This page is adopted from a publication of one of our sister churches - Our
Hope MCC - in Athens, Georgia.
An issue of great debate in Christian circles today revolves around the subject
of inclusive language. Part of the MCC’s richness is that we seek to be a truly
inclusive church. We believe that God so loved the world, (John 3:16) and we try
in every way consistently to reflect that belief. Gender-exclusive language,
like racist or sexist language, impoverishes us all. Therefore, UFMCC believes
in using inclusive language in its Biblical readings and references to God. God
is not a man; that is obvious, but neither is God exclusively male. The Bible
speaks of God as being a spirit (John 4:24) and contains numerous feminine
references that have mostly been ignored. The language used to refer to God in
the Genesis account of creation becomes plural, let us make humans in our image
. . . male and female, God created them, (Gen. 1:26, 27). To speak of God as
only being male is to miss the God of the Hebrews and Jesus.
Exclusive language promotes sexism and is unacceptable because it says something
about a human that is not true. Sexism cuts us off from our feminine side as if
it were weak or inferior. This is a block to emotional and spiritual integration
and wholeness. Psychologist Carl Jung wrote extensively about the bothness of
human beings. He contended that the more fully a person was aware of and had
integrated both sides of their being, the closer that person draws to the image
and likeness of God.
Therefore, when in attendance at an MCC service, one can expect to hear language
that attempts to provide a mutuality and openness towards all people. References
to groups of people (i.e. mankind, all men, etc.) become inclusive. When God is
referred to in terms that denote a male gender (pronouns like he and titles such
as Lord or King), they will be replaced or balanced out with female images at
another point in the service. This language is in no way intended to change the
meaning of scripture, but to help those in attendance come to realize the
fullness of God’s love.
Our position on inclusive language is not a reaction to our society’s recent
Political Correctness and is not an issue of gender (e.g. its not a woman’s
issue). The reason UFMCC chooses to use inclusive language is to fight the sin
of excluding people (Gal 3:28) that can only result in brokenness. We are
expanding our language about God in hopes that we may also expand our experience
with God. It is a positive expansion.