Female Priests Campaign to Call God 'She' in Services

A group of female priests are pushing for the Church of England to refer to God with the feminine pronoun “she” during services. Christian News Network reports the women, who are a part of Women and the Church (WATCH) believe referring to God solely as “he” is sexist. 

WATCH member Emma Percy said, “When we used only male language we reinforce the idea that God is like a man and, in doing so, suggest that men are therefore more like God than women. If we take seriously the idea that men and women are made in the image of God, both male and female language should be used.”

The priests also argue that referring to God as male makes God sound more human than divine. 

“Orthodox theology says all human beings are made in the image of God, that God does not have a gender. He encompasses gender. He is both male and female and beyond male and female. So when we only speak of God in the male form, that’s actually giving us a deficient understanding of who God is,” said Jody Stowell, who is campaigning for the change. 

Though some support the change in language, others argue that to call God “she” or “mother” goes against the teaching in scripture. 

Publication date: June 2, 2015