wfn.org | God as "Father" Predominates Among Presbyterians, Poll Finds

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

17-August-1999 
99263 
 
    God as "Father" Predominates 
    Among Presbyterians, Poll Finds 
 
    Survey Finds That Tradition is the Reason 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Despite the increasing use of inclusive language about 
God in Presbyterian churches, Presbyterians are far more likely to picture 
God as "Father" than as "Mother," according to a recent Presbyterian Panel 
poll conducted by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Research Services 
Office. 
 
    The periodic poll, which scientifically measures opinion among four 
categories of Presbyterians - pastors, specialized clergy, elders and 
members - found that 89 percent of pastors, 84 percent of specialized 
clergy, and 94 percent of elders and members say they are "extremely 
likely" or "somewhat likely" to imagine God as "Father." 
 
    Those who are more likely to imagine God as "Mother" tally 46 percent 
among specialized clergy, 38 percent among pastors, 16 percent among elders 
and 13 percent among members. 
 
    Only one in nine clergy, but around half of both members and elders, 
agree that "God is best understood in masculine terms." And about 
two-thirds of elders and members and more than 90 percent of ministers 
agree that "God is beyond gender. ... God is neither female nor male." 
 
    At least eight in 10 panelists in every group agree that "most people 
use male terms for God simply because that's the traditional language of 
the church." 
 
    A majority of each group (66 percent of members, 63 percent of elders, 
91 percent of pastors and 93 percent of specialized clergy) agree that "our 
language about God should be varied and diverse, reflecting the wide range 
of terms to describe God that are found in the Bible and the Reformed 
tradition." 
 
    Asked to choose from a list of 12 common images of God, panelists gave 
the highest ranking to "Creator" (90 percent), followed in order by 
"Redeemer," "Father," "Healer," "Master," "King," "Friend," "Judge," 
"Liberator," "Lover," "Mother" and "Spouse." 
 
    Clergy are more likely than lay people to imagine God as "Mother" and 
"Lover." Lay people are more apt to imagine God as "Judge" and "Master." 
 
    The responses of women and men in the panel were similar, although 
women are more likely to view God as "Friend," and men are more likely to 
picture God as "Judge." 
 
    Majorities of clergy agree that "use of gender-inclusive language is 
consistent with the overall message of the Bible." Lay people are less 
certain; only 40 percent of members and 36 percent of elders agree with 
that statement. 
 
    Most panelists prefer that the traditional language of the Lord's 
Prayer ("Our Father who art in heaven") and the traditional description of 
the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost) be preserved. The 
only exception is that 51 percent of specialized clergy would opt for 
gender-neutral language for the Trinity. 

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