Church campaigns against sexist words

Press, 11 May 1984, Page 3

Church campaigns against sexist words

Avoidiing sexist language seems to have become a big campaign of the Anglican Church in New Zealand. The General Synod, meeting in Christchurch, decided earlier this week that all language used should be deliberately inclusive to avoid perpetuating sex stereotypes. The policy, recommended by Mr B. N. Davidson, a representative of the Auckland Diocese, should be observed in all future legislation and motions to be drafted and in existing legislation coming forward for revision or amendment, the Synod heard. ' The principal of College House in Christchurch, the Rev. R. G. McCullough, told Synod members yesterday that inclusive language could no longer be discussed as a peripheral issue. He is also the chairman of the Synod’s Provincial Commission on Prayer Book Revision, which is working to compile a New Zealand Prayer Book. As the Church moved towards the publication of a Prayer Book, the commission had had to come to terms with the issue of inclusive language in liturgy, he said. “Because the language of any book published will set the pattern for the Church’s liturgical worship for at least the next 10 to 15 years, we are strongly aware of writing for the future as well as the present,” he said. y

More participation by

women in all areas of society was raising serious questions about language generally. The problem of “exclusive language” was more than a linguistic one and had important theological and sociological implications. Few of the Prayer Books of the Anglican Communion published within the last few years had gone very far towards adopting inclusive language, he said. “New Zealand is in the happy position of being able to explore this whole area before final publication, and

learn from the experience and mistakes of others.” Other Synod members were cautious about making too many changes to the Church’s liturgy and Orders of Service. A representative from the Wellington Diocese, Mr N. A. Collins, said that he supported new forms of services but was concerned about the amount of change. He said that he had been aware of increasing concern from people in his parish who thought some of the change was unnecessary and unhelpful.