Search the Acts of Convention

Resolution Number: 2022-C030
Title: Establish a Task Force to Address Anti-Semitic Language in Common Texts
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Substituted and Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 80th General Convention establish a task force to address the anti-semitic, anti-Jewish or supercessionist impact of lectionary readings, especially for Holy Week, and develop proposals to mitigate that impact, which may include:

  1. Providing one or more optional, alternate lection or lections for any lection containing language that has been interpreted as antisemitic, anti-Jewish, or supersessionist and/or
  2. Recommending a specific authorized Biblical Translation for any lection that has been interpreted as antisemitic, anti-Jewish, or supersessionist so that the lection is less likely to be heard and interpreted as antisemitic, anti-Jewish, or supersessionist, and/or
  3. Providing pastoral guidance and commentary on the lection that can be made available whenever the lection is read publicly in worship

And be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force be composed of two laypeople, two presbyters or deacons, and two bishops, in addition to a liaison who is a member of the SCLM, who collectively shall be knowledgeable in Christian-Jewish relations, liturgy, translation and Biblical interpretation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force consult with the Consultation on Common Texts as it does its work; and be it further

Resolved, That the 80th General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to allocate $30,000 for the implementation of this resolution; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force will report to the 81st General Convention.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Baltimore, 2022 (New York: General Convention, 2023), p. 908.

Legislative History

Author: New York
Originating House: House of Bishops
Originating Committee: Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music presented its Report #57 on Resolution C030 (Addressing Antisemitic, Anti-Jewish, and/or Supersessionist Interpretations of Our Lectionaries) and moved adoption of a substitute.

Original Text of Resolution:

(C030)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the 80th General Convention direct the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to identify lections in the Revised Common Lectionary and all other lectionaries authorized for use in The Episcopal Church that contain language that has been interpreted as antisemitic, anti-Jewish, or supersessionist and report its findings to the 81st General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the report of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to the 81st General Convention:

  1. Provide one or more optional, alternate lection or lections for any lection containing language that has been interpreted as antisemitic, anti-Jewish, or supersessionist and/or
  2. Recommend a specific authorized Biblical Translation for any lection that has been interpreted as antisemitic, anti-Jewish, or supersessionist so that the lection is less likely to be heard and interpreted as antisemitic, anti-Jewish, or supersessionist, and/or
  3. Provide pastoral guidance and commentary on the lection that can be made available whenever the lection is read publicly in worship, and/or
  4. Approach the Consultation on Common Texts for a report on the current status of any planned revisions they are considering, and to advocate for the above considerations to inform closely those revisions to the lectionary; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church advocate that other denominations using the Revised?Common?Lectionary consider taking similar action.

Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the 80th General Convention establish a task force to address the anti-semitic, anti-Jewish or supercessionist impact of lectionary readings, especially for Holy Week, and develop proposals to mitigate that impact, which may include:

  1. Providing one or more optional, alternate lection or lections for any lection containing language that has been interpreted as antisemitic, anti-Jewish, or supersessionist and/or
  2. Recommending a specific authorized Biblical Translation for any lection that has been interpreted as antisemitic, anti-Jewish, or supersessionist so that the lection is less likely to be heard and interpreted as antisemitic, anti-Jewish, or supersessionist, and/or
  3. Providing pastoral guidance and commentary on the lection that can be made available whenever the lection is read publicly in worship; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force consult with the Consultation on Common Texts as it does its work; and be it further

Resolved, That the 80th General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to allocate $30,000 for the implementation of this resolution; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force will report to the 81st General Convention.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #97)

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music presented its Report #66 on HB Message #97 on Resolution C030 (Addressing Antisemitic, Anti-Jewish, and/or Supersessionist Interpretations of Our Lectionaries) and moved adoption with amendment.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the 80th General Convention establish a task force to address the anti-semitic, anti-Jewish or supercessionist impact of lectionary readings, especially for Holy Week, and develop proposals to mitigate that impact, which may include:

Providing one or more optional, alternate lection or lections for any lection containing language that has been interpreted as antisemitic, anti-Jewish, or supersessionist and/or

Recommending a specific authorized Biblical Translation for any lection that has been interpreted as antisemitic, anti-Jewish, or supersessionist so that the lection is less likely to be heard and interpreted as antisemitic, anti-Jewish, or supersessionist, and/or

Providing pastoral guidance and commentary on the lection that can be made available whenever the lection is read publicly in worship; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force be composed of two laypeople, two presbyters or deacons, and two bishops, in addition to a liaison who is a member of the SCLM, who collectively shall be knowledgeable in Christian-Jewish relations, liturgy, translation and Biblical interpretation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force consult with the Consultation on Common Texts as it does its work; and be it further 

Resolved, That the 80th General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to allocate $30,000 for the implementation of this resolution; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force will report to the 81st General Convention.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #196)

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music presented its Report #99 on HD Message #196 on Resolution C030 (Addressing Antisemitic, Anti-Jewish, and/or Supersessionist Interpretations of Our Lectionaries) and moved concurrence.

Motion carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #408)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 11.

Abstract:   The 80th General Convention establishes a task force to address the anti-Semitic, anti-Jewish, or supercessionist impact of Lectionary readings and to develop proposals to mitigate that impact.
Notes:  

Many resolutions concurred by the House of Bishops on Day 3 resulted in two messages being sent to the House of Deputies. The Acts of Convention followed the Journal Editor’s lead in using the second message number as the official message. House of Bishops Message #408 was preceded by House of Bishops Message #404.