---
title: "Church of England explores gender neutral God"
description: "LONDON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The Church of England will look into the use of gender neutral terms to refer to God in prayers, but the centuries-old institution said on Wednesday there were no plans to abolish current services."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Religion"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-02-08-church-of-england-explores-gender-neutral-god/"
published: "2023-02-08T14:40:44"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 312
---

# Church of England explores gender neutral God

> LONDON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The Church of England will look into the use of gender neutral terms to refer to God in prayers, but the centuries-old institution said on Wednesday there were no plans to abolish current services.

By Reuters · Published 8 February 2023, 16:40 SAST

## Key points
- The Church of England is considering introducing gender-neutral language for God in its worship services and liturgy. This follows a discussion in the General Synod, the Church's governing body, about developing more inclusive language. The religious body recently set out proposals refusing to allow same-sex couples to get married in its churches, but apologised for the rejection and hostility LGBTQI+ people have faced. The Faith and Order Commission and liturgical commission will work together on questions around gender terms. This reflects growing global awareness around assumed usage of pronouns causing offence or upset to those who do not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth.
- The Church of England is exploring gender-neutral language to refer to God in its services.
- There are no plans to substantially revise authorised services and any changes would require extensive legislation.
- The Church recently set out proposals refusing same-sex couples the right to marry in its churches, but allowing priests to bless them.
- The Faith and Order Commission will work with the liturgical commission on looking at questions around gender terms.

## Content

The issue reflects growing global awareness about the assumed usage of pronouns causing offence or upset to those who do not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth.

"Christians have recognised since ancient times that God is neither male nor female," a spokesperson for the Church said. "Yet the variety of ways of addressing and describing God found in scripture has not always been reflected in our worship."

But he added that there were "absolutely no plans to abolish or substantially revise" authorised services and that no changes could be made without "extensive legislation".

The comments follow an exchange in the General Synod, the Church's governing body, where a priest asked about developing more inclusive language in authorised forms of worship and sought options for those who wish to speak of God in a "non-gendered way".

The spokesperson said there had been greater interest in exploring new language since the introduction of its forms of service in contemporary language more than 20 years ago.

Bishop Michael Ipgrave, vice chairman of the Church's liturgical commission, said the Church had been "exploring the use of gendered language in relation to God for several years".

The deliberation is the latest attempt by the Church, central to one of the world's oldest Christian institutions, to keep up with rapidly evolving notions around gender and sexuality in recent decades.

The religious body last month set out proposals showing it would refuse to allow [same-sex couples](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3432V5&linkedFromStory=true) to get married in its churches, but said priests could bless them in church. It also [apologised to LGBTQI+ people](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS8N32600B&linkedFromStory=true) for the rejection and hostility they have faced.

The Church's Faith and Order Commission – which advises on theology – will work with the liturgical commission on looking at questions around gender terms, the spokesperson said.

By Muvija M

(Reporting by Muvija M; Editing by William James and Ben Dangerfield)