Our LOGO
Our logo most immediately and obviously insinuates Westside King’s Church as part of the larger Christian story. It acknowledges that we are a part of, and actively participating in, the story about our King.
The upside down crown symbolizes the paradox of Jesus, a humble King. Christians thought he would overthrow the political powers oppressing them. They found out that his wealth and power were of a different sort and he fought and overtook the things they never knew needed it. He entered the world in a manger, grew up a carpenter’s son, hung out with the tax-collectors and prostitutes. He over-took their hearts, and ours, and won the battle against evil with His submission.
Westside aspires in it’s language, teaching, practice and visuals to be a different kind of community, a community where Jesus ceases to stand as a plastic symbol of synthetic faith, rather where is known in the cruel paradox of laying down life and taking it up all in the very same moment; where examples of humility, sacrifice, integrity, and faith invite us to live the same way.
The circle that surrounds the crown represents God and community. The circle symbolizes wholeness and infinity (no beginning and no end); the infinite and eternal connection we have with each other and with God.
The crown, when placed inside the circle, represents a community transformed into the image of the very son of God — kind, patient, courageous, faithful, and filled with love. It alludes to a community where the real biblical Jesus is invited into the very fabric of our lives and the name “Immanuel” — “God with us” is seen in all of life. It symbolizes a community, a sacred space, where people can discover freedom from the tyranny of a shame-based culture of performance; where the value of their lives has been stated by God - “you are worthy of my son” - you are welcome in this community.
This logo, a symbol of our God, our paradoxical king, represents our commitment to participating in God’s activity here on earth. In the messiness of our lives we relentlessly turn to Him and put all our dependence on Him, not on ourselves. We depend on God and trust that if we do He will bring about his transforming grace so that His Will can be done, despite us.
Finally, the style of our logo has an intentional messy quality to it. This messiness says that we’ve had our hands all over it. It’s really ours, it’s not a cleaned-up, untouchable, synthetic symbol, it’s still raw, having emerged out of our labored, uncensored work.