Resolutions related to the Book of Common Prayer and Liturgy from the 79 th General Convention of The Episcopal Church (July 2018)

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1 Resolutions related to the Book of Common Prayer and Liturgy from the 79 th General Convention of The Episcopal Church (July 2018) The 79 th General Convention of The Episcopal Church convened in Austin, Texas, July 5-13, The Convention addressed a record setting 540 resolutions, which included 47 resolutions related to the Book of Common Prayer and liturgy. Of these, 19 were passed (some with amendment), 12 were referred to interim bodies, 10 no action was taken, and 6 were not passed. As of this writing, the text of all resolutions is available online at Coverage of General Convention is available online by Episcopal News Service and from The Living Church. Below is a discussion of those resolutions that are of most interest or that have possible effect on worship in our parishes. 1. Lesser Feasts and Fasts Resolution A065 authorizes the continued use of Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2006 and commends the continued availability of Great Cloud of Witnesses 2015 for the 2018-triennium. The new commemorations in Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018 proposed by the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) is authorized for trial use and are to be included in the calendar for the triennium. The resolution also tasks the SCLM with developing a clear and unambiguous plan for a singular calendar of Lesser Feasts and Fasts to be presented to the 80 th General Convention. Resolution A066 adds Thurgood Marshall, Pauli Murray, and Florence Li Tim-Oi to Lesser Feasts and Fasts Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2006 is available for purchase from Church Publishing. Great Cloud of Witnesses 2015 Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018 Lectionarypage.net offers a calendar that includes observances from LFF 2016 and GCW. ENS: Convention makes Thurgood Marshall, Pauli Murray, Florence Li Tim-Oi permanent saints of the church ENS: Lesser Feasts and Fasts a step closer to revision 2. Revision of the Book of Common Prayer Resolution A068 received great attention. The resolution as originally passed by the House of Deputies would begin the process of prayer book revision. The House of Bishops made substantial amendments to the resolution, which were adopted by the House of Deputies. The amended A068 continues the use of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and authorizes the creation of a Task Force on Liturgical and Prayer Book Revision (TFLPBR) to oversee a process of gathering additional materials and report to appropriate committees of the 80 th General Convention. Local bishops and dioceses are encouraged to engage in generating liturgical material to be shared for consideration. The resolution also includes principles of liturgical revision that include inclusive and expansive language, embrace richness of Holy Scripture as well as the liturgical, cultural, racial, generational, linguistic, gender, physical ability, class and ethnic diversity of the Church, and to show appreciation and care for creation. The resolution also authorizes the creation of a dynamic equivalence November

2 translation of The Book of Common Prayer 1979 and the Enriching Our Worship series in Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole, and that at each step of revision also be translated. Report of Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to the 79 th General Convention ENS: Deputies vote to begin process to revise Book of Common Prayer ENS: House of Bishops proposes expanded path for prayer book revision ENS: Deputies agree with bishops on new plan for liturgical and prayer book revision 3. Marriage Resolution B012 continues the trial use of The Witnessing and Blessing of a Marriage and The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage 2. Beginning the first Sunday of Advent, 2018, the resolution authorized for trial use The Blessing of a Civil Marriage 2 and An Order for Marriage 2. The trial use for these liturgies shall extend until the completion of the next comprehensive revision of the Book of Common Prayer. These liturgies will be published as part of Liturgical 2. Provision is made for all couples to have use of these rites in their home parish, provided the Rector or clergy member in charge agree to officiate. It is within the discretion of any Member of the Clergy to decline to solemnize or bless any marriage. Provisions regarding remarriage after divorce apply equally to these liturgies. Where the bishop diocesan holds a theological position that does not embrace marriage for same sex couples, the bishop shall invite, as necessary, another bishop to provide pastoral support to the couple, member of the clergy, and the worshipping community. Similarly, in the case of remarriage after divorce, another bishop shall be invited to oversee the consent process and to receive any report of such Marriages. Bishops are called upon to continue to provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of the members of this Church. Resolution A086, as amended, places The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant into Enriching Our Worship and is intended for use in jurisdictions of the Episcopal Church in which 1) the couple desiring marriage are of the same sex; and 2) the civil jurisdiction in which the marriage would occur does not allow marriage of same-sex persons and otherwise follows much of the language of the final text of B012 about accessibility and authority of clergy and bishops. Beginning the first Sunday of Advent, 2018, the Diocese of Alabama policy Guidelines for the Witnessing and Blessing of a Marriage of Same-Sex Couples in the Diocese of Alabama, November 29, 2015 is superseded by the acts of the 79 th General Convention. The decision to use these rites will no longer require permission of the bishop, and the decision will be with the rector or priest in charge of a worshipping community. The canons concerning remarriage continue apply. No member of the clergy will be compelled or required to solemnize or bless any marriage. Report of the Taskforce on the Study of Marriage to the 79 th General Convention ENS: Convention lets its yes be yes, agreeing to give church full access to trial-use marriage rites November

