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Ancient and medieval Christian writers used a variety of terms for God in all three persons and a variety of pronouns. St. Augustine for example, speaks of God as Father, but also as Mother, School Mistress, Truth, and Wisdom – using she/her pronouns and as Word, Bread, and Being – using it/its pronouns.
Why does this matter? First, we each have image of God that feels holy and right to us. No one should feel compelled to take away an image of God that is comforting, empowering, and reassuring to a prayerful person. Yet we each should be encouraged to look for images that help us individually connect with God; there is no one correct image.
Second, there is some evidence that using primarily masculine words for, as well as using primarily white images for God, and aristocratic titles for God, can lead us to unconsciously think of human males of European descent with a certain socio-economic class as being stand-ins for God.
Thinking more broadly about God’s pronouns can remind us of our own worth as children of God made in God’s image. Thinking more broadly about God’s image can help us see God, abiding with us and holding us.
This message is excerpted from “Beyond God the Father: How our language for God can affect our families.” by Jennifer Hockenbery from the September 28, 2025, blog of the Women of the ELCA. Today we commemorate Jerome, translator, teacher, 420.