Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer Published
Episcopal News Service. February 2, 1976 [76026]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- After almost a decade of trial use and revision, the Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church was published on February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.
The work of preparing a revision of the Book of Common Prayer, the first proposed revision since 1928, was assigned to the Standing Liturgical Commission (SLC) by the Episcopal Church's General Convention in 1964 and was reaffirmed by three successive Conventions in 1967, 1970, and 1973. The Draft Proposed Book now goes to the Minnesota General Convention this fall for a vote.
On the publication date, in a special celebration of the Eucharist at the Chapel of Christ the Lord at the Episcopal Church Center, New York City, the Draft Proposed Book was received from the Rev. Craig Casey of the Church Pension Fund and its affiliate, the Church Hymnal Corporation, the publisher of the Book, by Bishop Chilton Powell of Oklahoma and chairman of the SLC. On behalf of the SLC Bishop Powell presented the Book to Presiding Bishop John M. Allin and the Rev. Canon Charles M. Guilbert, Custodian of the Standard Book of Common Prayer.
Bishop Powell said that "our responsibility is very great "not only to those in the Church who support the proposed revision but also to those who are" suffering pain and who are hurt" by it. He said that it is his hope that the revised Book may "comfort the people of the Church" and that they may find in it "the ancient faith."
Bishop Allin, in accepting the Book, said that all that has gone into the preparation of the Draft Proposed Book "makes it a great piece of work." He said that he believes the Minnesota Convention in September "will accept the Book and move forward." Concelebrants at the Eucharist were Bishop Allin, Bishop Powell, Canon Guilbert, and Bishop Milton L. Wood, Executive for Administration at the Episcopal Church Center.
"The Draft Book will contain the major public services of worship in the classic language and format of the present Book of Common Prayer," Bishop Powell said. The text for the major public services, including Holy Communion, Morning and Evening Prayer, and the Burial Office, "are also presented in more contemporary language, and with alternative texts," he added.
Rite I contains the traditional language while Rite II uses more contemporary language in these major public services.
The intent of the revisers is to emphasize the Holy Eucharist as the principal act of the Church's worship, especially on Sundays and other major feasts.
To this end, the offices of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer are now adaptable as part one, or the Liturgy of the Word, in the Communion service. The same principle holds true for such other services as Marriage and Burial of the Dead. Each service has been designed to include a celebration of the Eucharist if desired.
Bishop Powell explained that the theology of the Draft Proposed Book "is especially rooted in the Paschal Mystery, that is, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This accent," he said, "makes every Sunday an Easter commemoration."
The Book "also provides the framework for an ancient Initiatory Rite of BaptismConfirmation-Holy Communion," the bishop said. In the Draft Proposed Book, baptism becomes the only Christian initiation rite, with confirmation being a later public reaffirmation in a Eucharistic celebration of vows made for the infant.
The Lectionary, or table of readings, as developed by the revisers "will put five times as much Biblical liturgy into public worship in the Episcopal Church," he said. Old Testament lessons and Psalms have been added to the Holy Communion.
Bishop Powell said that "the total Book represents the greatest major revision of the Book of Common Prayer since the first English Prayer Book produced by Thomas Cranmer in 1549."
Bishop Allin said that it is his "own hope and prayer" that the Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer "will be recognized as offering a broad spectrum of traditional and contemporary options and styles for the Church's worship."
He noted that the Book is the result of "nearly two generations of study and nearly ten years of trial use in worship throughout the Church" and that "both liturgical scholars and parishioners" have contributed to the Draft Proposed Book.
The principle of "trial use," a method of inviting all members of the Church to participate in the process of revision, was adopted by the 1964 General Convention. Trial use began with the publication of "The Liturgy of the Lord's Supper," authorized by the 1967 General Convention, which was followed by "Services for Trial Use" (The Green Book), prepared and authorized in 1970, and finally by "Authorized Services 1973" (The Zebra Book). The SLC also prepared a number of Prayer Book Studies.
The General Convention, which will meet in Minneapolis/St. Paul, September 11-23, is expected to take the first constitutional action on the Draft Proposed Book. Hearings open to the public are planned for several days prior to the opening of Convention and also during the Convention itself. At least two full legislative days will be devoted to the consideration of the Draft Proposed Book.
If the Draft Proposed Book passes its first constitutional vote, it will become the Proposed Book of Common Prayer and will incorporate any textual changes made by the Convention. The 1976 Convention will be asked to authorize the Proposed Book for trial use throughout the Church during the 1976-1979 triennium.