3 4. Book of Occasional Services Resolution A218 as amended authorized for trial use a group of liturgies from the proposed Book of Occasional Services About a quarter of the liturgies in the proposed BOS 2018 were referred back to the SCLM for further work. See appendix for list approved liturgies. Resolution A283 authorized the following multi-cultural services from the proposed BOS 2018, including Las Posadas, The Virgin of Guadalupe, and El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Book of Occasional Services 2003 is available for purchase from Church Publishing. Book of Occasional Services 2018 ENS: Book of Occasional Services, 2018, approved for use by General Convention 5. Expansive-Language Liturgical Resolution D046 continues the authorization of the Enriching our Worship Series without explicitly stating the need for local bishop s approval. It also calls on SCLM to develop principles for expansive language, and encourages local dioceses to develop liturgical texts relying on expansive language principles. Enriching Our Worship 1 Enriching Our Worship 2 Enriching Our Worship 3 Enriching Our Worship 4 Enriching Our Worship 5 6. Holy Eucharist, Rite II (Expansive Language) for Trial Use Resolution D078 passed with extensive amendment. It authorizes for trial use expansive-language versions of Rite II, Eucharistic Prayers A, B, and D. The proposed Rite II-C was referred to an interim body. Unofficial versions of these liturgies prepared by Tommy Sheppard are available here: HE 2 Expansive Language (Pew Version) HE 2 Expansive Language (Altar Version) ENS: Convention approves use of expansive-language version of Rite II Eucharistic prayers November

4 Appendix 1 Trial Use Authorized from Book of Occasional Services 2018 Page numbers refer to digital version of Book of Occasional Services 2018 submitted to the 79 th General Convention. The paragraph numbers refer to the paragraphs of A218. Seasonal Blessings (p. 11 as presented) Concerning the Advent Wreath (p. 22 with amendments found in paragraphs 3-6) Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols (p. 24 with amendments found in paragraphs 7-8) Blessing of a Crèche (p. 37 as presented) Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols (p. 38 with amendments found in paragraphs 10-11) Service for New Year s Eve (p. 43 as presented) Candlemas Procession (p. 50 with amendments found in paragraphs 13-19) Blessings over Food at Easter (p. 98 as presented) Rogation Procession (p. 101 with amendments found in paragraphs 21-23) St. Francis Day/Blessing of Animals (p. 113 as presented) Service for All Hallows Eve (p. 125 as presented) Welcoming New People to a Congregation (p. 132 with amendments found in paragraphs 26-43) A Service of Renaming (p. 134 as presented) The Preparation for Baptism, or Catechumenate (p. 140 as presented) Preparation of Adults for Holy Baptism: The Catechumenate (p. 142 as presented) Preparation of Parents and Sponsors of Infants and Young Children to be Baptized (p. 153 as presented) Preparation of Parents and Sponsors of Infants and Young Children to be Baptized (p. 153 as presented) Preparation for Confirmation, Reception or other Reaffirmations of the Baptismal Covenant (p. 158 as presented) Recognition of Ministries in the Church and the World (p. 163 as presented) Celebration for a Home (p. 166 with amendments found in paragraphs 50-60) A Shorter Blessing of a Home (p. 176 as presented) Anniversary of a Marriage (p. 179 with amendments found in paragraphs 62-85) A Public Service of Healing (p. 182 as presented) A Rite of Welcoming after Absence (p. 194 as amended with paragraph 87 to change title) Concerning Exorcism (p. 195 as presented) Burial of One who does Not Profess the Christian Faith (p. 197 as presented) Concerning the Blessing of Water (p. 201 as presented) Concerning Holy Oils (p. 202 as presented) Dedication of Church Furnishings and Ornaments (p. 204 as presented) The Founding of a Church (p. 222 as presented) Setting Apart Secular Space for Sacred Use (p. 251 as presented) A Litany for the Mission of the Church (p. 252 as presented) A Variety of Church Planting Collects, Blessings, and other Prayers (p. 255 as presented) Restoring of Things Profaned (p. 324 as presented) Secularizing a Consecrated Building (p. 326 as presented) Concerning the Rite (p. 330 with amendments found in paragraphs ) Distribution of Holy Communion by Lay Eucharistic Ministers to Persons Who are Ill or Infirm (p. 331 with amendments found in paragraphs ) Guidelines for Use on the Occasion of a Retirement or Work Transition (p. 335 as presented) November

