B008 (Amend Canon II.3.6.a and II.4 to clarify authorization of liturgies)
House of Deputies Message #344
The House of Deputies informs the House of Bishops that on Jun 28, 2024 it considered resolution B008 (Amend Canon II.3.6.a and II.4 to clarify authorization of liturgies). The house acted to:
Concur
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,
That Canon II.3.6. shall be amended to add sections b, c, and d as follows:
<Amended text as it would appear if adopted and concurred. Scroll below the line of asterisks (******) to see the version showing all deleted and added text.>
- Whenever the General Convention, pursuant to Article X of the Constitution, shall authorize for trial use a proposed revision of the Book of Common Prayer, or of a portion or portions thereof, the enabling Resolution shall specify the period of such trial use, the precise text thereof, and any special terms or conditions under which such trial use shall be carried out including translation.
- A trial use period in accordance with Article X, Section 3 of the Constitution must precede the first reading for any alteration or addition to the Book of Common Prayer under Article X, Section 2, except for changes to the Lectionary and Tables and Rubrics and the Psalter as provided for by Article X.4.a.
- During the trial use period, the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music will review the proposed alteration or revision using principles adopted by the General Convention of this Church and include its assessments and recommendations in a report to the General Convention.
- The calendar of the church, with principal and lesser observances, is part of the Book of Common Prayer and may be revised by following the process for trial use provided for revision of the Book of Common Prayer by the constitution and canons of this church.
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<Proposed amended resolution text showing exact changes being made:>
- Whenever the General Convention, pursuant to Article X of the Constitution, shall authorize for trial use a proposed revision of the Book of Common Prayer, or of a portion or portions thereof, the enabling Resolution shall specify the period of such trial use, the precise text thereof, and any special terms or conditions under which such trial use shall be carried out including translation.
- A trial use period in accordance with Article X, Section 3 of the Constitution must precede the first reading for any alteration or addition to the Book of Common Prayer under Article X, Section 2, except for changes to the Lectionary and Tables and Rubrics and the Psalter as provided for by Article X.4.a.
- During the trial use period, the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music will review the proposed alteration or revision using principles adopted by the General Convention of this Church and include its assessments and recommendations in a report to the General Convention.
- The calendar of the church, with principal and lesser observances, is part of the Book of Common Prayer and may be revised by following the process for trial use provided for revision of the Book of Common Prayer by the constitution and canons of this church
And be it further.
Resolved, That Canon II.4 shall be amended to add a new Canon 4 as follows, renumbering subsequent Canons under Title II:
<Amended text as it would appear if adopted and concurred. Scroll below the line of asterisks (******) to see the version showing all deleted and added text.>
Canon 4: Of Additional Types of liturgical texts
Sec. 1. Article X of the Constitution defines the Book of Common Prayer and a process of trial use as a step towards inclusion in the Book of Common Prayer. In addition to the Book of Common Prayer and texts authorized for trial use as defined by this church's Constitution and Canons, Supplemental and Alternative Liturgical Resources may be set forth by the authority of this Church.
Sec. 2. Authorization and Use of Supplemental and Alternative Liturgical Resources
a. The General Convention at any one meeting, by a majority of the Bishops entitled to vote in the House of Bishops, excluding retired Bishops not present, and by a majority of the Clerical and Lay Deputies, voting by orders, may approve for use by this Church liturgical resources beyond the Book of Common Prayer or trial use.
b. Each liturgical text beyond those provided in the Book of Common Prayer or trial use as approved by the General Convention will be designated as either a Supplemental Liturgical Resource (available for use without permission of the bishop with ecclesiastical authority) or an Alternative Liturgical Resource (requiring permission of the bishop with ecclesiastical authority).
c. Those Supplemental and Alternative Liturgies reviewed and authorized may be used for public worship by the ministers of this church and may include, but are not limited to:
1. A Book of Occasional Services authorized for use as a Supplemental Liturgical Resource.
2. Propers for the celebration of lesser feasts and fasts, as well as a lectionary for the daily celebration of the Holy Eucharist authorized for optional use throughout this Church.
c. When proposing or reviewing liturgical resources pursuant to this canon, the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music shall use principles adopted by the General Convention of this Church.
d. Before their approval by the General Convention, all liturgies authorized pursuant to this canon shall be translated by the proper authorities into English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole, following the principles of dynamic equivalence.
e. All Supplemental and Alternative Liturgical Resources and their official translations will be made available in the public domain using digital means to provide access to the wider church.
f. Once approved by the General Convention, Supplemental and Alternative Liturgical Resources may be removed by an act of the General Convention.
g. If at such time as a previously approved Supplemental or Alternative Liturgical Resource authorized by act of General Convention under this canon is to be considered for trial use, said liturgy must be brought to the General Convention to begin the process for trial use approval as defined by the Constitution and Canons of this church.
