Expansive Language
When we think of justice-making, we usually think of taking
action – like joining the Justice
and Peace Action Network and sending
messages to elected officials about legislation. Or marching for peace and human rights. Or organizing in our communities to make life
better, safer, and more just.
We don’t often think about the words we use – but we
should. The United Church of Christ has
a long history of promoting awareness about gender-inclusive language and
official policy for our publications. Read
the witness
of General Synod which started in 1973.
The words we use reflect the world we live in – and words
can also shape that same world, for better or for worse. Whether we are talking about God or each
other, words can limit or expand our abilities to include or exclude
others. Here is a link to some excellent
resources on language as background, including
an Inclusive
Language Covenant local congregations could consider and examples of
policies adopted by some UCC Conferences.
Additional study
materials are also available.
More Info:
*NEW* Daily Devotional for Advent 2011 - Expecting the Word
Travel through the weeks of Advent with this daily devotional from the WORDS MATTER project of the Justice for Women Working Group (National Council of Churches). Daily reflections are written by a diverse group of women and men and focus on the scriptural texts with an emphasis on image and word. Discover some new perspectives on this holy season! Download a PDF of Epxecting the Word now.
We are looking for UCC volunteer groups for WORDS
MATTER!
The Justice for Women Working Group (J4WWG) of the National
Council of Churches of Christ (NCC) has produced a new approach to the issue of
expansive language called Words Matter. You can Start a Conversation in your church (all ages, genders, mixed groups or single gender groups welcome) and let us know how it goes.
Download this PDF to learn more about WORDS MATTER. Please contact Loey Powell for more info or if your
church group is participating in the pilot project.
