D078 Authorize Holy Eucharist, Rite II (Expansive Language) for Trial Use
Among the most expressed sentiments leading up to this General Convention is that words matter - and that we are in immediate need of more expansive language for God authorized for use in the liturgies of our worshipping communities. Such a change cannot wait for a decade-long Book of Common Prayer revision cycle - it needs to happen now. This proposed resolution offers just that - a trial use, expansive language version of the most commonly celebrated liturgy of our church - The Holy Eucharist, Rite II. It seeks to provide a resource that will offer congregations and communities unfamiliar with the use of expansive language a revised liturgy that echoes the familiar cadences of The Holy Eucharist, Rite II, and Eucharistic Prayers A, B, C, and D, but with vastly more expansive imagery for God. Such trial use would provide valuable input for whatever process the General Convention may ultimately choose with regard to prayer book revision. The resolution also calls for a dynamic equivalence translation of this text into Spanish and French, and sets an initial budget of $12,500 for this work. In the event that this convention should authorize further new translations of the Book of Common Prayer, the translation of these texts could be accomplished at a marginal additional cost within the scope of that same project. Additional Directions The rubrics for The Holy Eucharist, as found in the Book of Common Prayer in “Concerning the Celebration” on page 354 and “Additional Directions” on page 406 and following, shall be equally applicable to this expansive language revision.
Explanation
Among the most expressed sentiments leading up to this General Convention is that words matter - and that we are in immediate need of more expansive language for God authorized for use in the liturgies of our worshipping communities. Such a change cannot wait for a decade-long Book of Common Prayer revision cycle - it needs to happen now. This proposed resolution offers just that - a trial use, expansive language version of the most commonly celebrated liturgy of our church - The Holy Eucharist, Rite II. It seeks to provide a resource that will offer congregations and communities unfamiliar with the use of expansive language a revised liturgy that echoes the familiar cadences of The Holy Eucharist, Rite II, and Eucharistic Prayers A, B, C, and D, but with vastly more expansive imagery for God. Such trial use would provide valuable input for whatever process the General Convention may ultimately choose with regard to prayer book revision. The resolution also calls for a dynamic equivalence translation of this text into Spanish and French, and sets an initial budget of $12,500 for this work. In the event that this convention should authorize further new translations of the Book of Common Prayer, the translation of these texts could be accomplished at a marginal additional cost within the scope of that same project. Additional Directions The rubrics for The Holy Eucharist, as found in the Book of Common Prayer in “Concerning the Celebration” on page 354 and “Additional Directions” on page 406 and following, shall be equally applicable to this expansive language revision.