At the Africa plenary, Mercy Amba Oduyoye addressed the "God of Many
Names." Throughout the assembly, in both worship and plenaries, we are calling some
of those names – Barefoot God; Centre God who Runs Out to the Periphery; God Our
Refuge (Saranam), Hope and Light; Father; Saviour; Gentle Christ; Brave Jesus.
What names for God are on the lips and in the hearts of assembly participants? Jubilee
asked them, and here are some of the replies:
Abigail Damasane, Family of God Church, Zimbabwe: "We don’t just say,
‘Hello, Mr. Smith.’ If you are master of ceremonies and you present a person
held in high esteem, you don’t just make them stand up, you have to hail them. Then
they stand up mightier. We hail God the King, the Messiah, the Saviour, the Redeemer, the
Provider."
The Rt. Rev. Everson T. Sieunarine, Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago:
"In the Caribbean we speak of a Liberating God who always frees, whether it’s
women from psychological or physical bondage, people from abuse, youth to think and
imagine their future, people not to be enslaved by politicians. He’s always God
beyond my ways, my color, my creed."
The Rt. Rev. Zebedee Masereka, Church of the Province of Uganda: "Sustainer. He
makes sure that what He has created, He will hold onto. He makes sure He sticks on
you."
The Rev. Mihail-Daniel Lungu, Romanian Orthodox Church: "God’s being and
essence aren’t known to us. On the other hand, we may know God from His Creation, the
aspirations He puts in our minds, and the effect of His actions on us. God is the Good One
– Good Without Comparison. The Right One – Above Any Idea of Rightness. Loving
– Above Any Idea of Love. God of Spiritual Beautifulness."
The Rev. Philip L. Freier, Anglican Church of Australia: "God Who is Accepting,
Healing, Forgiving. God Who is Judge of All History."
H.G. Mar Cyril Aphram Karim, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East:
"The personal names – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And the attributes –
Mighty, Comforter, Saviour."
Mabel Abeka Mills, Organization of African Instituted Churches: "Where I come
from in Ghana, the names come in the context of prayer – God the Creator, Forgiver of
Sins, Our Supplier; God Who Gives Us Grace and Understanding; Our All-Sufficient God; God
the Father of the Needy, Husband of the Widow, and Redeemer of the Oppressed."
Aruna Gojer, Church of South India: "Loving God, because I am experiencing Him in
every moment of my life. If I go astray, He’s always with me."
Hee Sook Lee, Presbyterian Church of Korea: "Merciful God, Loving God, God of
Justice, God with Minjung Grassroots People, Mother God, Redemption and Salvation God,
Womb God."
Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Church of England: "Vulnerable God, which for me connects to
being barefoot. Growing up in Jamaica, we only wore shoes to church and school, and the
school ones were dilapidated. We were prone to be injured. There’s a certain
nakedness that’s not pretentious. Weeping God, connecting with our tears."
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