Inclusive Language: God of Many Names

Leaders: Bromleigh McCleneghan and Erin Kane, General Commission on the Status and Role of Women

This workshop will explore the depth of variety in scriptural references to God. Participants will gain a stronger understanding of how language shapes our Christian understanding of God's character and nature as they explore biblical stories that name God in several different manners, express images for God most comfortable for them, encounter less common divine names, and practice sharing their faith in creative ways.

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What Is the Issue?

Because the Bible tells us that humans are created in the image of God, we have a responsibility to ensure that our descriptions and names for God reflect all of Scripture. Our choice of gender pronouns and other images effect how we understand God. Tradition, history and Scripture all influence the way we pray and how we relate to Jesus and to each other as valued children of God.

Resources

Books for Children

• Stellarella, by Deborah W. Dykes
• Big Mama, by Phyllis Root

Books for Adults

• The Shack, by William P. Young
• Words that Hurt, Words that Heal, by Cokesbury Electronic Download
• Making Sense of the Bible, by Adam Hamilton

Bible Studies and Theologies

• “Beyond God the Father: Toward a Philosophy of Women’s Liberation,” by Mary Daly
• “Feminist Mysticism And Images of God: A Practical Theology,” by Jennie S. Knight
• “Jesus Feminist – An Invitation to Revisit the Bible’s View of Women,” by Sarah Bessey
• “Disciple I: Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study – 34 weeks,” Cokesbury
• “Invitation to Genesis – 10 sessions,” by Peter Enns, Cokesbury
• “Rock, Shepherd, Friend – 4 sessions,”  www.gcrsw.org, under Resources and Curriculum

Websites

• Cokesbury: Resources for the Christian Journey
  www.cokesbury.com
• General Commission on the Status and Role of Women – The United Methodist Church
  www.gcsrw.org

United Methodist Women Connection

United Methodist Women members in their own contexts use both inclusive language and images to enhance their worship of God. Some have participated in exploring Scripture for the wide variety of names and then incorporated them into worship and prayers. Many have discussed both the delight and the challenge of using different names in a way that helps all who share to approach this issue differently. In social justice witness, some United Methodist Women members have embraced a name for God that expands the understanding of those outside the faith community to see God as a powerful motivator for those seeking justice.

United Methodist Women resources are available on the e-store:
www.umwmissionresources.org

Suggestions for Action

• Invite your church to complete the Words That Hurt, Words That Heal study.
• Ask your pastor to include a song with feminine language from The Faith We Sing.
• Share some of the new names for God you have learned here with three people this weekend.

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Leaders

Bromleigh McCleneghan is the associate for congregational life at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel at the University of Chicago. She is co-author, with Lee Hull Moses, of Hopes and Fears: Everyday Theology for New Parents and Other Tired, Anxious People (The Alban Institute, 2012). She is a United Methodist elder who earned dual master’s degrees in divinity and public policy from the University of Chicago 2005. She is wife to Josh, mom to Fiona and Calliope, and is hard at work on her next book, Like Nitroglycerin: Sex, Love and Faith, which will be published by Abingdon Press.

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Erin Kane is director of research and monitoring with the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women of The United Methodist Church, based in Chicago, Ill.