Anglican doctrine affirms that God is beyond gender, yet its official liturgy has struggled to reflect this core belief. While society has embraced more inclusive language and attitudes, the Church’s liturgical language has lagged behind. Recognising this, the Church of England recently established a Commission to explore gender-neutral language for God, though progress has yet to be reported.
Mary Kells is Rector of St Martin & St Paul, Canterbury, and is an Executive Member of WATCH (Women and the Church) and its national lead on gender inclusive liturgy. Since 2020 she has run inclusive liturgy writing workshops for various dioceses and the Scottish Episcopal Church. She recently instituted Liturgy Online, an online platform for all who wish to participate in gender inclusive liturgy.