Annotated Bibliography
Throughout the term I will assemble an annotated bibliography relating to expansive language for God, the divine, holy, or sacred. This will include theological/biblical resources underlining my understanding of justice and reconciliation, resources that focus on expansive language within public discussions/debates, prayers/practices that engage your chosen expansive language, and websites for my focus. This will include a mix of videos, books, articles, blog posts, and other media.
Theological and Biblical Sources
Easton, M.G. Easton’s Bible Dictionary. Accordance electronic ed., version 3.1. Altamonte Springs: OakTree Software, 1999.
This resource is available in Accordance Bible Software and is useful for searching various words in the Hebrew Bible, how they were used, and what words correspond to modern English translation.
Haga, Kazu. Healing Resistance. Berkley: Parallax Press, 2020.
The book is laid out in three parts, where Haga first lays out the groundwork on healing resistance before diving into the principles (the will) and the steps (the skill) of Kingian nonviolence. Throughout the book the author provides his readers with definitions: forgiveness, conflict, non-violence vs nonviolence, reconciliation vs recovery, accountability, beloved community. Each of these provides the reader with a framework for understanding conflict on all levels.
Jacobson, Rolf. “’The LORD is a God of justice’ (Isaiah 30:18): The Prophetic Insistence on Justice in Social Context.” Word and World 30, no. 2 (Spring 2010): 125-134.
In this article the author aims to articulate what justice is, using the context of the Hebrew Bible. Two of the powerful claims Jacobson makes are that “justice is a social concept” and “the Lord is a God of justice.” Both of these claims draw on the prophetic books of the Hebrew Bible as well as the understanding that justice is relational.
McCracken, Vic. Christian Faith and Social Justice, edited by Vic McCracken. New York: Bloomsbury, 2014.
The book lays out five views of social justice that Christians tend to take or argue for. These include: libertarianism, political liberalism, liberation theology, Christian feminism, and virtue ethics. Each chapter is authored by a scholar with responses from the four other scholars, creating a dialogue between the viewpoints. Worth highlighting are the five views of justice that are proposed.
Libertarian = is about the means, not the end; heavy critique of the state
Liberal = a just society will arrange itself to prevent inequalities from hinder the marginalized
Liberationist = solidarity with the poor and oppressed
Feminist = what affects those on the margins, specifically women; deeply relational
Virtue = guided by the faith, hope, love and points towards a common good; development of habits.
Tutu, Desmond and Mpho. The Book of Forgiving. New York: Harper Collins, 2014.
The book is laid out in three parts, where the Desmond and Mpho Tutu first write to help the readers understand forgiveness, then outline the fourfold path, and conclude that “all can be forgiven.” Each chapter ends with a series of practices that the reader is invited into: meditation, a stone ritual, prayer, and journaling. Both the text and the practices help the reader to understand that the process of forgiveness is how we become whole again, since we are all broken in a broken world.
Strong, James. Strong’s Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament. Accordance electronic ed., version 3.1. Altamonte Springs: OakTree Software, 1999.
This resource is available in Accordance Bible Software and is useful for searching various words in the Hebrew Bible, how they were used, and what words correspond to modern English translation.
Public Discussions and Debates
Dawn, Maggi. Institute. “Dean Dawn on Naming God: Inclusive and Expansive Language” Published 2011. Accessed November 2022. https://marquandchapel.yale.edu/news/dean-dawn-naming-god-inclusive-and-expansive-language
This article, published by the former Dean of the Marquand Chapel at Yale Divinity, addresses the power that language holds in our society. She writes about how inclusive language can end up excluding some groups and how removing gendered language completely can remove the relationship with God. In the end she proposes expansive language to stretch the imagination of the believer.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. “What is meant by inclusive and expansive language in worship?” Accessed November 2022. https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/What_is_meant_by_inclusive_and_expansive_language_in_worship.pdf
This is a document released by the ELCA as part of their “Worship Resources: Frequently Asked Questions.” In the document, the church states that this is to be used as a guide for churches and pastors when talking about the topic. The document frequently references the Faith, Sexism, and Justice: A Call to Action document also produced by the ELCA. Brief definitions or explanations on what inclusive and expansive language mean are included.
Powell, Paul. Expansive language: Beyond the exclusively inclusive. Journal of The Liturgical Conference. Published online September 10, 2008.
In this article, Powell writes about the difficulty of working with and writing liturgical language. He ponders, “How do we write texts that are truly inclusive of all persons and ages within the worshiping community? How can we begin to express the deepest, most personal feelings of worshipers toward God and one another with language that is often offensive and impersonal?” At a time when this is still widely up for debate, 14 years later, the discussion and suggestions that Powell puts forth remain relevant and engaging.
