The guidelines formulated at the recent International Anglican Liturgical Consultation in Dublin [p. 8], when they are published, will provide food for thought and teaching. As regards the actual text of the rite, our present American prayer book would appear to meet most of the criteria proposed. Possibly it does not, however, in adequately recognizing the role of the Holy Spirit. This can be remedied in part by more frequent use of the third Sunday preface, by the choice of pertinent collects from other parts of the prayer book for use after the Prayers of the People, and by preaching.

Concern was expressed in the Anglican consultation, as also by Roman Catholics in the society congress, for small congregations which cannot secure a resident priest in the foreseeable future. Morning Prayer led by lay readers, communion from the reserved sacrament (now very common within Roman Catholicism) and rare visits by a priest from another locality were seen as only temporary expedients. The consultation found the solution to be the choosing of resident local leaders within such communities to be ordained by the bishop, presumably with minimal theological training and without relinquishing their secular occupation.

Canon law clearly provides for this. Yet to choose to do so in a significant number of congregations has been a difficult decision in many dioceses, even though the need has been evident for years. This need may not be fully appreciated in the larger parishes which may hold, together with the bishop, much of the decision-making power.