Gender biasness in scripture and theology has suppressed and/or stunted the spiritual progress of countless women throughout the ages. It is within the spirit of justice and equality that we extend the right to modify any bias or noninclusive language in the Bible to any woman seeking to improve her ability to establish a personal relationship with God.

Take Matters Into Your Own Hands

Creating a gender-friendly devotion and praise can be as simple as changing or adding a few words when reciting the Bible or personal prayers. Here are a few suggestions for modifying your worship:

1. Whenever the Creator is referenced by masculine language such as He, Father, Lord, or God replace with a neutral attribute-the Divine, the Creator, Most High, Our Divine Parent, etc. 

The terms "God" and "Lord" which are grammatically masculine have gained a more universal and gender neutral meaning throughout the ages. Choosing to substitute these words when invoking the Creator is a matter of preference and personal sensitivity.  

Below is an expanded list of titles and attributes of God that you might want to consider when personalizing your devotions:

God of Eternity

Everlasting God

Almighty God

God of Peace

God of Recompense

Lord of Hosts

The Lord our Banner

The Lord our Provider

The Lord our Peace

God of Peace

The Lord our Shepherd

The Lord our Righteous

The Lord who is Present

The Lord our Sanctifier

The Lord our God

The Lord of Recompense

The Lord who Heals

Holy One

Merciful One

Just One

Source of All

2. If a person wants to express the Creator as having both masculine and feminine attributes, one can use phrases like- Our Father(whom is also Our Mother), Father(Mother), Him(Her), etc.

This effort is aimed at balancing an exclusively masculine connotation of God in scripture or writings. Generally, in Christian theology, God is considered to be pure spirit. As a result, the Creator is conceived as being beyond gender, race, species, etc.

3. If a Bible verse is specifically addressing a male audience add in parenthesis- and women, and she, etc. Further adjustments are required if the topic is referring to an act solely committed by men. Simply include the female equivalent behavior in brackets or in the commentary. Whenever possible, it would be great to pull from similar references to women stated throughout the Bible. This approach would, for some, change the tone of the Bible to reflect a more inclusive language. It is also highly effective to incorporate modern examples related to the specific topic that is male oriented. By showing how the issue may or may not relate to men and women of today, an open-minded, fair, and contemporary perspective of faith would be achieved.

*The point of this effort is to convey the Biblical message not necessarily to conform with Biblical accuracy which inadvertently get in th way of the Bible's ability to reach all readers. Furthermore, we must take into consideration the transient nature of the Bible. Many of the social norms throughout the scripture are not transferable to all times and places. The most important element of the Bible is its spiritual thread which runs throughout the pages of this sacred text. This is where the Word of God lies. It is the place where universal values and principles are found.

INFINITE MOTHER, INFINITE FATHER 

Prayer by Rev. Theodore Parker (Unitarian Minister 1810 –  1860)

Infinite Mother, the parent of our bodies and our souls: We know You always have us in Your care and that You cradle the world beneath Your eye; we would be conscious of Your presence with us.

Infinite Father, we thank You for this great human world added to this earth and air and sea. We thank You for the mighty capacities You have given us for thought and toil, for beauty and for duty. We thank You for this soul of ours whereby we know You, our Father and our Mother, and have serene delight in Your continual presence and Your love. We thank You that when we wander from Your ways, Your love forsakes us not but reaches out to bring the wanderer back home wiser and better. We thank You that we may live noble lives, that we may become whole.

More Prayers by Rev. Theodore Parker

Harvard Library

Prayers of Power 

AUC-Parker Prayers

Links

The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation

Inclusive Language Project: Priest for Equality

Christians for Biblical Equality

God as Mother

Patriarchy or Gender Equality?

Male and Female in Christ Section 1

Male and Female in Christ Section 2

Male and Female in Christ Section 3

Feminist Theology-Online Books