Church mulls 'phrasing' change for Holy Trinity

The Washington Times ^ | June 20, 2006 | Richard Ostling

[pageonetoo]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- At some Presbyterian churches the Holy Trinity -- "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" -- will be out. "Mother, Child and Womb" is in.

Delegates to the national assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted yesterday to "receive" a policy paper on sex-inclusive language for the Trinity, a step short of approving it. Church officials are enabled to propose "experimental liturgies" with "alternative phrasings" for the Trinity, but congregations won't be required to use them.

Besides "Mother, Child and Womb" and "Rock, Redeemer, Friend," options include:
• "Lover, Beloved, Love"
• "Creator, Savior, Sanctifier"
• "King of Glory, Prince of Peace, Spirit of Love"

"This does not alter the church's theological position, but provides an educational resource to enhance the spiritual life of our membership," legislative committee chairman Nancy Olthoff, an Iowa laywoman, said during yesterday's debate on the changes.

The assembly narrowly defeated a conservative bid to send the paper back for further study, which would have killed it.

A panel that worked on the issue since 2000 said the classical language for the Trinity still should be used, but Presbyterians should seek "fresh ways to speak of the mystery of the triune God" to "expand the church's vocabulary of praise and wonder."..

[DustyMoment]

This is actually a rather interesting development. One of the writers of the book "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" (which is claimed to be a primary source for Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code") suggested that the Holy Grail that was claimed to have been used to catch Jesus' blood, is actually a reference to Mary Magdalene's womb and the baby she and Jesus supposedly created is the "blood".

Given the current level of hyperbole, hysteria and controversy surrounding "The Da Vinci Code", the Presbyterian Church make back away from this idea.

[smug]

"This does not alter the church's theological position, but provides an educational resource to enhance the spiritual life of our membership,"

Sounds like something from the barn wall in Animal Farm.

[SuziQ]

At some Presbyterian churches the Holy Trinity -- "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" -- will be out. "Mother, Child and Womb" is in.

If they're not interested in how Jesus portrayed God, and the Paraclete, in the Scriptures, then they are just the newest branch of "The Church of What's Happening Now", and have declared themselves irrelevant to Christianity.

[JimRed]

Sign up required; couldn't find my BUGMENOT notes.

[VRWCer]

"Because that's what it's all about, after all - inner peace."

________________________________________________________


LOL, I do believe that line of thinking could earn some fans (followers) over at DU!

[JimRed]

I ended up in the AG"

AG- Assemblies of God?

[Bryan24]

"This does not alter the church's theological position".

Uhh, if you won't call it what the bible calls it, then you are altering the teaching of the scriptures.

It appears the Presbyterian Church is running off the cliff on the liberal end of the spectrum.

[Wallace T.]

OH!!! That's what it is! All this time I have been reading it dyslexically as CPUSA. I thought it was the Commies pretending like they got Religion.

Actually, you had it right. They are Commies pretending to be religious.

[Miss Marple]

"Mother, Child, and WOmb."

The Holy Spirit is not a uterus. Not only is that a ridiculous description of the Trinity, but it comes pretty close to blasphemy, if you ask me.

[AD from SpringBay]

How anti-christian of them. Fits nicely with their women bishops.

[MountainMenace]

In their attempt to emulate our Lord, they are misguided and erode (in my opinion) the true word and teachings of Christ.

More appropriately "emasculate". You are right, Jesus was bold and tough. Not the smarmy stuff coming out of the Episcopal and Presbyterian sects.

[mel]

PCA here in Memphis are building, building, building. PCUSA is having financial difficulties.

[linda_22003]

And just think of all the lines in hymns that won't rhyme any more!

[bmwcyle]

Man to fit God into his small image. I think they know better but deny.

[Protagoras]

Satan is laughing right now.

God is in control, not Satan.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that.

[Little Ray]

I'm so glad I'm not a Presbyterian any more. PCUSA has more in common with CPUSA that it does with Christianity.

[Protagoras]

It appears the Presbyterian Church is running off the cliff on the liberal end of the spectrum.

The outcome is thus far undecided, but it may be soon.

[Tokra]

I think the fact that they are trying to change OUR religious institutions, rather than creating their very own religion - shows that they have evil intent. Their purpose is to DESTROY - not to amend. Satan is laughing right now.

I used to think statements like this bordered on conspiracy theory craziness - BUT, when I hear stories like this, I have to wonder if maybe there IS a satanic force at work behind the scenes. This story is so bizarre - it's almost surrealistic. Do these people know what they are doing? Maybe they do.......

[markomalley]

Another denomination that has decided to evolve into becoming "post-Christian."

((sighs))

[pageonetoo]

Sounds like something from the barn wall in Animal Farm.

Sounds more like the floor to me!