Methodist Inclusive Language Guide

Reverend Michaela Youngson, the Assistant Secretary of the Methodist Conference, blogged last week about a new ‘Inclusive Language Guide’:

As the world’s understanding of each person’s identity changes, the Church is learning more about what it means to be created in God’s image – our language about God is limited by our human understanding – as that understanding grows, so does our knowledge of the God who created us. In our guide to inclusive language we offer practical advice about how our language might be used in ways that do not exclude people, whatever their identity. We are called to love in the way that Christ loves, recognising, as St Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, that in Christ Jesus we are all children of God in faith.

Emphasis mine. Notice here that the Methodist Church obtains its information about people from the world, not God’s word. She goes on:

Those in the life of the Church who help prepare people for special events such as baptisms, funerals and marriages will want to use language that is inclusive and reflects for those involved the language that they would choose to use for themselves. So, as well as traditional language such as ‘husband and wife’ it might be appropriate to use words such as ‘partner’ or ‘spouse’. This is not a discarding of particular terms but an opening up of our language in a way that reflects the gracious and inclusive nature of God’s love.

These people love to talk about God’s love, but seldom God’s word. The lovey-dovey idol around whose altars Methodists dance says nothing disturbing, rejects no actions, forbids no lifestyles. I have read through the Guide. It tells us how to pronounce ‘Islam’ correctly. It discourages use of such offensive words as 'husband' and 'wife'. It encourages us to avoid phrases like:

“English is not her first language.”

Preferring us to say:

“She speaks English in addition to other languages.”

“She speaks Hindi and is learning English”

And don’t use the wrong verb in Methodist circles:

the word ‘man’ used as a verb – ‘who is manning the front desk’, for example – can make people feel excluded.

It encouarges Methodists to share their own pronouns as this helps to create a safe space for people to be themselves. In an online meeting, some people share their pronouns after their name:

For example:

Gemma Hyde. She/her OR

Jay Walker. They/them

You could also share your own pronouns in conversation

It also encourages the use of the they/them pronouns for those people who think they have opted out of God’s male/female distinction:

For example:

Tyler, who identifies as non-binary, and uses the pronouns they/them, has lived in Manchester for five years.

Later on: “Since they were tiny, Tyler and their brother played instruments and sang in their church band.”

If anyone needed further proof that British Methodism is dead as a parrot, here it is. Instead of preaching Christ crucified to a godless and secular age, it absorbs all the godlessness and secularism that it can, till it be bloated and fit to burst. It is a dying church in a dying land, a dim reflection of worldly thinking to which John Wesley would be entirely alien. Budding historians should be printing this document off to satisfy future curiosity; within two decades, the website will be down, the churches all sold and the word 'Methodist' a mere memory.

Will Britain's last Methodist please remember to switch the light off? Its leaders have been working hard to do this for years.