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  • Frank Lockwood is the religion editor at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Frank is a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Idaho College of Law. In 2004, he received a Knight Wallace Fellowship at the University of Michigan. A native of Oregon, Frank has been a reporter in Idaho, Kentucky and Washington, D.C.

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Jesus Our Mother

Posted July 14, 2006

Bible Belt Blogger: Jesus Our Mother

Frank Lockwood

The new presiding bishop-elect of the Episcopal Church gave a sermon this summer which mentioned "our mother Jesus." Meanwhile, members of the Presbyterian Church USA looked for less patriarchical ways to describe the trinity. (Instead of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, for example, worshippers could use "Mother, Child and Womb.")

Scripture for millenia has used non-gender-specific imagery to describe God. Still, these recent attempts to reimagine the sacred captured headlines across the United States.

Is it time to reevaluate the old Christian symbols, to find images that are more inclusive and democratic, less male and monarchical? Or could such images undermine the church and its mission?

COMMENTS:

AUTHOR: Allen

EMAIL: kyronin@aol.com

DATE: 07/24/2006 08:50:20 PM



I don't think this is an attempt to redefine anything. As was mentioned, there have been non-gender specific, even feminine specific terminology to help people come closer to God and Jesus. From famous saints to archbishops this is nothing new. What is new is the media is picking up on this and using it to bash the Episcopal church. And to have it mentioned time and time again without mentioning the historical context is shameful. The Presiding Bishop elect was not trying to say Jesus or God was a woman at all.