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Church of England considers gender-neutral pronouns for God
gendered language about God
Amid heated debate on this issue, a vicar from southern England on Monday asked the vice chairman of the church’s Liturgical Commission, the Rev. Michael Ipgrave, whether he could “provide an update on the steps being taken to develop more inclusive language … to provide more options for those who wish to use authorized liturgy and speak of God in a non-gendered way, particularly in authorized absolutions where many of the prayers offered for use refer to God using male pronouns.”
Church of England considers gender-neutral pronouns for God
Following the synod’s discussion over the proposal to allow priests to bless same-sex couples, the British press quickly picked up the comments. Some commentators framed it as a political decision by the church — with one unnamed priest telling the Times of London that some people “think we’re being a bit woke.”
In 2018, the archbishop of Canterbury, the Church of England’s most senior bishop, said that any description of God must be “to some degree metaphorical” because “God is not male or female. God is not definable.”
The Church of England relies on two primary liturgical sources in services: the Book of Common Prayer, texts written in England in the 16th century, and Common Worship, a more contemporary series of books.
Church of England considers gender-neutral pronouns for God.
“Until about 50 years ago, there was relatively little flexibility permitted with liturgical language in Anglican churches, which would have given the impression of some unchanging vision of a male God,” Frances Knight, associate professor in the history of modern Christianity at the University of Nottingham, said via email. “But that has all changed now, emphasising the language of worship being clear, current, meaningful and dignified.”
New Language Consideration
In 2014, the Liturgical Commission, which prepares authorized services for the church, began “regularly considering” what language could be updated and modernized, the church said in its statement. In addition, as part of its agenda for the next five years, the commission “asked another Church of England body, the Faith and Order Commission — which advises on theology — to work with it on looking at” how God is described and addressed in Church of England services.
There is no timeline for that process, and any conclusion it reaches would not automatically lead to policy change. “There are no plans to abolish or substantially revise currently authorized liturgies, and no such changes could be made without extensive legislation,” the church said.
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