God no longer 'Father' for United Church of Christ

[mikecrook]

christianpost.com/news/god-no-longer-father-for-united-church-of-christ-52418/

The left-leaning United Church of Christ now wants to be even more politically correct, and to do so its deliberative body has replaced the reference to “Heavenly Father” with the gender neutral term, “triune God,” in the denomination’s constitution.

…

Interestingly, the same synod voted separately to reaffirm the traditional language used in baptizing new Christians in the name of the “Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” the Journal said, adding that the UCC’s research shows that nearly 20 percent of its congregations were using alternative language for “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” for baptism.

You know your faith is just not there when you change it just to be politically correct

 

[Dale_M]

According to Rev. Bennett Guess, spokesman for the denomination

This was not a theological document. It was a restructuring from five boards to one. And in doing this, we dealt with bylaws written decades ago, before the denomination's commitment to using inclusive and expansive imagery for God.

We no longer use exclusively male language to refer to God. We haven’t for a long time.

content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2011/07/god-father-ucc-obama-religion/1

Here is the relevant section of the denomination’s constitution, with the change:

ARTICLE V. LOCAL CHURCHES

The basic unit of the life and organization of the United Church of Christ is the Local Church. A Local Church is composed of persons who, believing in  the triune God -]as heavenly Father/-], and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and depending on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are organized for Christian worship, for the furtherance of Christian fellowship, and for the ongoing work of Christian witness.

blogs.courier-journal.com/faith/2011/07/07/church-deletes-reference-to-heavenly-father/

 

[antonivs]

I wonder if they changed the Lord’s Prayer as well?

 

[Irishgal49]

I wanted to say something snappy but I cannot even formulate a response to something like that.

 

[stevekehl]

Triune God forgive them, for they know not what they do.

 

[antonivs]

Triune God forgive them, for they know not what they do.

or “Creator, Christ, and Spirit”

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doxology

 

[followingtheway]

You know your faith is just not there when you change it just to be politically correct

Then Jesus must’ve been the most political incorrect person in the entire Bible

 

[antonivs]

Here is how the version of the Lord’s Prayer used by the Circular Congregational Church in Charleston which is affiliated with both the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church USA begins:

“Our Mother, Our Father, who art in heaven…”

postandcourier.com/news/2010/aug/13/does-language-matter/?print
Evidently Jesus' version needed improvement. :(

 

[Aelred_Minor]

While in the United Methodist Church I witnessed a baptism “in the name of God who loves you, Jesus who redeems you, and the Spirit who sanctifies you” or something very close to that.

Gives you some perspective when you feel peeved that Father So-and-so said “the Lord is with you” instead of “the Lord be with you” or something like that.

 

[LoyalViews]

Oh my goodness. Calling our blessed Lord “him, he, Father” is offensive? Excuse me, but may I ask as to what substance they’re smoking or what they’re drinking? Or is the world just gone absolutely crackers?

 

[antonivs]

While in the United Methodist Church I witnessed a baptism “in the name of God who loves you, Jesus who redeems you, and the Spirit who sanctifies you” or something very close to that.

Gives you some perspective when you feel peeved that Father So-and-so said “the Lord is with you” instead of “the Lord be with you” or something like that.

I’m surprised they left Jesus in there.

 

[Dale_M]

While in the United Methodist Church I witnessed a baptism “in the name of God who loves you, Jesus who redeems you, and the Spirit who sanctifies you” or something very close to that.

Oh, yes, the phrase “Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier” has been a gender-neutral translation that has been around for awhile.

The Vatican even needed to rule, a few years ago, that baptisms using that phrase were not valid and would need to be re-performed.

A baptism administered “in the name of the Creator, and of the Redeemer and of the Sanctifier” is not a baptism at all, said the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The congregation’s statement was published Feb. 29 as a brief response to questions regarding the validity of baptisms using that formula.

Asked whether a baptism performed with that formula – or a similar one referring to the “Creator, Liberator and Sustainer” – would be valid, the congregation answered “Negative.”

catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0801159.htm

As I recall, the ruling caused a fair amount of distress in Australia, where one parish had been routinely using the second version.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

Why not just go with “Resident Deity,” if we’re going to go genderless here?

 

[antonivs]

Why not just go with “Resident Deity,” if we’re going to go genderless here?

