A115 Authorized use of alternative texts for the Good Friday liturgy
Resolved, the House of ________________ concurring,
That the 81st General Convention, authorize for use until the 82nd General Convention, with the consent of the Bishop or the Ecclesiastical authority, the alternative texts for the Good Friday Liturgy for use throughout the church, with the consent of the ecclesiastical authority; be it further
Resolved, That the alternative texts for the Good Friday Liturgy, be provided to the church at no cost via electronic distribution; and be it further
Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music be directed to engage a dynamic equivalence translation of the alternative texts for the Good Friday liturgy into Spanish, French, and Kreyol languages; and be it further
Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music be directed to develop a process for evaluation of the ongoing use of the alternative texts for the Good Friday liturgy among the dioceses and congregations of this church.
Explanation
The history of anti-Jewish violence rooted in the misunderstanding and misuse of the Good Friday liturgy calls us to be exceptionally sensitive to concerns about language that in our current time is perceived as anti-Jewish or anti-Semitic. The alternative texts of the Good Friday liturgy attempt to honor the existing covenant between God and the Jewish people, and the dignity of those for whom we pray.
The alternative text of the Good Friday liturgy can be found as a support document on this resolution and also in the report to the 81st General Convention (otherwise known as the blue book report) of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music.
Support Document: