“The New Testament Is Not the Word of God,” Bishop Says, Calls for “Third Testament”

A bishop has sparked discussion after calling for a “third testament” and arguing that parts of both the Old and New Testaments should be reconsidered.

Yvette Flunder, senior pastor of the City of Refuge United Church of Christ and presiding bishop of the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, made the remarks during a recent address for the Center for Public Theology & Public Policy.

In her message, Flunder said she believes some biblical passages have become difficult to reconcile with her understanding of faith and ethics. She pointed to verses that reference slavery and restrictions on women as examples of what she described as “problematic” texts.

She argued that the Bible, as commonly understood, includes material that reflects human perspectives on God rather than direct divine speech. According to her, this distinction creates the need for a new interpretive framework.

Flunder said she is committed to her faith and described her personal relationship with God as central to her daily life. However, she expressed frustration with interpretations of scripture that she believes present a harmful image of God.

She added that claims of biblical authority are often used to defend difficult passages. In response, she said those sections should not be treated as unquestionable, but understood as human writing about God rather than the literal word of God.