Inclusive language and the Trinity
By Paula R. Kincaid, The Layman Online, June 27, 2000
LONG BEACH, Calif. — The Theological Issues Committee decided Monday to recommend that the General Assembly approve a study of the doctrine of the Trinity in Presbyterian theology and worship, with “particular attention to the need ‘to seek to recover terms and images that refer to the being of the persons of the Trinity’ as stated in ‘Definitions and Guidelines on Inclusive Language.'”
The original recommendation from the General Assembly Council was only for a study of the doctrine of the Trinity in Presbyterian theology and worship.
The amended recommendation differed only slightly from what the Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns (ACWC ) advised committee members to approve.
Instead of the “recover terms and images” the ACWC wanted to “seek new terms that refer to the being of the persons of the Trinity.”
‘Trinity’ not in the Bible
A spokeswoman for ACWC told the committee that “By limiting our language of God we are limiting our concept of God to people.” She said that the word Trinity is not in the Bible and the term “Father, Son and Holy Ghost,” is referred to once in the book of Matthew. “So mostly it is our theological tradition that is before us.”
One commissioner who spoke for the amendment said that if commissioners wanted to know how necessary the change was, they only had to look at the Book of Confessions which “is so blatantly sexist it is difficult to read.”
An amendment that used the exact ACWC wording was voted down because, as one commissioner put it, the wording, especially the word “new,” may be inflammatory to the church.
“God is unique,” said one commissioner. “And what I hear is that we are trying to define him. I don’t think we can do that this side of eternity.” She added that she didn’t know why “we needed the study. We already have the manual.”
Another commissioner was also against the study. “At a time when the Presbyterian Church is losing membership, it vexes me that we are in a sense using revisionist techniques. It reminds me of people who revise textbooks. Take the stuff we have and get it out to the people who are hungry for the Scripture. My problem with the study of the Trinity is where does it stop? What else are we going to try to revise in the Bible?
The final vote on the study was 45 for; 10 against; and three abstained.
The General Assembly will vote on the matter later in the week.