Many church officials are in support of the move that could have a “knock-on effect on all our debates about gender and sexuality and women,” according to one supporter.
UK-based priests are pushing for the introduction of gender-neutral terms when referring to God in worship. The word “father” has been repeatedly used in the King James Bible and has been considered appropriate by millions of Christians who have said The Lord’s Prayer.
However, an increasing number of bishops believe “non-gendered” terms would better suit the Almighty.
Many church officials in UK want to see the change implemented. Any change to alter The Lord’s Prayer to read “Our Father and Mother,” would have to be approved by the Synod and the Church’s parliament.
The Reverend Joanna Stobart, who sits on the Synod, asked what steps are “being taken to develop more inclusive language in our authorised liturgy” for those who wish to “speak of God in a non-gendered way.” The Right Reverend Dr. Michael Ipgrave, who is vice chair of the commission responsible for the matter, responded that the Church has been considering gender-neutral terms “for several years.”
The church leaders were quick to debunk any notion that the issue is related to the raving gender discourse. One priest said it was wrong to “think we’re being a bit woke.” Liverpool priest the Reverend Miranda Threlfall-Holmes stated a change such as this could have a “knock-on effect on all our debates about gender and sexuality and women.”
The Reverend Ian Paul argued that, regardless of the context in which this week’s debate has sprung, the terminology surrounding God “is not interchangeable.” He told The Daily Telegraph:
“The use of male pronouns for God should not be understood as implying that God is male—which is a heresy. God is not sexed, unlike humanity.”
“The Bible uses feminine imagery and metaphors of God, but primarily identifies God using masculine pronouns, names, and imagery. Male and female imagery is not interchangeable. The fact that God is called ‘Father’ can’t be substituted by ‘Mother’ without changing meaning, nor can it be gender-neutralised to ‘Parent’ without loss of meaning. Fathers and mothers are not interchangeable but relate to their offspring in different ways.”
“If the Liturgical Commission seeks to change this, then in an important way they will be moving the doctrine of the Church away from being grounded in the Scriptures.”
“Any decision by the Church of England to move towards gender-neutral terminology in prayers and other such acts of worship would undoubtedly prompt criticism from the international Christian community. Relations are already being strained by ongoing debates over gay marriage, with the head of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches, which represents institutions on every continent, describing recent concessions in England as “farcical.”
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