New, Inclusive-language Liturgical Texts Available for Study
Episcopal News Service. September 15, 1989 [89147]
The Standing Liturgical Commission (SLC) has announced the publication of Prayer Book Studies 30 -- The Supplemental Liturgical Texts and its companion, Commentary on Prayer Book Studies 30. The new supplemental texts will provide Episcopalians with the opportunity to explore inclusive language for liturgies.
A resolution from the General Convention of 1988 directed that the supplemental services be made available to the church "no later than Advent 1989" following a year of consultation between the SLC and the House of Bishops' theology committee. "That consultation," said the Rt. Rev. Vincent Pettit, chair of the SLC, "with the discussion and debate among theologians, liturgists, and writers, proved to be extremely valuable for the commission and the bishops alike."
In addition to the theology committee and the SLC, the texts have been evaluated throughout the church at 40 sites, "including all the seminaries and houses of two religious orders," said the Rev. Sarah Motley, coordinator of the SLC's committee on inclusive language in the liturgy.
When members of the commission began talking with ecumenical friends, "we found... that the English Language Liturgical Consultation (an ecumenical group representing all the English-speaking communions that hold texts in common) was already reviewing all the common texts at the same time as our work. In the liturgical world a great deal of conversation is going on about inclusive language in liturgical texts," said Motley.
The consultation process resulted in further revisions to the original texts that were presented to the General Convention. In the new version, the two eucharistic rites have been made into one rite with two prayers, and wording changes have been made in the eucharistic prayer, prayers of the people, and postcommunion prayers.
After the revised texts are presented at the House of Bishops, a further stage of study, evaluation, dialogue, and discussion will take place between October 1989 and May 1990 throughout the church.
"This is the time for the dialogue and discussion that the commission has been looking toward for over three years," commented the Rev. Canon Lloyd Casson, convener of the committee on supplemental liturgical texts. "Now the whole church will be able to help us perfect the rite -- help us honor and expand our Anglican liturgical tradition."
The next evaluation process will include close contact between diocesan bishops and the SLC. Parishes will receive evaluation forms to respond to the supplemental texts, and the responses will be collated and analyzed by a research group from Hartford Seminary before they are returned to diocesan bishops.
"These books represent hours of work by many people, but more importantly, years of prayer on the part of many Episcopalians who will find in them services and reference materials pointing the way to a wider and deeper life of prayer," said commission member Sally Bucklee. "The more who can participate in the evaluation, the better."
Because of the ongoing development of the texts, the commission is urging all dioceses and parishes ordering Prayer Book Studies 30 to plan carefully for its use. "Education is essential," emphasized the Rev. Joe Russell, developer of the education program for the texts. "We have provided a course and background materials in the Commentary on Prayer Book Studies 30 that can be used at diocesan or parish study days, to help train lay leadership for contributing to the evaluation process, and for any number of educational opportunities." The commentary contains chapters on liturgical and theological background, biblical references and other notes on sources for the texts, a three-session education program (with a parallel program for children), and guidelines for use of the texts in parishes.
The entire evaluation process for the new texts will be a valuable way to get people talking about theology, according to Motley. "It will provide people the opportunity to ask questions about what we are doing in church: 'What does our language say about the God we worship?' And, 'Who are we in relationship to that God and to each other?'" she said.
A second, expanded and detailed education program, Recovering Lost Tradition, has also been developed for retreat, Sunday forum, evening class, and Saturday workshop formats.
Prayer Book Studies 30 -- The Supplemental Liturgical Texts and Commentary on Prayer Book Studies 30 are available from the Church Hymnal Corporation at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City; telephone 1-800-223-6602.