A new commission will look at the use of "he" when talking about God in the spring.
The Most Stupid Person Is The Person That Keeps Money In The Bank - Apostle Johnson Suleiman
The Church of England is considering whether to stop using "he" when talking about God. This is because priests have asked to use gender-neutral terms instead.
The Church said it would set up a new commission in the spring to look at the issue. Any changes, which would go against what the church has taught for thousands of years, would have to be approved by synod, the church's decision-making body.
The Rt. Rev. Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield and vice-chairman of the liturgical commission responsible for the issue, said the church had been "looking at the use of gendered language in relation to God for a number of years".
"Having discussed the issue, the two commissions will begin a new joint project on gendered language this spring," he said. "Like other possible changes to approved liturgical regulations, changing the wording and number of approved forms of absolution would have to be approved by the whole synod."
Not much is known about how the project will work.
The bishop said this in response to a question at the synod from the Revd Joanna Stobart, vicar of Ilminster and Whitelackington in Somerset, about how services could become "more inclusive".
It's not clear what would replace the phrase "Our Father" in the Lord's Prayer, the most important Christian prayer, which Jesus is said to have told his followers to say together for all time.
Conservative critics have spoken out against the idea of changes. The Rev Dr Ian Paul told the Telegraph that it would mean abandoning church doctrine.
He said: "The fact that God is called 'Father' cannot be changed to 'Mother' without changing the meaning, and it cannot be changed to 'Parent' without changing the meaning.
"Fathers and mothers are not the same, and they have different relationships with their children".
"This is nothing new," said a spokesman for the Church of England. Christians have long known that God is neither male nor female. But the different ways in which the Bible talks about and addresses God are not always reflected in the way we worship.
"Since more than 20 years ago, when we started using modern forms of worship, there has been more interest in learning new languages.
"There are no plans to get rid of or significantly change the liturgies that are currently allowed, and such changes couldn't be made without a lot of legislation."
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The Most Stupid Person Is The Person That Keeps Money In The Bank - Apostle Johnson Suleiman
