Feminine Images

Feminine images in the hymnals are apparently under attack by a certain group. I was concerned about the postings that I had read about on different blogs, so I contacted a resource at the General Board of Discipleship. This was his reply:

Rumors may stop here.Here are the facts:
1) Good News HAS stated that it will try to press a new hymnal committee(which hasn't been formed because the legislation to form it has not been voted by General Conference) not to approve hymns with "questionable theology." That's a pretty broad term that could mean different things to different people.
2) Some may interpret the stated concerns of Good News to mean an attempt to remove any sort of feminine images for God. They have not said that. That part would be rumor. They HAVE identified, by title, some of the same hymns in TFWS they went after when the collection was first published, and the ones they have specifically named DO include feminine imagery for God. But that is not the same thing as saying "We want to remove all hymns with feminine imagery for God."
3) TFWS CANNOT be up for revision by GC action because it was never approved by GC in the first place. It is not a supplement to the 1989 UMH in any legal sense for that reason. It is simply a songbook, developed largely by GBOD and UMPH, and published by UMPH. I do not know at this point whether UMPH is considering a second edition of TFWS or something like it. They haven't asked us at GBOD in any official way to participate in it if they do have that in the works.

And in the meantime, if you haven't done the survey yet, please do now. As a hint, it will be MUCH easier for you if you print out the survey first, or have a hymnal and TFWS ready and pre-select the 10 you love and hate rather than trying to work through those decisions online.Here's that link:http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=JqqQD9anWCmmPk9oc6QApg_3d_3d

That is the end of the official word on the subject except to recommend that all interested parties do the survey. Today in chapel we sang, "This is My Father's World", and I loved it. However, I believe that if you claim that God is ONLY MALE then it is your theology that is weak. Just my opinion for what it's worth.

And my opinion probably isn't going to influence anyone very much but we have to defend all minorities against some of the bigotry that comes from ALL groups. Nazi Germany and history should teach us a lesson otherwise we have learned nothing.
------------------------------------------
Okay, total change of subject. Classes are going great. I'm loving it. Went further down South to have dinner with friends, loved that too. My back is killing me from sitting in very, very uncomfortable chairs. However, I have kept up the work-out schedule and healthy eating (for the most part).

You remember the Hummer vs Mini-Van accident yesterday. I drove by the Hummer this morning and it didn't even have a scratch on it, a few pieces of broken glass. Crap--destroying the environment and innocent mini-vans.