Rep. Cleaver ends opening prayer for new Congress: ‘Amen and awoman’

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US Congress begins 117th session

House of Representatives begins session with at least three vacancies; Chad Pergram reports from Capitol Hill.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., altered the traditional ending of "amen" by saying "Amen and awoman" as he delivered the opening prayer for the 117th Congress on Sunday -- raising eyebrows.

The video was posted online and he was criticized by other lawmakers who said he was wrong to attempt to assign gender to the word "amen."

Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa., took to Twitter to note that the word amen is "Latin for ‘so be it.’"

"It’s not a gendered word," he posted. "Unfortunately, facts are irrelevant to progressives. Unbelievable."

Former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich slammed the move as fresh evidence of Democrats moving to the left: "the radical madness has begun."

Cleaver’s office did not respond to an email from Fox News.

Cleaver is an ordained United Methodist pastor and was tapped to lead the opening prayer to start the new session. Congress swore in new lawmakers on Sunday and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was re-elected as House speaker.

PROGRESSIVES PRESSURE AOC, OTHER DEMS TO FORCE PELOSI'S HAND ON MEDICARE-FOR-ALL VOTE

Just a day ago, Pelosi introduced new House rules she said will help the body become more inclusive. A 45-page package that will be voted on Monday strips all mention of gender-specific pronouns and terms such as "man," "woman," "mother" and "son."

The Associated Press contributed to this report