Episcopal Press and News
SLC to Propose Inclusive Texts
Episcopal News Service. January 21, 1988 [88009]
NEW YORK (DPS, Jan. 21) -- The Standing Liturgical Commission, has completed recommendations concerning texts submitted by its Committee on Inclusive Language Liturgy.
Services with adaptations for the Daily Office, Rite II (Morning and Evening Prayer and Order of Worship for the Evening) and two new eucharistic prayers will be presented by the Commission to next summer's General Convention. Specifically, the Convention will be asked to act on a resolution from the SLC which reads, in part, "...that the Standing Liturgical Commission submit to General Convention and through General Convention to the Church the experience and the texts of the work of this Commission and its Committee on Inclusive Language Liturgy for continuing study and development throughout the next triennium under the coordination of the Standing Liturgical Commission...and...that, in connection with this study, the Supplemental Liturgical Texts be authorized for experimental use under the direction of the diocesan bishop or the ecclesiastical authority, for a period of three years, beginning Advent 1988."
"After a triennium of intense and productive writing, editing, discussion and debate, the Committee is well satisfied that the responsibilities placed upon us have been fulfilled," said Canon Lloyd Casson, convener and SLC member. "These are not replacements for existing Prayer Book liturgies and offices but additions to them, which will bring about a significantly greater inclusivity when all are used in proper proportion.
People in the pews have also been a crucial part of the Commission's work. For a month last fall, 40 evaluation centers used the texts for worship. Two parishes from each Province were selected, with the assistance of the Provincial presidents, to reflect the broad spectrum of life and worship in the Episcopal Church. All Episcopal seminaries took part, (with the exception of Trinity School for Ministry which chose to examine the texts in a classroom rather than worship setting.) In addition, the houses of two religious orders (women's and men's) prayed with the texts.
Well over 5,000 forms were returned to the education task force from these centers, as well as reports from task force members who visited each center both before and after the evaluation period. "The entire process proved very valuable for us, " said the Rev. Joseph Russell, chair of the task force. "We found that many respondents took time to express themselves thoughtfully and thoroughly; that there is much emotion, curiosity and concern surrounding this subject; and that there is a great need for more education in the church about our worship's form and development."
Changes which reflect the centers' experience help clarify the recommended texts and make them more attractive linguistically. For instance, in the Daily Office report, an alternative Gloria Patri now reads, "Honor and glory to God, and to the eternal Word,/ and to the Holy Spirit:/ God the One in three,/for ever and ever. Amen," After thorough discussion, the Commission agreed that the formula held the essential Trinitarian doxological content while offering words distinct enough from the familiar phrase to avoid confusion in worship.
The evaluation period revealed other places in the texts which, the Commission concluded, could not be clarified. As a result, the "Adapted Eucharists Rite II" -- existing Prayer Book texts with modifications -- were discontinued, only after assurances were made that this would not be interpreted as a backing away from the task assigned the SIC. In fact, this difficult decision was part of the deliberation that led to a new understanding on the part of the Commission of "inclusive language." "'Inclusive language' in terms of the Prayer Book will now come to mean the regular use of a number of different prayers which taken together offer a far more complete set of images for the God of our heritage and of our experience," commented the Rev. Robert Brooks, SLC member and leader of the writers who developed two supplemental Eucharistic prayers. "We learned that small changes in existing texts interrupt worship, and we learned that no one prayer can suffice for the worship of God. The two additional prayers retain much of the familiar liturgical language, especially in the common texts we share with other liturgical churches, in order to highlight the beauty and depth of the new images and metaphors." For example, in the eucharistic prayers, "God be with you" is a suggested alternative to "The Lord be with you" in the Collect, but "The Lord be with you" remains the standard form in the Sursum Corda; the introductions and responses to the readings. "The Word of the Lord" remain (with one change, the addition of "The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ..." before the Gospel); the Lord's Prayer is the standard contemporary form found in the Book of Common Prayer.
The two new prayers were titled "The image of God" and "The Nurturing God" for the purposes of the evaluation process. The first emphasizes the creation of all people in the image of God: "Most generous, self-giving God,. we celebrate your gift of creation./ We rejoice that you have formed us in your image/ and called us to dwell in your infinite love..."; "...we offer you our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving/as we pledge to live our Savior's command: (Celebrant and People) We will love one another/As Christ loves us..." emphasizes the call of Christ; and the breaking of the bread, "(Celebrant) We are the Body of Christ/The broken body and the blood poured out. (People) We behold who we are;/may we become/Whom we receive" recalls the essential unity of the baptismaleucharistic Christian life.
"The Nurturing God" draws images from scripture such as: "You graced us with freedom of heart and mind, but we were heedless and willful. You took us by the hand, and taught us to walk in your ways...Yet as a mother cares for her children, you would not forget us..." "Pour out your love and your blessing on what we offer here. Send your Spirit to breathe into these gifts...Let your Spirit brood over the whole Creation and within us all..."
The decision to continue these Eucharistic prayers (as well as the adaption and additions to the Daily Office), led the Commission to approve a request made by the committee at their final fall meeting. After their study of the progress of the work, and the changes in understanding of its scope and depth, the committee felt it more accurate to be named "Committee on Supplemental Liturgical Texts" for its continuing work.
"We look forward to presenting these texts and reports to the General Convention in July," said the Rt. Rev. Vincent Petit, chairman of the SLC. "Not only have they been meticulously studied, but also faithfully prayed. We are keenly aware that this process has sparked much debate, and that there has been some misunderstanding of what we are offering. We appreciate the opportunity given us for this discussion and education in the Church. The Commission itself has grown tremendously through this process, and on their behalf I would like to thank all those work and prayer have carried us forward. The beauty and integrity of their words will speak for themselves we believe, so that the Convention may feel as we do, the privilege of being part of deepening the prayer life of our Church."