Or "to Whom it may concern" like the Unitarians? :D

 

[CMatt25]

The United Church of Christ as someone posted believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is organized for Christian worship, Christian fellowship, and witnesss. So do and are the Methodists. And the Unitarians are a faith as well.

So if one of their members said things like:

“You know your faith is just not there when you change it just to be politically correct”

“Triune God forgive them, for they know not what they do”

“I’m surprised they left Jesus in there”

Or “to Whom it may concern” like the Unitarians?"

Or “excuse me, but may I ask as to what substance they’re smoking or what they’re drinking?”

I suspect some Catholics here might consider it disrespectful of Catholicism. Would you like it if they said to Catholics, “forgive them, for they not know what they do”. Or 'I’m surprised they left Jesus in there". Or “excuse me, but may I ask as to what substance they’re smoking or what they’re drinking?”

3 - Objectionable Religious Posts
Members are not allowed to be disrespectful of anyone’s faith or religion, whether it is Catholicism or not.

 

[Monica4316]

that is sad Jesus Himself called God Father!

 

[Borealis]

Here is how the version of the Lord’s Prayer used by the Circular Congregational Church in Charleston which is affiliated with both the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church USA begins:

postandcourier.com/news/2010/aug/13/does-language-matter/?print

 Evidently Jesus' version needed improvement.  :(

Maybe they’re worshipping Mary…

 

[antonivs]

The United Church of Christ as someone posted believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is organized for Christian worship, Christian fellowship, and witnesss. So do and are the Methodists. And the Unitarians are a faith as well.

So if one of their members said things like:

“You know your faith is just not there when you change it just to be politically correct”

“Triune God forgive them, for they know not what they do”

“I’m surprised they left Jesus in there”

Or “to Whom it may concern” like the Unitarians?"

Or “excuse me, but may I ask as to what substance they’re smoking or what they’re drinking?”

I suspect some Catholics here might consider it disrespectful of Catholicism. Would you like it if they said to Catholics, “forgive them, for they not know what they do”. Or 'I’m surprised they left Jesus in there". Or “excuse me, but may I ask as to what substance they’re smoking or what they’re drinking?”

3 - Objectionable Religious Posts
Members are not allowed to be disrespectful of anyone’s faith or religion, whether it is Catholicism or not.

 If no critical comments whatsoever are allowed concerning any religion, then discussion will be limited to how wonderful every belief is.  Boring.  :yawn:  

 I stand by by comment that "I'm surprised they left Jesus in there" since He is male and being male is evidently now a sin to some people.  I am sincerely surprised they left Him in there.

 As to my statement that Unitarians pray "to Whom it may concern :D", I did follow that with a "Big Grin" symbol to show I was NOT serious.

 So do me a favor CMatt25, if you truly feel we are in violation of the rules, then report us to the moderators; because I'd rather be banned than post in such a stifled environment.  Thanks!  :thumbsup:

 

[OriginalJS]

Nothing new here. Many of these changes have been around for years. Interestingly, there have been a lot of changes in the Mass over the past century and more are coming next year.

 

[Fink]

If no critical comments whatsoever are allowed concerning any religion, then discussion will be limited to how wonderful every belief is. Boring. :yawn:

The Truth hurts. Thats what happens when youre in a sinking ship on the ocean of post-“Reformation” anarchy and political correctness.
At least we`re safe within the Barque of Peter.

Having said that, though; you`re sooo…JUDGEMENTAL!

 I stand by by comment that "I'm surprised they left Jesus in there" since He is male and being male is evidently now a sin to some people.  I am sincerely surprised they left Him in there.

Dont worry: some radical feminist group ("Roman Catholic WomenPriests"?) will "discover" (ie compose) a completely different "Gospel" which portrays everything thats masculine or feminine (as opposed to their revolting idea of Woman) as evil.
Actually, the radical feminists have more or less already done that, with their childish mythmaking.

 As to my statement that Unitarians pray "to Whom it may concern :D", I did follow that with a "Big Grin" symbol to show I was NOT serious.

Some sect out there probably already says that, anyway!

 So do me a favor CMatt25, if you truly feel we are in violation of the rules, then report us to the moderators; because I'd rather be banned than post in such a stifled environment.  Thanks!

Ditto!

Let`s consign political correctness to its proper place: dead and buried, and with a stake driven through the heart of it.