The Methodist Church of Great Britain has called on its ministers, deacons, and elders to stop using offensive terminology such as “husband” and “wife” to avoid making assumptions that are not “the reality for many people.”

The church added the changes to its “Inclusive Language Guide,” an initiative aimed at preventing the use of “hurtful language” directed at groups the Methodist Church believes have been “marginalised and/or demonised by common culture.” The church plans to update the Inclusive Language Guide every six months to avoid using language that could offend groups it perceives as marginalized.

The church wants its leaders to begin using terms such as “partner,” “child,” and “parent” as a way of recognizing that “relationships come in many varied expressions.”

[Orwell would have been horrified, but probably not surprised. And I don’t think even Orwell would have expected a Newspeak review cycle of just six months. This is what happens when churches divorce themselves from scripture, doctrine, and teachings in efforts to be relevant to the moment. They cease being faiths, and begin being social clubs. — Ed]