New York, NY, USA-December 28, 2019 A Untied Methodist Church with a Pride Flag showing support for the LGBT community Photo: Shutterstock

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The Methodist Church UK has issued an inclusive language guide that urges church officials and lay people to update terminology to be more welcoming.

“As Christians, we need to have the courage for conversations that can sometimes be difficult, to recognise that we sometimes exclude people, to listen with humility, to repent of any hurtful language and to take care with how we listen and what we say or write, in the Spirit of Christ,” the church wrote to introduce the document.

“Good, open, encouraging conversations, based on careful listening, are central to all positive relationships, including those within the Church. Using careful and positive language is key to effective ministry and mission.”

In the United States, the Methodist church has been riven by LGBTQ+ rights debates, with hundreds of churches officially leaving the denomination in protest of efforts to be more inclusive and welcoming.

“If you hear something within the Methodist Church that you find difficult or offensive, please assume ‘good intent’ until you are sure. This could be due to generational differences, to ignorance of your own life experience, or, sadly, it could be due to prejudice.”