The Church of England recently confirmed its Liturgical Commission is launching a project to consider updating future teachings. The update will include switching the pronouns of God to gender-neutral terms.
“After some dialogue between the two Commissions in this area. A new joint project on gendered language will begin this spring,” Rev Dr. Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield and vice-chair of the liturgical commission, said. “In common with other potential changes to authorized liturgical provision, changing the wording and number of authorized forms of absolution would require a full Synodical process for approval.”
According to the New York Post, some priests have already began using the neutral pronouns. Instead of referencing God as “he” and “him,” the priests are opting for “God,” “they,” and “them.” In addition, the priests are also changing the start of the Lord’s Prayer from “Our Father” to “Our Father and Mother.”
“Christians have recognized since ancient times that God is neither male nor female,” a Church spokesperson says. The spokesperson acknowledged that “the variety of ways of addressing and describing God found in scripture has not always been reflected in our worship.”
Rev. Chantal Noppen also sided with the change saying, “God is not male. Certainly not the white cis male with a beard, sitting on a cloud we seem to reduce and limit God to so often.”
The details surrounding the special project are not clear just yet. However, some Conservative critics have already rejected the idea. According to Rev Dr. Ian Paul, implementing the pronoun change will abandon the Church’s beliefs.
