Episcopal Press and News
Convention Adopts Optional Inclusive Language Texts
Episcopal News Service. July 14, 1988 [88155]
NEW YORK (DPS, July 14) -- The two houses of General Convention have concurred in approving supplemental inclusive language texts for use in the Episcopal Church.
The revised rites are contained in supplemental liturgical texts developed by the Standing Liturgical Commission at the direction of the 1985 General Convention. The new texts include services for Morning and Evening Prayer, an Order of Worship for the Evening, and two eucharistic services.
Inclusive language, the committee said, means "language in which all the worshipers find themselves, and their religious experience of God as revealed in Christ, more completely reflected."
The new eucharistic prayers draw on metaphors for God and God's relationship with humanity that had not previously been gleaned from Scripture, according to the report of the commission.
The liturgies are for optional use by parishes. Nothing in the resolution mentions the possibility of another Prayer Book revision. The texts will be refined over the next year by the Standing Liturgical Commission in consultation with the Theology Committee of the House of Bishops. By Advent 1989, the texts will be available for use for two years "under the direction" of the diocesan bishop.
The resolution asks for "continuing study, development, and evaluation" of the texts by the Standing Liturgical Commission, the House of Bishops Theology Committee, and other consultants.
Some controversy developed in the House of Deputies as to whether the resolution authorizing the rites was in accordance with Article X of the Church's constitution. The 1985 resolution directed the Standing Liturgical Commission to prepare the inclusive language texts "in accordance with Article X of the Constitution." Article X enumerates the process for allowing use of supplemental liturgies and other "special forms of worship."
Mary Lou Crowley, chair of the Constitution Committee, told the House of Deputies that the majority of her committee "found that the use authorized by this particular resolution is not proper under Article 10." A minority of the Constitution Committee felt that the proposed rites were acceptable, as did the House of Bishops Constitution Committee.
Bishop Mark Dyer of Bethlehem, chair of the bishops' Theology Committee, reported that continued review will be made of theological concerns about the name of God, masculine and feminine imagery, and other concerns. "We are strongly committed to the best possible liturgical texts," he said.
Convention also passed the following resolutions on the subject of liturgy:
- Amend the Constitution to ensure sexually inclusive language.
- Add commemoratives to the church year calendar and trial use of new commemorative Propers.
- Maintain Standing Liturgical Commission and Standing Commission on Church Music as distinct and cooperating bodies.
- Change page numbers and wording in the Spanish version of the Prayer Book.
- Include Martin Luther in church calendar.
- Add the New International Version and New Jerusalem Bible to authorized translations for liturgical use.
- Authorize rite: "Preparation of Parents and Godparents for the Baptism of Infants and Young Children."
- Study "Commentary of the Common Baptismal Liturgy."
- Establish position of Program Coordinator for Liturgy and Music.
- Authorize study and use by dioceses, under direction of the ordinary, of The English Language Liturgical Consultation Common Texts, 1987.
- Commend "The Ecumenical Celebration of Marriage," of the Consultation on Common Texts, following guidelines.
- Provide liturgical rite for retirement.
- Amend collect for King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma.