What does it mean that God is ‘Father’ and ‘Lord’? A textual analysis of liturgical elements in the Scottish Liturgy 1982 and a feminist response

Browell, Naomi R. (2021) What does it mean that God is ‘Father’ and ‘Lord’? A textual analysis of liturgical elements in the Scottish Liturgy 1982 and a feminist response. MTh(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The words ‘Lord’ and ‘Father’ punctuate most elements of the Scottish Liturgy 1982, the most recent eucharistic liturgy authorised by the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC). By undertaking a textual analysis of two aspects of the liturgy, the Confession & Absolution (C&A) and the Sanctus & Benedictus (S&B), this study explores the question: should the Scottish Episcopal Church consider abandoning these particular metaphors in their new eucharistic liturgy, or supplementing them with others (either neutral or female), or should the SEC remain steadfast in its use of the ancient metaphors which have for so long shaped the church’s language and theology?

In seeking an answer to this question, research was conducted into the history of the use of the terms ‘Lord’ and ‘Father’ in the liturgy, with particular attention to their biblical roots. Following a grounding in the history of the terms, the work of feminist theology is reviewed with particular attention to the language used for God. Understandings of ‘liturgy’ and its purpose, as presented by liturgical theologians in the twenty-first century are then explored.

Part II of the study turns to textual analysis of the SEC 1982 liturgy more generally, and of these two liturgical elements more specifically. This is complemented by a feminist critical response to the findings of the textual analyses, which gives rise to four categories to assist in developing missional liturgy, liturgy which is attentive to the needs of the contemporary Scottish context and also coherent with the principles of feminist theology. The liturgical revisions of other English-speaking Anglican provinces is then considered, with particular attention to how they have altered the use of the words ‘Lord’ and ‘Father’ in their more recent liturgies. Finally, the four categories of feminist approach to the liturgy are used to propose potential new liturgical prayers which might replace the SEC’s C&A and the S&B.

• Item Type: Thesis (MTh(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Theology and Religious Studies
• Supervisor's Name: Methuen, Professor Charlotte and Davies, Dr. John R.
• Date of Award: 2021
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2021-82725
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 03 Mar 2022 12:10
• Last Modified: 08 Apr 2022 16:47
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.82725
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/82725