A Lutheran Church in Sweden says it will start using more gender-neutral language when referring to God. Members of the church were encouraged to use the general term ‘God’ instead of using ‘he’ or ‘Lord’ .
The national Evangelical Lutheran Church made new announcement, changes as part of an effort to modernise the church’s 31-year-old handbook during services. The move was announced on November 23, as Clergy added that it targeted at making it more gender inclusive. The new update on the handbook will give new options on what to name God during church services.
For example, the phrase “in the name of the Father, son and the Holy Spirit” used during the start of the service will be rephrased to ‘in the name of God and the Holy Trinity’.
Lund Cathedral captain, Lena Sjostrand said: “We have consciousness about gender questions, which is even more stronger in our time than it has been before.
“of course, this has had more impact on pastoral reflection, church life and theology.
“I don’t see God as a big Father or mother sitting up in the sky and I don’t think that makes sense. God is something far more bigger than this,” she added.
The church leader, Archbishop Annie Jackelen, in a separate statement said the changes were already ‘part of tradition.’
“Julian of Norwich in the 14th said, as sure as God is our Father, God is equally our mother’. This is not a newly invented tradition,” she added.
Meanwhile, Pastor Mikael Lowegren has criticised the changes made by the church authority, telling the site: “God being the father means he has a son.”
The changes are due to be effective in six months time, but the church said the Clergy will not be forced to adopt the language, reports stated.
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