Language is a Matter of Justice!
Justice Statement on
Inclusion and Non-binary Language
(Galatians 3:28
and MCC’s Core Value of Inclusion)
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As the Council of Elders of Metropolitan Community Churches, we affirm that language is a matter of justice, liberation, and pastoral responsibility. The words we choose in worship, preaching, pastoral care, and community life shape who is welcomed, who is affirmed, and who is fully seen in the Body of Christ. In this moment—when gender-diverse, trans, and non-binary people face erasure and harm—our call is clear: our language must reflect God’s boundless welcome and the dignity of every person.
Inclusive language in the MCC congregations is what sets MCC apart from other denominations because MCC is the only denomination that offers truly inclusive language to its congregations.
We ground this commitment in Paul’s proclamation in Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
This verse is a declaration of radical equality. Paul dismantles the categories used to divide, rank, or exclude human beings. When he proclaims that there is “no male and female,” he is not erasing identity—he is erasing hierarchy. He is announcing that in Christ, the binaries used to limit human worth lose their power. This liberating vision calls the Church to speak, bless, and lead in ways that honor the full spectrum of gender identities present in God’s beloved community.
Inclusive and non-binary language is one of the most powerful ways we embody this value. It is not merely a stylistic choice—it is a spiritual discipline, a justice practice, and a pastoral commitment to the flourishing of all God’s people.
We encourage pastors, deacons, worship leaders, and lay ministers across our global movement to:
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Use language that affirms all genders, pronouns, and expressions of self
- Review liturgies, sermons, rituals, and communications for gender expansiveness
- Speak of God in ways that transcend restrictive binaries
- Model the liberating love that MCC has championed for more than five decades
Our theology proclaims that God’s love is vast, creative, and unconfined. Let our words be the same—opening space, healing harm, and proclaiming a Gospel where every person is named, seen, and celebrated in the fullness of who they are.
In Peace, the MCC Council of Elders:
Elder Hattie Alexander-Key
Rev. Elder Mark Byrd
Rev. Elder Nokuthula Dhladhla
Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston
Elder Velma Garcia
Rev. Elder Rich Hendricks
Rev. Elder Aaron Miller
Rev. Elder Elaine Saralegui Caraballo
Rev. Elder Stuart Sutherland
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