In theory I welcome the idea that the divine is both feminine and masculine and both female and male - though I feel more connected to the female divine.
I struggle with the idea that the church has decided to declare god as gender neutral, given the centuries of misogyny on which the church is built. Jack Holland's book on the history of misogyny has a lot to say on the subject.
I feel a huge sense of deep seated fury and anger about the oppression of women, especially in Ireland, where I come from, and I have a deep feeling that the divine female in Ireland was crushed under christianity, despite being very much a part of the movement in the early centuries when St Brigid and St Patrick were equally recognised in the 6th century AD. This year the Irish government have recognised Saint Brigid, the patroness of Ireland alongside Saint Patrick and given her a bank holiday in her name. It seems a small but significant step in recognising the equality of women and men but there is so much water under the bridge, it is impossible to turn back and accept that this wipes the slate clean.