THE CHURCH of England is recommending that people move away from seeing God in terms of a masculine. It has also suggested a change in traditional marriage vows, arguing that these practices encourage and justify domestic abuse.

The report, entitled: 'Responding to Domestic Abuse, Guidelines for Pastoral Responsibility,' lays down new guidelines for bishops and priests on issues of domestic violence.

Quoting feminist Mary Daly, that "If God is male, then the male is God," the report warned the clergy that they must reconsider the language they use in sermons, as well as hymns, to remove signs of male oppression as the "uncritical use of masculine imagery," such as calling God 'He,' could validate "overbearing and ultimately violent patterns of behaviour."

Sense of ownership

Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, has fully endorsed the report which states that sticking to traditional vows, where the husband promises to "to love and cherish" his wife "till death us do part" and the wife promises to "love, cherish, and obey" her husband, fostered a sense of ownership of the woman by her spouse, thereby giving men a sense that they could use force against women.

The Church had intentionally or unintentionally reinforced abuse, and failed to challenge abusers, reported the British newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, on Tuesday.

In the guidelines, the report recommended that when the clergy prepare couples for marriage, they should stress that men and women are equals, and that the word "obey" be dropped from the marriage vows.

"Domestic abuse is fundamentally an abuse of power, and many conceptions of God derived from the Bible and the Christian tradition have portrayed divine power in unhealthy and potentially oppressive ways," state the guidelines.