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This is the third of a three-part series of articles on women in The United Methodist Church in celebration of Women’s History Month during March.

A UMNS Report
By Barbara Dunlap-Berg*

12:30 P.M. EST March 25, 2010

Lyrics from the United Methodist Hymnal printed in 1989 share inclusive language options for music dating back to the 19th century. UMNS photo illustrations
by Kathleen Barry. View in Photo Gallery

Thirty years after the United Methodist General Conference launched a study on language about God and Scripture, clergy and laity continue to struggle with issues surrounding masculine, feminine and gender-neutral images of God.

For some, changing “mankind” to “humankind” is a seamless effort. Others say traditional masculine language in hymns and worship best meets their spiritual needs.

Take the word “father,” for example. While it stirs positive images for persons who grew up with a loving male parent, it can elicit a different reaction from someone who did not.

The Rev. Linda Foster Momsen volunteers at a women’s prison in Raleigh, N.C. “Most of the women with whom I work have never experienced a father,” she said. “How are they going to experience God, the Father, that way?”

Promoting diversity

The 1980s church task force said its goal was to witness to the wholeness of God.

“We have not intended to rewrite or revise the Bible,” members said. “Rather, we embrace the Bible in all its fullness, including its diversity of images for God.”

Part of the move toward inclusive language involves education.

The church study culminated in the booklet “Words That Hurt and Words That Heal” to assist The United Methodist Church in becoming more inclusive in its language and practice.

While many lay and clergy embrace newer versions of Scripture such as Eugene Peterson’s The Message, others use the King James Version, which also includes feminine images of God.

“Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37, KJV)

Mixed response

“Inclusive language was certainly more of an issue for those of us who came out of the feminist movement of the ‘70s,” acknowledged Maxine Clarke Beach, Drew University Divinity School.

Some Bible passages, including this one from the
King James Version, offer feminine images of God.

“We still request that our students deal with our desire for them to use inclusive language, mostly to allow for diversity of images of God in worship and writing, but it is not enthusiastically accepted by all.”

People find ways to avoid the issue. At St. Paul School of Theology, “students regularly download song lyrics off the Internet,” said the Rev. Pamela Couture, “so that even hymns that have been updated in the hymnal show up on the computer screen as lyrics without inclusive and generous language.”

There is still a long way to go to offer diverse images of God, said retired Bishop Beverly Shamana.

“The church is enamored with the images of God as mother as long as they are confined to parables and sermon examples,” she said. “Unfortunately, inclusive language has taken a back seat to other concerns in the church. Frankly, I don't think it ever made it to the top 10 of women's concerns.”

Reflecting on lessons learned since she was one of the first executives of the United Methodist Commission on the Status and Role of Women, Trudie Kibbe Reed said, “One mistake we made was trying to force change behaviorally like inclusive language without first changing the heart. If hearts are changed, action follows.”

“My fond hope,” Shamana said, “is that we, the church, will embrace a deeper and broader concept of the nature of God and reflect it in the most powerful community gathering—the church at worship.”

*Dunlap-Berg is internal content editor for United Methodist Communications.

News media contact: Barbara Dunlap-Berg, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5489 or newsdesk@umcom.org.