Assembly rejects inclusive language for confessions By John H. Adams The Presbyterian Layman Volume 34, Number 5 Posted July 6, 2001 LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has decided not to call for an inclusive-language version of The Book of Confessions. Instead, following the recommendation of its Committee on Theological Issues and Educational Institution, commissioners instructed the Office of the General Assembly and the Office of Theology and Worship to write a new preface that draws attention to the fact that the historic documents do not reflect the gender-sensitive language that has become the standard for the denomination. Overture 01-34 from the Presbytery of Detroit asked the General Assembly to direct the Office of Theology and Worship “to revise The Book of Confessions to include sensitive, inclusive language in regards to humanity.” But Janie Pharr, a member of the denomination’s Advisory Committee on the Constitution, told the committee that changing the language of The Book of Confessions was not simply an editorial decision. “The bar is higher for the amendment of confessional documents than for the Book of Order,” she said. Several year process Any change in the confessions requires a number of steps: approval by a General Assembly; preparation of the text of the proposed revisions; approval of that text by a subsequent General Assembly; ratification by at least two thirds of the presbyteries; and, finally, ratification by the General Assembly that meets after approval by the presbyteries. That could be a three- or four-year process, she said. A change in the Book of Order can be accomplished within a year if a majority of the presbyteries approves it. Pharr also estimated that the cost of revising The Book of Confessions would be about $140,000 – mainly for travel and meeting costs required for a committee of elders and ministers selected to oversee the work. Joann Sizoo of the Assembly Committee on Women’s Concerns did not agree that the process would be that difficult. She said the Nicene Creed was changed to reflect Jesus’ “humanity” rather than his maleness without having to undergo such a prolonged process. Likewise, she said, there is a special inclusive language version of the Confession of 1967. That version is not in The Book of Confessions. But Charles Wiley of the Office of Theology said the changes in the Nicene Creed, which he called improved translation, underwent the same process as would be required for incorporating inclusive language into The Book of Confessions. One member of the committee found reasons other than the protracted process for not supporting an inclusive-language Book of Confessions. Noting the committee’s earlier decision not to reaffirm Jesus Christ alone as Lord of humanity, he said he was worried that the home folks might say, “Not only did they not agree that Jesus is the singular Lord, but also they called for revising The Book of Confessions.”

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