Up until the last 30 years or so, exclusive language had been commonplace. Humankind was referred to as mankind, ‘man’ was understood to include women and children as well as men and the language of liturgy commonly referred to ‘fellow men’ and ‘all men’ when its meaning was ‘everyone’. As preachers and worship leaders we have been directed by Conference to use inclusive language in worship, yet still we hear ‘man’ and ‘mankind’ coming from the pulpit.  It is not ‘only a word’ but a whole way of thinking that needs to change.

Rev Andy Laird relates a valuable Probationer experience

Introduction
The Methodist Church requires its Probationer Ministers to undertake some individual theological study during their probation period. For my second year’s study I spent a day each week in a local primary school, working with children and learning from the staff: firstly, how best to communicate simple and complex ideas; and, secondly, to study how children relate to Spirituality. My aims were to improve my ability to relate to young children and to learn how best to engage them within a worship environment; and, then, to share the benefit of my experience with other preachers.