D067 Bias-Free and Expansive Language for God and Humanity
Our language matters. A website, printed bulletin, or sign is often the first engagement a newcomer has with the Episcopal Church. These guidelines will equip our congregations, dioceses, Episcopal institutions, and all Episcopalians to provide a generous welcome and avoid unintended bias. Additional resources: ● The Society of Biblical Literature Handbook of Style. SBL is a widely-respected international organization of 8,000 biblical scholars who study the Bible from diverse perspectives. ● The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition, a venerable guide for writers of English. ● “The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing,” by Casey Miller and Kate Swift, 2nd ed. (New York: Harper & Row, 1988) ● “Guidelines for Bias-Free Writing,” by Marilyn Schwartz and the Task Force on Bias-Free Language of the Association of American University Presses (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1995) In a survey of guidelines in Episcopal seminaries, Nashotah House and Trinity School for Ministry commend the use of the SBL handbook, and Nashotah House also encourages use of the Chicago Manual of Style.
Explanation
Our language matters. A website, printed bulletin, or sign is often the first engagement a newcomer has with the Episcopal Church. These guidelines will equip our congregations, dioceses, Episcopal institutions, and all Episcopalians to provide a generous welcome and avoid unintended bias. Additional resources: ● The Society of Biblical Literature Handbook of Style. SBL is a widely-respected international organization of 8,000 biblical scholars who study the Bible from diverse perspectives. ● The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition, a venerable guide for writers of English. ● “The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing,” by Casey Miller and Kate Swift, 2nd ed. (New York: Harper & Row, 1988) ● “Guidelines for Bias-Free Writing,” by Marilyn Schwartz and the Task Force on Bias-Free Language of the Association of American University Presses (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1995) In a survey of guidelines in Episcopal seminaries, Nashotah House and Trinity School for Ministry commend the use of the SBL handbook, and Nashotah House also encourages use of the Chicago Manual of Style.