by
Sylvia Dooling
It is always nice to be able to say something positive and affirming.
What I want you to know is that communication with Presbyterian Women has
markedly improved. In the past, many of us have found it frustrating when
converying our concerns, only to be ignored. Or, to be told, ‘We hear’ you”
as if to be listened to is all that orthodox women want.
However, such no longer appears to be the case. Let me tell you why.
In June, upon receiving my _Horizons_ magazine for July/August 2007, I
discovered _The Inclusive Hebrew Scriptures_ version of Psalm 148 printed on
the inside cover. It was there as a devotional thought, but I was distressed
when I looked at it closely because _The Inclusive Hebrew Scriptures_
arbitrarily substitutes the word, God, for the text’s YHWH (Yahweh), the
name by which God told Moses that he was to be known (Exodus 3:14-15).
As an aside, the name of God, YHWH, was considered by the Jews to be too
holy to be spoken. So, when they came upon it when reading a text, they
would speak the word, _Adonai_ which we translate, Lord. This is a
convention that has been continued by the translators/ editors of the KJV,
the RSV, the NRSV, and well as many other versions. You can usually tell
when this rule has been employed because the word, lord, is printed in small
caps.
My guess is that the word, God, does not sound as patriarchal to the editors
of _The Inclusive Hebrew Scriptures_ as does the word/name, lord.
To express my concern, I wrote to Leah Bradley, the senior associate editor
of _Horizons _magazine and I received an immediate response. She explained
that she was on her way to the Youth Triennium, and that she would take time
to communicate more fully upon her return. Further, she copied Susan Jackson
Dowd, the PW communications coordinator. Susan also responded to me with
essentially the same message, and frankly, it felt good to receive an answer
so quickly.
Shortly thereafter I left on a month-long vacation. Upon my return, I noted
that I hadn’t yet received their promised responses. So, I sent another
e-mail to Leah (copying Susan) gently reminding her of her pledge, and
telling her that I was looking forward to hearing from her soon.
Within hours, I received a reply from Susan. She told me that Leah Bradley
had resigned as editor of _Horizons_, and that she is now on staff at
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Additionally, she made it
clear that it is PW policy to use _The New Revised Standard Version _when
quoting scripture. She concluded, therefore, that my point was well taken.
Last week, I received the latest edition of _Horizons_ magazine
(September/October 2007). It contains _a litany for the_ _Celebration of the
Blessing of the Hands_ from the National Health Ministries, a Presbyterian
work. And, once again _Horizons_ used an inclusive language resource instead
of the NRSV. This time the name, ‘Holy One,” was arbitrarily used in place
of Yahweh or lord in translating Micah 6:6, 8, and I Corinthians 12: 4-7.
I immediately wrote to Susan Jackson Dowd expressing my disappointment.
Again, within hours, I received a response telling me that it is not their
intention to be theologically incorrect and that she would check the
upcoming November/December issue.
Does this solve all of our problems? Of course not! But it does show that
the doors are opening to healthy communication, and that is a huge step
forward!