Hidden in the one-dimensional image of God is the fact that the Christian church has long been a refuge for misogyny. Ill-intentioned men have co-opted the male image of God to reinforce sexist practices, forcing submission in women and taking away their agency in the church and at home. It has led to inequality and even violence. We must use our tools as worship leaders to empower marginalized identities and trample systems of inequality.
Brian Schroeder, 'De-gendering God'
Brian Schroeder’s article, ‘De-gendering God: How inclusive language revolutionizes worship’, can be found on his website: Worship Forward–resources for inclusive churches.
A church musician, Brian explains:
‘A great way to easily find gender-free worship songs is to seek out ‘You’ language. A lot of songs that refer to God as ‘You’ are safer bets for gender-neutrality. Plus, they contribute to a more intimate worship atmosphere anyway by singing to God instead of about God.’
Hot take: I’ve come to equate male pronouns for God as weak song writing.
Brian Schroeder
Guidance for worship music leaders:
Our God breaks apart any descriptor-cage we put it in. And yet She is as close as a mother, as loving as a Father, and as present as the air we breathe. Join me, friends, in guiding our congregations to expand their minds to the true wonder of who God is — which is so much more than a dude.
Brian Schroeder
Photo: Watched Word created by John Potter, UK
