outside of church leadership say the name has become a liability because it is too often associated with divisively partisan politics.