ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

The Church of Sweden has said its clergy are to begin using more gender-neutral language including terms for "God".

Members of the church are encouraged to use the general term "God" instead of referring to the deity as "he" or "the Lord".

The move by the national Evangelical Lutheran church came as part of an effort to modernise its 31-year-old handbook on services.

High-ranking clergy explained the controversial changes, which were announced November 23, are to keep pace with gender inclusivity in contemporary society.

The updates to the book of worship offer clergy new options on what to name God during services.

They can now choose to switch the phrase "in the name of the Father, son and Holy Spirit" used at the start of service for "in the name of God and the Holy Trinity".

On the changes, Lena Sjostrand, chaplain of Lund Cathedral told PBS NewsHour: "We have a consciousness about gender questions, which is stronger in our time than it has been before.

"Of course, this has had an impact on theology and on church life and pastoral reflection."

She added: "I don’t think that God is a big mother or a father sitting up in the sky. I don’t think that makes sense.

"God is something much bigger than this."

The Church of Sweden has followed Lutheran faith since the 16th-century.

Church leader, Archbishop Antje Jackelen, said that the changes were already "part of [Church] tradition".

She explained how the church has always perceived God as being both male and female.

She said: "Like Julian of Norwich in the 14th century said, as sure as God is our father, God is our mother. This is not something that’s newly invented.

"It’s part of our tradition."

But the proposed changes have been met with some criticism.

Pastor Mikael Lowegren told PBS: "God being the father means he has a son."

The changes are expected to come into effect in six months time, but the church has said the clergy will not be forced to adopt the language, according to reports.

The decision comes as part of an international trend for inclusivity in churches. Last month the Church of England published new guidelines on gender identity among children.