Unit 9: Liturgy and Church Traditions

Having considered how language in educational settings within our communities may unintentionally carry male-oriented assumptions in the previous unit, let us now shift our attention to the language used when reading and proclaiming God’s Word and engaging in worship.

The language employed in these areas holds great influence over the life and faith of the congregation. Regrettably, as highlighted by church historian Dr. Mimi Haddad, the language we use to refer to God often exhibits an imbalanced emphasis on the male, despite the truth that God transcends gender and the Bible itself employs feminine imagery to depict God. Moreover, the non-inclusive language advocated by certain Bible translations has impacted the language used in hymns, prayers, and liturgy during worship.

The questions presented in the REFLECT section, along with the resources in the EXPLORE section, offer tools for envisioning and creating a sacred space that genuinely reflects God’s vision for men and women to worship and serve together as equal partners.