Today we are sharing with you a powerful and informative presentation provided by Reverend Lawrence Richardson. 

"We worship and pray to a Dynamic God who defies definition. How does believing in a God who lives within the transitions of gender identification and expression help us to increase our faith and hope? How can we manifest this expansive understanding of The Divine through the ways we dialogue, pray, and worship. “

So let us begin! Everyone is born with a gender identity and expression. Some of us have a gender identity and gender expression that match. In this case we use the terms cis female and cis male. For those whose gender identity and gender expression are not the same, the term trans female or trans male is used. To clarify, a person can be assigned the gender female at birth but identify as a male. They would refer to themselves as a trans male, or male and use he/him pronouns.  It is better not to assume a person’s pronouns.

Let’s look at what gender is. At birth, gender is assigned based on the physical body. Once gender is assigned, it is assumed that the person is male or female based on this. What is important to consider and remember is that gender, like race, is a social construct based on physical characteristics.

Rev. Richardson asked us to consider the following questions:
What has been assumed about you based on your gender? Some responses could include how you will respond emotionally, what colors you will like, what kind of jobs you might pursue. What else would you add? Is it reasonable to make assumptions based on gender? Can this be limiting? 

Now let’s consider when we think of God as the “Father.”

When God is “Father”, the Divine is assumed to be masculine. In this case, men will assume a higher status socially and men could be assumed to be closer to God and more divine.

When Goddess is “Mother”, the Divine is assumed to be feminine. In this case, women assume a higher status socially and women are assumed to be closer to God and more divine.

When the Divine is referred to as both Mother and Father, there could be a struggle for dominance. When  dominance is not sought, there is more promise of equality for society. We can each consider God as male or female, neither or both! We do not need to limit God’s gender with human social constructs. However, the binary structure of genders is assumed in our culture. Those outside that structure can feel left out.

All of this talk of gender is important because, how we understand God influences …

• How we think about people     

• How we treat people 

• What we expect of people

• How we structure our church policy

• How we write and use our liturgies

• What songs we sing

• Who we consider eligible for leadership

The way we talk about The Divine, the way we sing about The Divine, the way we teach about the Divine, influences how we see people, what we believe about them, and what we expect of them.

Is our embodiment the only way that we believe we are made in the image of God? 
Love the Lord your God with all your Heart (emotions), Soul (spirit), Mind (thoughts), & Strength (body)!
In beginning to increase one’s understanding of the lives of others and to be genuinely inclusive, we need to shift from us/them thinking to we thinking when considering people who do not identify as we do or express their gender in ways not limited by cultural norms. Because of social and religious stigma we can’t assume we know how someone identifies and how they express themselves when we physically don’t see them.

In changing our worship language to be Gender Expansive:

• We are welcoming all people            

• We are not creating God in OUR image, we give room for all people            

• We give space for people to be fluid in their identity and expression

Consider the language you use when referring to God… The Holy, Divine, God, Creator, Beloved.

Some ways that the UCC has suggested to be more inclusive include these thoughts:

• Consider other pronouns for God

• Instead of brother/sister language use sibling or kindred

• Instead of husband/wife language, use partner.  

What else can you think of?
 
Basics for a successful Gender Expansive journey:
𑇐 God is Spirit – not a specific gender        𑇐 You will make mistakes. Don’t dwell on them.
𑇐 It’s okay to ask people their pronouns        𑇐 Be happy for all the diversity you get to experience
𑇐 Provide pastoral care                𑇐 Worship and pray!

For additional information on this topic:
openandaffirming.org/transgender, or email Rev. Lawrence (revlawrence@salemucc.us)

In service,
Mary Brown, Natalie Coe, Karen Festa, Celia Schneider, Lynn Stack
FHUCC Open and Affirming Committee

If you would like to bring anything to the committee, please contact Mary or Celia.
Mary Brown        marybbrown57@comcast.net            802-345-4502
Celia Schneider    schneidy@shoreham.net            802-273-2406