United Methodist Advocacy Group Redefines God
A progressive LGBT advocacy group within The United Methodist Church (UMC), known as Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), recently drew attention for referring to God with the pronoun “she” in a message to its supporters. The email, sent to mark the one-year anniversary of the UMC General Conference’s vote to lift restrictions on same-sex marriage and the ordination of openly gay clergy, praised the progress made but acknowledged ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals within the church.
In the message, RMN emphasized that despite significant policy changes, many queer and transgender individuals still encounter discrimination within church structures. The group expressed frustration that some of the most vocal resistance comes from within religious communities, adding that “God is not silent, and she speaks in part through our compassionate witness.” This use of feminine language for God diverges from the traditional male pronouns found in scripture and Christian history.
The Christian Post reached out to RMN for clarification about the use of female pronouns for God, but the group did not respond in time for publication. Critics, such as Mark Tooley from the Institute on Religion & Democracy, argued that referring to God as “she” reflects theological radicalism, noting that while the Bible occasionally uses feminine metaphors, God is consistently addressed with male pronouns throughout Judeo-Christian tradition.
RMN was established in the early 1980s to challenge the UMC’s previous stance on homosexuality, which described it as incompatible with Christian teaching. Since then, hundreds of churches have aligned with the network as “Reconciling Congregations,” advocating for full inclusion of LGBTQ+ members. However, UMC leadership ruled in Judicial Council Decision 871 that congregations are not officially allowed to affiliate with outside advocacy groups.
The organization has also faced internal controversy. In 2015, a former employee, Andy Oliver, filed a complaint accusing RMN of wrongful termination and discrimination related to gender identity. He claimed that he was pressured to alter a subordinate’s job title in a way he believed was discriminatory and, after refusing, was subjected to increased scrutiny and eventually dismissed without explanation.