A069 Engagement with the Book of Common Prayer
Resolved, the House of ________________ concurring,
That this 79th Convention of the Episcopal Church, calls the Episcopal Church to devote the next triennium to deep engagement with the structure, content, language and theological thrust of The Book of Common Prayer (1979), with a view to increasing the Church’s familiarity with the book in its entirety; and directs the SCLM to develop materials to aid local dioceses, congregations, seminaries, and schools in the process of this deep engagement, focusing particularly on the use of the Prayer Book as an instrument for the catechesis and spiritual formation of the whole people of God; and directs the SCLM and the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution and Canons to work jointly in expanding the canonical categories of liturgies authorized for use in this Church, resulting in resolutions to that effect to be considered by the 80th Convention in 2021.
And be it further
Resolved, That the sum of $1,180,625.00 be appropriated the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music for the completion of this plan.
Explanation
In response to Resolution 2015-A169, the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music is submitting Resolution A069, Option Two, calling for an intentional and fuller engagement with the Book of Common Prayer 1979 together with a proposal for BCP translation and an expansion of the canonical categories for forms of worship authorized by this church. Resolution A069 (Option Two) provides the opportunity for deep inquiry, research, and data gathering which could significantly enhance our self-understanding, which in turn would have a positive and far-reaching effect on any future version of the prayer book. Moreover, Option Two provides the opportunity to evaluate the current translations of the prayer book and work on new translations that are fully inclusive of all linguistic groups for whom translations are authorized. The design and language of the BCP 1979 provide a bridge between previous generations of the church's practice, and the complex challenges of our present culture. It articulates a robust and ancient faith both traditional and contemporary idioms and provides a treasury of resources for the church. We recognize the need for expanding the range of possibilities for liturgies that are authorized for use in this church. Yet, even as we imagine additional modes by which contemporary opportunities may be embraced in the church's worship, encouraging a greater degree of creativity, flexibility, and responsiveness to specific needs as they arise in the future, the cornerstone of such creativity may, for the time being, best be found in the current version of this book. Over the coming triennium, we call the church to such a season of discernment, to listen patiently and prayerfully to one another as we seek to hear God's voice calling us into genuinely common prayer. Only in this way can we allow the deepest questions to emerge, from how to translate common prayer faithfully into the language and thought forms of another culture. The full scope of the proposed process of fuller engagement (Option Two) and a detailed methodology of the process may be found in the report "Plan for Prayer Book Revision" which is part of the report of the Subcommittee on Revision of The Book of Common Prayer, within the report to the 79th General Convention of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music. The Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music's report, known as a "blue book" report, is available on the General Convention website (www.generalconvention.org).