Burnsville Church To Change Name After Illuminati Assumptions

BURNSVILLE, MN — For the second time in less than 10 years, a church in Burnsville is changing its name to avoid controversy. Illumination Church (12156 Nicollet Ave) will be renamed "Mercy Road" this year to avoid "several emerging negative associations that now call into question the sustainability of the name."

The church says a growing group of people on Facebook assume that Illumination Church is affiliated with the Illuminati, which some conspiracy theorists believe is a global cult.

This isn't the first time the church has changed its name.

Documents on the church's website state that "In February 2010 our planting pastor had a very public moral failure. This was devastating to the church and our young name in the community."

According to the Pioneer Press, the pastor at the time pleaded guilty to soliciting a prostitute.

"After a painful and prayerful process," church leadership chose to rebrand as "Illumination Church."

That named worked well until two years ago, when assumptions about the church's ties to The Illuminati, as well as "New Age Spiritualism," began to grow.

After voting to change the name a second time, the church has purchased www.mercyroadmn.com. Signage and the church logo will change over the next two months.

The new website will be launched by Easter.

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