Statement on Nondiscriminatory Language
The faculty of Richmont has adopted the following statement recommending the use of nondiscriminatory language by all members of the Richmont community. Richmont has adopted the statement to be consistent with Richmont’s clear commitment to the full equality of women and men and to the training of women as equal partners with men for all areas of Christian ministry.
As members of the Joint Faculty of Richmont, we are committed to the use of nondiscriminatory language in all areas of the community’s life. We recognize that many women and men no longer find ‘man,’ ‘men,’ and ‘mankind’ acceptable as generic terms. We understand that such exclusive language, though once normative in our speaking and writing, now tends increasingly to alienate a substantial group of people. We wish to challenge patterns of language that may be doing harm even when harm is inflicted unconsciously and without intention. As Christians desiring to support human equality, we intend to avoid exclusive language, which might express or encourage discrimination within the church or society. We pledge ourselves as faculty and encourage students, staff members, and administrators to use language which includes women and men in all our teaching, writing, witness, and worship.