Sec. 3. Other Books of Common Prayer
a. Any Book of Common Prayer memorialized by the General Convention is authorized for regular use at any service in all dioceses of this Church. The content of any memorialized Book is understood to be the version in use at the time of memorialization.
b. The liturgies from any other Book of Common Prayer that has been authorized previously by the authority in this Church shall be available for use for Sunday worship and for other occasions with the permission of the bishop with ecclesiastical authority.
Sec. 4. Use of Other Eucharistic Prayers and Liturgies not authorized by The Episcopal Church
A Eucharistic Prayer prepared according to An Order for Celebrating the Holy Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer, 1979 pp.400-405) may be authorized for seasonal use on Sunday provided that it has been submitted to and received advance approval in writing from the bishop with ecclesiastical authority.
Sec. 5. Alternate Psalter
An Alternate Psalter may be authorized by resolution at the General Convention for study and occasional use in the Episcopal Church with the approval of the bishop with ecclesiastical authority.
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<Proposed amended resolution text showing exact changes being made:>
Canon 4: Of Additional Types of liturgical texts
Sec. 1. Article X of the Constitution defines the Book of Common Prayer and a process of trial use as a step towards inclusion in the Book of Common Prayer. In addition to the Book of Common Prayer and texts authorized for trial use as defined by this church's Constitution and Canons, Supplemental and Alternative Liturgical Resources may be set forth by the authority of this Church.
Sec. 2. Authorization and Use of Supplemental and Alternative Liturgical Resources
a. The General Convention at any one meeting, by a majority of the Bishops entitled to vote in the House of Bishops, excluding retired Bishops not present, and by a majority of the Clerical and Lay Deputies, voting by orders, may approve for use by this Church liturgical resources beyond the Book of Common Prayer or trial use.
b. Each liturgical text beyond those provided in the Book of Common Prayer or trial use as approved by the General Convention will be designated as either a Supplemental Liturgical Resource (available for use without permission of the bishop with ecclesiastical authority) or an Alternative Liturgical Resource (requiring permission of the bishop with ecclesiastical authority).
c. Those Supplemental and Alternative Liturgies reviewed and authorized may be used for public worship by the ministers of this church and may include, but are not limited to:
1. A Book of Occasional Services authorized for use as a Supplemental Liturgical Resource.
2. Propers for the celebration of lesser feasts and fasts, as well as a lectionary for the daily celebration of the Holy Eucharist authorized for optional use throughout this Church.
c. When proposing or reviewing liturgical resources pursuant to this canon, the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music shall use principles adopted by the General Convention of this Church.
d. Before their approval by the General Convention, all liturgies authorized pursuant to this canon shall be translated by the proper authorities into English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole, following the principles of dynamic equivalence.
e. All Supplemental and Alternative Liturgical Resources and their official translations will be made available in the public domain using digital means to provide access to the wider church.
f. Once approved by the General Convention, Supplemental and Alternative Liturgical Resources may be removed by an act of the General Convention.
g. If at such time as a previously approved Supplemental or Alternative Liturgical Resource authorized by act of General Convention under this canon is to be considered for trial use, said liturgy must be brought to the General Convention to begin the process for trial use approval as defined by the Constitution and Canons of this church.
Sec. 3. Other Books of Common Prayer
a. Any Book of Common Prayer memorialized by the General Convention is authorized for regular use at any service in all dioceses of this Church. The content of any memorialized Book is understood to be the version in use at the time of memorialization.
b. The liturgies from any other Book of Common Prayer that has been authorized previously by the authority in this Church shall be available for use for Sunday worship and for other occasions with the permission of the bishop with ecclesiastical authority.
Sec. 4. Use of Other Eucharistic Prayers and Liturgies not authorized by The Episcopal Church
A Eucharistic Prayer prepared according to An Order for Celebrating the Holy Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer, 1979 pp.400-405) may be authorized for seasonal use on Sunday provided that it has been submitted to and received advance approval in writing from the bishop with ecclesiastical authority.
Sec. 5. Alternate Psalter
An Alternate Psalter may be authorized by resolution at the General Convention for study and occasional use in the Episcopal Church with the approval of the bishop with ecclesiastical authority.
And be it further
Resolved, that the General Convention direct the President of the House of Deputies and the Presiding Bishop to task the working group charged with the implemetation and reviews related to the newly adopted Article X of this church’s constitution to review the liturgical texts previously authorized by the General Convention and categorize them prior to the 82nd General Convention as:
a. Book of Common Prayer
b. Trial Use
c. Supplemental Liturgies (for use without permission of the bishop with ecclesiastical authority)
d. Alternative Liturgies (for use with permission of the bishop with ecclesiastical authority)
e. Once authorized, but subsequently removed from usage by General Convention.