We should update the PAOC statement of faith. I’m sure other people have thought this. However, I haven’t heard too many people talk about the fact that our statement of faith contains much gender exclusive language. Gender exclusive language uses terms like “mankind” and “policemen.” Gender inclusive language uses terms like “people” or “police officers” (here is a short video primer on gender inclusive language).
Here are some excerpts from the PAOC statement of faith (found here):
- Referring to a believer’s relationship to demons, the statement says (5.3.2) that “He cannot be possessed by them [demons] because his body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.” I guess female Christians can be possessed by demons.
- “Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God” (5.4). Perhaps the PAOC follows the belief of Augustine that women do not bear the divine image.
- “He fell through sin and, as a consequence, incurred both spiritual and physical death” (5.4). Women actually got off pretty good here!
- “Salvation has been provided for all men through the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross” (5.5.1). Oh dear…not so good here.
I could go on.
Now…the PAOC statement of faith does not, of course (!), mean what I have suggested above. Hence, many people will read this and wonder what the big deal is. However, language matters. Do you think it makes a difference if I refer to a female as a “girl,” a “lady,” a “woman,” or as “ma’am”?
Words are not really the main issue here.
- A recent study has shown that gender exclusive language can actually make women feel ostracized. As part of the study, some women went through a mock job interview. The women who were interviewed using gender exclusive language responded “with a lower sense of belonging, less motivation, and less expected identification with the job” compared to the women who were interviewed with gender inclusive language.[i]
- Gender exclusive language suggests that men are probably being privileged over women in ways other than just language.
- Another recent study suggests that in many cases those who are more resistant to gender inclusive language tend to have sexist beliefs.[ii]
Some people will still think the issue of gender inclusive language is just silly. But since many people (and many women in particular) do not think this is silly, then we owe it to them to be respectful and considerate and we should avoid using language that may be perceived as pejorative. Plus, gender inclusive language is simply more accurate.
I am pleased to say that because we recognize the value of women in ministry in the PAOC, we have been ordaining women since 1984. I’m also happy to say that as the PAOC has been making amendments to their constitution, they have indeed used gender-inclusive language.
It is also due time for us to update the language in the PAOC statement of faith. (Note: In contrast to the constitution, the statement of faith is not updated often. I don’t know if there have been any changes since 1994, and I think 1980 before that.)
UPDATE: On April 30, 2014, the PAOC General Conference voted in favor of revising the statement of faith using gender inclusive language. The changes should appear on the PAOC web page soon enough.
[i] Jane G. Stout and Nilanjana Dasgupta, “When He Doesn’t Mean You: Gender-Exclusive Language as Ostracism,” Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 36.6 (2011): 757-769.
[ii] Oriane Sarrasin, Ute Gabriel [no relation J], and Pascal Gygax, “Sexism and Attitudes toward Gender-Neutral Language: The Case of English, French and German,” Swiss Journal of Psychology 71.3 (2012): 113-124.
All good points, Andrew. Thanks for the links to those articles as well!
Here, here! Question… Question!
Very timely discussion Andrew. Doing a research on Women in Ministry at the PAOC archives last week and noted the language in the statement of faith too.
Loved the article! It’s time for a change.
Thank you for this!
This is sad, you are calling for the rewrite of the bible, one example alone, Man is made in Gods image, not woman, woman was made in the compatible image of man. We are mankind, we all come from man.
Your interpretation of the Bible contradicts the vast majority of the Church, which affirms that both men and women are created in the image of God. See Genesis 1:27. You may have noticed that the PAOC actually voted in favour of these changes.
More importantly though, the proposed changes weren’t just about the image of God. There was also something about salvation. Surely you can agree that this statement was too exclusive: “Salvation has been provided for all men…”
Wow, didn’t expect a response, this is great! Yes I do agree on your correction about the image, and to this I was wrong biblically. It doesn’t matter what the PAOC voted on however right? It matters what the bible says. Salvation to all men, the gender correction of the scripture is for a purpose, not saying that yours purpose is but the underlying current in society is. God created man, from man woman, we are all mankind for example, not the correction of human, or people as the evolution agenda would have you think. They are subtle thought changes pushed through society one by one to include all sex identifications in hatred to Gods original creation. When the bible states all men for example, this is indicative of all descendant of mankind, we know it isn’t gender specific, the slow degradation of gender term and other topics just the same are making their ways into reprints of different bible versions as well as obviously, quotations of the bible in statements of faith. I actually want to apologize for starting with this is sad, but I do have a concern over this type of thing going on, soon we’ll see a new term in things to replace limiting just Male and Female and be all inclusive towards all the perversion of Gods creation of mankind.
My original falling across this site had nothing to do with this, I was just reviewing the statement of faith as I go to a PAOC church and have for years. My concern was over the Holy Spirit statement and the scriptural use of atonement in healing, I have some concern over both of those but this just caught my attention.
I really appreciate you answering!