Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, tweeted: “Let the word go forth: THE Southern Baptist Theological Seminary proudly is a Great Commission Baptists institution.”

A panel of the Southern Baptist Convention recommended Monday that its leaders approve a new, add-on description for the denomination — “Great Commission Baptists” — but stopped short of a complete, legal name change.

Officials described the new term as a way to give an official, sanctioned identity to affiliated churches and believers that don’t want to use the term “Southern.”

“It would provide an identity that tells who we are but also what our mission is,” said Jimmy Draper, chairman of the name change task force.

The Rev. Bryant Wright, president of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, has said he is concerned that the “Southern” name is too regional and hinders the evangelistic faith’s effort to expand beyond the South.

The panel rejected a complete name change, citing the legal costs and difficulties. They also noted the positive associations many hold with the Southern Baptist name, such as with its well-regarded disaster relief organization.

“We believe that the equity that we have in the name Southern Baptist Convention is valuable,” Draper said, according to an online story by the Baptist Press, part of the Southern Baptist Convention.