Dennis M. Roser, ELCA pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, told the following story.

"When I was studying at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (1998-2002), we were not permitted in most classes or in chapel services to speak of God as 'Father' or refer to Him with the pronoun 'Him.' Additionally, one of our professors always led the Lord’s Prayer with the introduction, 'Our Father and Mother . . . .'  Rev. Roser also stated "there were professors who spoke frequently of God as 'her.'” (read here)

So an ELCA seminary prohibits students from calling God "Father?"  Jesus called God "Father."  Jesus told us to use the term "Father" for God. (Matt 6:9)  But it's not OK for seminarians to use that term for God at this ELCA seminary?
 


Comments

Jason
08/31/2010 3:36pm

Dennis is a friend of mine and fellow LTSG alumn. My experience was not as clear as his. It was certainly 'understood' from the start that male pronouns should be avoided. I never heard a faculty member pray to 'Father and mother'. There was a statement put out by the administration that inclusive language wa to be used. I never had problems with faculty for using male pronouns.

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Luke Seamon
09/02/2010 3:53pm

I can confirm Pr. Roser's account, both by my own experience at Gettysburg, and from others who spent their entire seminary career there. I considered this both a violation of Christian orthodoxy and my own conscience in being force to speak of God in an unnatural manner.

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Jerry M Wirtley link
09/23/2011 9:52am

I was a student at Gettysburg and this was not my experience. We were not told that we could not use male pronouns for reference to God. I never heard a faculty member prayer to Father and mother. I also did not believe it was implied that we could not use male pronouns. Faculty members used male pronouns in reference to God.

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