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NCC event seeks more gender
inclusivity in God language

The Layman , Posted Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The National Council of Churches (NCC), which receives significant funding from the Presbyterian Church (USA), will host a symposium Aug. 9-11 in Chicago entitled, "Language Matters.” The event will “discuss how to talk about God and faith in ways that respect the sensibilities of people from a variety of Christian traditions and viewpoints.” 
 
Initiated by the NCC's Justice for Women Working Group, the conversation will focus on the language, images and symbols used to talk about faith and God, according to an NCC news release. A prevailing worry appears to be the use of gender-specific terms among NCC member congregations, including the use of male pronouns in reference to God.
 
An article written by Philip Jenks, NCC’s media relations specialist, and posted on an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America-related site, outlines the concern.
 
“Some people believe the use of gender inclusive language in church is on the decline.
Male pronouns, particularly in reference to God, are becoming all-too common again, according to some within the National Council of Churches. It’s time for some serious God-talk, they say.”
 
The article reminds readers that gender inclusive language emerged in the 1970s with the advent of feminist theology as well as feminist Biblical exegesis and hermeneutics. NCC’s news release also acknowledges member denomination’s efforts to develop gender inclusive Biblical translations that “offered metaphors and names for God and humanity that reflected this inclusiveness.”
 
The August gathering will explore dimensions of language, images and symbols for God through multiple approaches that reflect the diversity of the group. 
 
 
“The term ‘expansive language’ has been used in some circles to describe respectful language that honors all of God's people and is more than just ‘gender inclusive,’” the news release states. “As communions seek to become genuinely inclusive as well as multiracial communities of faith, planners say, the conversation about the use of language in churches becomes more critical and more challenging.”
 
The 30 participants, both lay and ordained, come from a wide diversity of NCC member communions and religious traditions.
 
Co-Facilitators are Aleese Moore-Orbih, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and director of training and consulting for FaithTrust Institute, and Virstan Choy, a PCUSA minister, a church consultant and member of the adjunct faculty at McCormick Theological Seminary.

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