Since Advent, many of you have noticed something a little different in the bulletin: most of our scriptures have come from a translation called A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church. The Women’s Lectionary centers the voices of women by lifting up biblical stories featuring women and/or bringing attention to where women have been minimized to uplift the male perspective.
One aspect of the Women’s Lectionary that I understand has been a little jarring for some is that it uses feminine language for God. The editor of this translation, Wilda C. Gafney notes, “Exclusively masculine language contructs and reinforces the notion that men are the proper image of God and women are secondary and distant.”
Though our church has a long history of believing that women should not be secondary and that God is a being beyond gender, I know the feminine language has rubbed some the wrong way.
My intent in using this translation has been to open our eyes to different ways of viewing God and the stories of our faith. I do not, however, want the use of this translation to be a hindrance to hearing the scripture or living more deeply into our commitment to “grow deeper in our understanding of God.”
In effort to be more attentive to the jarring impact of such a translation, you will see that, at times, I will “adapt” the translation or use a different translation. Most times, I have kept the feminine language when that is a direct translation from Hebrew. My hope is to continue adding in some of the language that will stretch our understanding, but not too much that it is a distraction. I will keep monitoring how this is being received and respond accordingly.