The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music presented its Report #19 on Resolution B001 (Experimental Creation Care Language for the Baptismal Covenant) and moved adoption of a substitute.

Original Text of Resolution:

(B001)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the following two alternative additions to the Baptismal Covenant will be made available for trial use in the Episcopal Church following General Convention 81 in Louisville, Kentucky in June, 2024:

1) Will you strive for justice and peace among all, and respect the dignity of the Earth and of every human being.

I will, with God’s help.

2) Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth?

I will, with God’s help.

And be it further

Resolved, that dioceses of the Episcopal Church will report to the Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music regarding the trial use of the alternative expressions for the Baptismal Covenant by April 2027; and be it further

Resolved, that the Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music will include a report and recommendation on the suggested language for the Baptismal Covenant in its Blue Book report before General Convention 82.

Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

Resolved, that the 81st General Convention direct the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to develop additional language for the Baptismal Covenant that expresses our Baptismal responsibility to care for creation, and report proposed revisions to the 82nd General Convention. And be it further  

Resolved that this General Convention encourage congregations that wish to experiment with such language request the permission of their ecclesiastical authority to do so.  

That the following two alternative

Covenant (BCP p. 305), from the Book of Alternative Services 1984 of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Baptismal Covenant will be made available for trial use under Article X.b in the Episcopal Church following General Convention 81 the 81st General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky in June, 2024: 

1) Will you strive for justice and peace among all, and respect the dignity of the Earth and of every human being.

I will, with God’s help.

2) Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth?

I will, with God’s help.

And be it further

Resolved, that dioceses of the Episcopal Church will report to the Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music regarding the trial use of the alternative expressions for the Baptismal Covenant by April 2027; and be it further 

Resolved, that the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music develop a process for dioceses to report on their use of this addition to the Baptismal Covenant.  

Resolved, that the Standing Committee Commission on Liturgy and Music include a report and recommendation on the suggested language for the Baptismal Covenant in its Blue Book report to the 82nd General Convention 82. 

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #135)