from Priest Associate, the Rev. Lyn G. Brakeman
BREAKING!
Now aren’t you sick of that word every single day in the news? Some news breaks your heart; some fills your heart to bursting with joy; and some you need to take a break from.
THIS news made me jump for joy (and I didn’t break a single bone): The General Convention of our Episcopal Church USA, will consider—for the first time—changes in our liturgical language about God.
At their triennial meeting this summer the convention will deliberate the value of another prayer book revision—a renewed effort at making everyone feel included in our liturgical language. Our present policy is to make everyone feel welcome and not excluded. BUT, what about God? Is the divine identity/image limited by our gendered language—too many almighty’s and too much transcendence, not to mention all those masculine pronouns?
The convention of the diocese of Washington D.C. passed a resolution requesting the SCLM (Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music) to consider language about God as part of the effort to make BCP language more inclusive. Here is the substance of their resolution to the House of Deputies, with concurrence of the House of Bishops:
Resolved, the House of ____________ concurring, that the 79th General Convention direct the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, if revision of the Book of Common Prayer is authorized, to utilize expansive language for God from the rich sources of feminine, masculine, and non-binary imagery for God found in Scripture and tradition and, when possible, to avoid the use of gendered pronouns for God.
This idea is not mine alone; nor it this simply a women’s issue; nor is it new. See my blog post:www. spirituallemons.blogspot.com for details. This issue is theological. It’s about the image and understanding of God x 3 we love and worship. I know that this will take time, and that this news will cause some people to cringe. BUT we are Anglicans! There WILL be options and options for the options.
Pronouns of course figure heavily in this debate. I’ve always said that pronouns are NOT, after all, sacred. Consider how fluid pronouns are in our world today. I and you (singular and plural) are the only safe and sure ones. It’s quite hilarious. A good friend of mine simply can not refer to her beloved grandson, now a granddaughter, as they. They understands, because they know the love is there—no matter what the pronoun.
“God is neither male nor female. Both women and men are equally loved and included by God and should be valued and shown respect in the church’s language.” Official position of ECUSA.
IS GOD GODSELF NOT ALSO TO BE SHOWN THE SAME RESPECT
ebate. I’ve always said that pronouns are NOT, after all, sacred. Consider how fluid pronouns are in our world today. I and you (singular and plural) are the only safe and sure ones. It’s quite hilarious. A good friend of mine simply can not refer to her beloved grandson, now a granddaughter, as they. They understands, because they know the love is there—no matter what the pronoun.
“God is neither male nor female. Both women and men are equally loved and included by God and should be valued and shown respect in the church’s language.” Official position of ECUSA.
IS GOD GODSELF NOT ALSO TO BE SHOWN THE SAME RESPECT