“Our Zir in heaven, hallowed be thy name,” could be how parishioners begin The Lord’s Prayer.
That is if a major church follows along with the modern world’s desire to change language and make it more inclusive.
What started in universities and corporations is possibly making its way into the U.S. Marines. But an even older institution may adopt gender-neutral language: The Church of England.
The Washington Post reported Wednesday, “The Church of England is exploring whether to use gender-neutral language instead of referring to God solely with masculine pronouns, such as ‘He’ or ‘Our Father’ — which would be a major change after millennia of prayer and teachings.”
“The church is launching a project on ‘gendered language’ this spring, following a years-long effort to study the ways in which God is referred to and addressed in liturgy and worship,” it continued.
Is God They/Them? Church of England considers gender-neutral pronouns. https://t.co/djp197FPY8
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 9, 2023
In an emailed statement, the Church of England said, “Christians have recognised since ancient times that God is neither male nor female.”
“Yet the variety of ways of addressing and describing God found in scripture has not always been reflected in our worship,” it added.
If there is a change, it would need to be adopted by the church’s legislative body.
As you can probably predict, the subject has sparked debate over what language to use.
A pastor with the username Wendell tweeted, “The Church of England is considering using gender neutral terms for God. So what they are saying is they don’t respect the pronouns God used for Himself in the Bible.”
The Church of England is considering using gender neutral terms for God. So what they are saying is they don’t respect the pronouns God used for Himself in the Bible.
— Wendell (@wendelltalks) February 8, 2023
Conservative commentator Libby Emmons wrote, “They never should have let women into leadership. This never would have happened. Church of England considers making God ‘gender neutral’ to be ‘more inclusive.'”
They never should have let women into leadership. This never would have happened.
— Libby Emmons (@libbyemmons) February 7, 2023
Church of England considers making God ‘gender neutral’ to be ‘more inclusive’https://t.co/wMLRfelA4W
Grant Castleberry, a pastor, tweeted, “The more secular that modern man becomes, the more he desires to craft a god of his own image and likeness.”
The more secular that modern man becomes, the more he desires to craft a god of his own image and likeness.
— Grant R. Castleberry (@grcastleberry) February 8, 2023
https://t.co/MO5dYB1TTm
It is true the Bible refers to God using masculine language.
And Christians believe God is spirit and not flesh and blood.
Ultimately, this is something that really should not be an issue. The church should drop the matter and refer to God as Christians, and the Bible, have for thousands of years.
As Castleberry pointed out, the change is trying to make an all-powerful, holy being more like fallen mankind. This has been an issue Christians have battled with for ages: Trying to fit the God of the Bible into their view of what is right or what the text really means. Typically, it does not go well. For proof, just look at all of human history.
The Church of England should leave the matter alone — especially if it wants to start using modern pronouns.