Progressive Church Media. “Inclusive Language Matters.” Accessed December 2022. https://www.progressivechurchmedia.com/inclusive-language-matters-egalitarian-bible-translations/
This project from Progressive Church Media (PCM) is the starting spot for an analysis of eight translations of the Bible and the language employed within them. The Bible versions being reviewed include: the Common English Bible (CEB), the New English Translation (NET), the International Standard Version (ISV), the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), the New International Version (NIV), the English Standard Version (ESV), the New American Standard Bible (NASB), and the King James Version (KJV).
Religious Institute. “Bias-Free and Expansive Language for God and Humanity” Accessed November 2022.http://religiousinstitute.org/denom_statements/bias-free-expansive-language-god-humanity/
This webpage provides the resolution for the 79th General Convention that “acknowledges and encourages the use of inclusive and expansive language for both God and humanity…” The document goes on to provide guidelines for language usage and the recommendation that all institutions, congregations, and organizations affiliated follow these guidelines.
Prayers and Practices
enfleshed. “LGBTQ Related Liturgies.” Accessed December 2022. https://enfleshed.com/liturgy/lgbtq-related/
This resource page is a collection of liturgies, prayers, blessings, and orders of worship that are queer affirming and use expansive and inclusive language. I used a handful of the prayers included on this page for the weekly actions steps through the term.
enfleshed. “The Vita Divina Project.” Accessed December 2022. https://enfleshed.com/the-vita-divina-project/
This page contains prayers, meditations, and artwork produced by LGBTQIA persons that follows the traditions of Lectio and Visio Divina. I appreciate how each piece of artwork invites the participant to stretch their imagination, looking for things they haven’t seen before, new possibilities.
Fehribach, Adeleine. “Using Inclusive Language and Feminine Images of God in Prayer.” Accessed December 2022. https://nazareth.org/using-inclusive-language-and-feminine-images-of-god-in-prayer/
In this blog post, Sister Adeline acknowledges the need for inclusive and expansive need for language in all parts of life. She goes on to highlight parts in her life that she strives to make this change, even if the church as a whole is not there yet.
Partridge, Cameron. “Liturgy for the Claiming of a New Name.” Accessed December 2022. https://www.manyvoices.org/blog/resource/liturgy-for-the-claiming-of-a-new-name/.
This is a liturgy written for claiming and affirming the name and/or identity someone chooses to take on. While it is geared towards an individual, I can’t help but think how powerful it would be to have a service where the congregation affirms and claims new language for God. Imagine the congregation being part of the production of the service, choosing the language they want to see and hear represented.
St. Anselm. “Prayer to St. Paul: Our Greatest Mother.” https://aclerkofoxford.blogspot.com/2012/06/anselms-prayer-to-st-paul-our-greatest.html
This prayer, which I used a portion of for a weekly action earlier in the term, is from the early second century. It’s said that Anselm wrote it when he was feeling distanced from God and called on motherly love to provide comfort.
Wallace, Jay. “Liturgy of Welcome”. Accessed December 2022. https://www.manyvoices.org/blog/resource/liturgy-of-gods-welcome/
One of my favorite things about liturgy is the way it can be adapted to fit the needs, the context, of a setting. While this is a beautiful liturgy to speak to the inclusiveness of a congregation, I think it could just as easily be used as a personal prayer, an invitation to the self to see and accept all manifestations of God and the divine.
Websites
United Church of Christ. “Expansive Language with Reference to God.” Accessed October 2022. https://www.ucc.org/expansive-language-with-reference-to-god/
This webpage shares a list of expansive imagery used for God in scripture, the creeds, and theological traditions. It’s a great place to go when looking for alternate imagery to use when referencing God or the divine.
PCUSA. “Well Chosen Words.” Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Accessed November 2022. https://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/pw/pdfs/wellchosenwords.pdf
This pamphlet from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) highlights that words have value and provides examples of language swaps that can be used to transition from more traditional language to inclusive and expansive language.
Roberts, Davis. “How Do We Talk About God’s Gender?” Published October 10, 2016. Accessed December 2022. http://queergrace.com/language-for-god/
In this blog post, the author provides a definition of both inclusive and expansive language. Roberts then goes on to provide reasons this type of language matters and speak to the history of language within the church.
Karlson, Henry. “To Overcome False Conceptions of God, Feminine Images of God Must be Recognized as Valid.” Published October 4, 2017. Accessed December 2022. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2017/10/eternal-feminine-must-recognized-overcome-false-conceptions-god/
In this blog post, Karlson argues that the wholly masculine representation of God leads people to believe that masculinity is the best representation of the divine. And with that vision engrained in people’s minds, any other type of language for God is declared blasphemy. Therefore, he argues, for broad vs. narrow language to be used when speaking of God.