5 Liturgical Materials Honoring God in Creation (p. 337 with amendments found in paragraphs ) Consecration of Chrism Apart from Baptism (p. 356 as presented) A Proper for the Consecration of Chrism (p. 357 as presented) A Service for the Ending of a Pastoral Relationship and Leave-taking from a Congregation (p. 365 with amendments found in paragraphs ) Recognition and Investiture of a Diocesan Bishop (p. 375 with amendments found in paragraphs ) Setting Apart for a Religious Vocation (p. 388 with title amended) The Blessing of a Pregnant Woman from The Book of Occasional Services 2003 be restored Resolution A283 authorizes for trial use: Las Posada p The Virgin of Guadalupe p El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) p. 129 Resolution A219 referred back to the SCLM for further work, the following proposed liturgies from BOS 2018: Way of the Cross On Maundy Thursday When Members Leave a Congregation Discernment for a new Church Mission A Liturgy for Commissioning a Church Planter, Missioner or Mission Team A Liturgy for the Opening of a New Congregation Reaffirmation of Ordination Vows November

6 Appendix 2 List of Hyperlinks 1 General Convention Virtual Binder Episcopal News Service Coverage The Living Church Coverage 1. Lesser Feasts and Fasts A065 A066 Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2006 is available for purchase from Church Publishing Great Cloud of Witnesses Lesser Feasts and Fasts LFF2016 & GCW offer through Lectionarypage.net ENS: Convention makes Thurgood Marshall, Pauli Murray, Florence Li Tim-Oi permanent saints of the church ENS: Lesser Feasts and Fasts a step closer to revision 2. Revision of the Book of Common Prayer A068 Report of Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to the 79th General Convention 1 All links accessed November 26, November

7 ENS: Deputies vote to begin process to revise Book of Common Prayer ENS: House of Bishops proposes expanded path for prayer book revision ENS: Deputies agree with bishops on new plan for liturgical and prayer book revision 3. Marriage B012 Liturgical 2 A086 The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant Guidelines for the Witnessing and Blessing of a Marriage of Same-Sex Couples in the Diocese of Alabama, November 29, ame_sex_marriage August_2015.pdf Report of the Taskforce on the Study of Marriage to the 79th General Convention ENS: Convention lets its yes be yes, agreeing to give church full access to trial-use marriage rites 4. Book of Occasional Services A218 A283 Book of Occasional Services 2003 is available for purchase from Church Publishing. November

8 Book of Occasional Services ENS: Book of Occasional Services, 2018, approved for use by General Convention 5. Expansive-Language Liturgical D046 Enriching Our Worship 1 1/enrichingourworship1.pdf Enriching Our Worship 2 2/enrichingourworship2.pdf Enriching Our Worship 3 Enriching Our Worship 4 4/enrichingourworship4.pdf Enriching Our Worship Holy Eucharist, Rite II (Expansive Language) for Trial Use D078 Unofficial versions of these liturgies prepared by Tommy Sheppard are available here: HE 2 Expansive Language (Pew Version) HE 2 Expansive Language (Altar Version) ENS: Convention approves use of expansive-language version of Rite II Eucharistic prayers November