If the Proposed Book receives a second positive vote by the 1979 General Convention meeting in Denver, Colo., September 8 -20, it will become the Standard Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.
Bishop Powell said that the SLC "has the duty of obtaining a complete overview of the whole Draft Book," which it plans to do in April. At the close of that meeting of the SLC, he said, representatives from the Prayer Book Committees of both the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies, and representatives from the House of Bishops' Theological Committee, will meet with the SLC to review and discuss the Book.
This overview, Bishop Powell told the House of Bishops last September in Portland, Maine, will enable the appropriate committees of the Convention to "sort issues for decision-making, and sort resolutions presented to them prior to and during the General Convention."
Bishop Powell said that between the February 2 publication date and the meeting of the SLC in early or mid-April, "all channels are open for written advice and specific suggestion" from anyone in the Church.
The Episcopal Church's Book of Common Prayer dates back to Thomas Cranmer and the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England which came into general use as the uniform official liturgy of that Church on June 9, 1549. When the U.S. Anglicans separated from the Church of England nearly 200 years ago, the first U.S. Book of Common Prayer was adopted and established on October 16, 1789 as the liturgy of the Episcopal Church by its first complete General Convention.
The Episcopal Church's Book of Common Prayer of 1789 was designed to reflect the vocabulary and thought-patterns of American speech as well as adapted to the American political situation. The process of adaptation was carried forward in later revisions of the U. S. Prayer Book in 1892 and 1928.
Copies of the Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer are being mailed free of charge to all bishops, deputies and alternates. Others may purchase the Book for $3.50 from the publisher, The Church Hymnal Corporation, 800 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017, or from The Seabury Press, 815 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017.
The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church represents nearly two generations of study and nearly ten years of trial use in worship throughout the Church. It incorporates the suggestions of both liturgical scholars and parishioners throughout the whole Church.
This Draft Book, prepared by the Standing Liturgical Commission as an agency of General Convention, will either be approved, modified, or rejected at this fall's General Convention in Minnesota. Adequate time is being set aside there for further hearings before a vote is taken.
It is my own hope and prayer that our Church will study the Draft Book in the months before Convention and that the Book will be recognized as offering a broad spectrum of traditional and contemporary options and styles for the Church's worship.
Preparation of the Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer (to be presented to the Most Reverend John Allin, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, in New York City, Monday, February 2, 1976), was authorized by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church nine years ago. Sixteen to twenty-three members of the Standing Liturgical Commission, together with hundreds of consultants, have published studies and texts which have been given trial use, and constantly revised, in response to the Church during this nine year period. The Draft Book will contain the major public services of worship in the classic language and format of the present Book of Common Prayer. These include the Holy Communion, Morning and Evening Prayer, and the Burial Office.
However, all of these Rites are also presented in more contemporary language, and with alternative texts. These texts are not necessarily new or modern, some of their content is drawn from liturgies from the second and fourth centuries on. Nonetheless, the total Book represents the greatest major revision of the Book of Common Prayer since the first English Prayer Book produced by Thomas Cranmer in 1549.
Important features are addition of Old Testament lessons and psalms to the Holy Communion, and a lectionary which will put five times as much biblical literature into public worship in the Episcopal Church. The Bible lessons are parallel to those designed by the Roman Catholic Church since Vatican II. They are being used extensively by the Lutheran, and Reformed Churches in Europe and in America.
Another feature is the use of forms prepared by the International Consultation on English texts. This consultation also began with Vatican II, but has involved many Churches in Christendom. The Consultation has provided translations of all major theological and liturgical statements into good contemporary English. The theology of the Book, revealed in its documents and formularies, is that of the present Book of Common Prayer. It is especially rooted in the Paschal Mystery -- that is -- the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This accent makes every Sunday an Easter commemoration. The same theme is greatly developed in the Holy Week and Easter observances. It also provides the framework for an ancient Initiatory Rite of Baptism-Confirmation-Holy Communion. Another feature is a new Psalter, translated from the Hebrew.
The Anglican Communion is a Catholic and Reformed Church. This Proposed Book accents Catholic practices long used by the Church, but not all provided by text in the Book of Common Prayer. At the same time, it continues our Reformation heritage -- especially in use of Scripture -- and in terms of individual and personal devotion, responsibility, and involvement in God's world, both in and beyond the Church.
The Draft Proposed Book will be presented to the General Convention, asking for trial use, until 1979. The 1979 General Convention will be asked to authorize this work as the Church's Book of Common Prayer.