Bishop Short, David Carter and Bishop Berry presented the report of the Doctrine and Worship Committee.
Bishop Short, in reviewing the report, made special note of the service entitled "The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage" which will be presented to General Synod for approval and publication. It is hoped that a Eucharistic Liturgy will be ready for use and presentation to the 1979/1980 General Synod.
Bishop Short mentioned that the idea of a new Prayer Book for Canada has been discussed at the last meeting of the Doctrine and Worship Committee but stated that no action had been taken. After a brief discussion Bishop Berry gave notice of motion to come later in the meeting.
It was noted that the booklet "Christian Initiation" did not readily identify its sponsors and a request was made that this be corrected.
David Holeton of Vancouver has been working with the Rev. W. Crockett on a revised three-year cycle Lectionary. It was requested that a check be made to see that the Old Testament is properly covered and possibly a section be inserted for family prayer.
Text
That the report of the Doctrine and Worship Committee be received. CARRIED
That the National Executive Council, noting the reluctance of the Doctrine and Worship Committee to initiate Prayer Book revisions without a mandate, urges General Synod to establish a special Prayer Book Revision Committee to work with particular emphasis on the new ECUSA book, and to present to the next General Synod a new Draft Canadian Book for trial use.
Text
Amendment
That the words "the Church of England Series III" be added. CARRIED
Notes
The motion will now read:
That the National Executive Council, noting the reluctance of the Doctrine and Worship Committee to initiate Prayer Book revisions without a mandate, urges General Synod to establish a special Prayer Book Revision Committee to work with particular emphasis on the Church of England Series III and on the new ECUSA book; and to present to the next General Synod a new Draft Canadian Book for trial use.
Amendment
That the motion be amended to delete the words "General Synod" and insert the words "the new Doctrine and Worship Committee" in their place. DEFEATED
That this National Executive Council refers to the Administration and Finance Committee the request of the Doctrine and Worship Committee that budget for Publication be set up. CARRIED
That in view of miscommunication between the Administration and Finance Committee and the Doctrine and Worship Committee concerning budget limits, that there be a consultation between the appropriate staff and committee people from both committees to clear the air. CARRIED
"1. That the last rubric on page 561 of the said Prayer Book, which reads, 'and there shall none be admitted to the Holy Communion, until such time as he be confirmed, or be ready and desirous to be confirmed', be deleted.
2. That the following rubric be added after the rubrics on page 66 of the said Prayer Book,
'Persons baptized with water in the name of the Holy Trinity may receive the Holy Communion.'"
Moved by: Professor D.C. Masters
Seconded by: Dr. D.H. Gould
That the Memorial be tabled. DEFEATED
Dr. Merriman then requested that a vote be taken on the two sections separately.
Text
"That Resolution, 'Admission to Holy Communion', in its two parts, be referred to the Doctrine and Worship Committee for study, in the light of decisions made during this Synod on Christian Initiation, and a report be submitted to the next session of General Synod." CARRIED
Notes
[Recorded as No. 135 in Acts of Synod, p. 72. List of Acts includes actions which are NOT resolutions/acts.]
This entire issue, which is inset into vol. 9 no. 4 (Pentecost 2003) is here presented as "a theological contribution to The Baptism Project, LC's [i.e. Liturgy Canada's] attempt to foster dialogue about the process of Christian Initiation. Dr. Holeton offers an extensive and, we believe, very important historical account of Fr. Fairweather's significant contribution both the BAS and, even more importantly, to a renewed understanding of the theologically necessary link between Baptism and Eucharistic fellowship." -- From Editorial by John Hodgins to vol. 9 no. 4 (Pentecost 2003), p. 3.
"Eugene Fairweather's contributions to the work of the national Doctrine and Worship Committee (D&W) and to the Book of Alternative Services (BAS) lay primarily in two areas: unmuddling the impasse between the House of Bishops (HoB) and D&W in the work towards new rites of Christian Initiation and drafting the rites of Ordination" (p. 1).
The article is a concise and penetrating analysis of the development of the "new" theology of baptism and Christian initiation (including the issue of admission to Communion) which took place in Canada between 1969 and 1985. It focuses on the controversy and conflict between the Doctrine and Worship Committee (and its sub-committees and task forces) and the House of Bishops. Fairweather's pastoral, political and theological contributions are described, especially his crucial report delivered to the October 1981 [* See paragraph below] meeting of the Joint Task Force on Christian Initiation entitled "Christian Initiation : our Present Situation" which included "A Modest Proposal" and set out seven key principles about baptism and Christian initiation.
*N.B. A typo, two thirds of the way down the second column on page 4, says October 1982 instead of 1981. Footnotes 12-14 on page 8 confirm that the report was in fact presented in October 1981
In a close vote, General Synod authorized the BAS Evaluation COmmission to continue its work with a budget of $95,000. It will report to the 1992 General Synod.
Bishop Berry distributed forms to all the Bishops regarding the translations of the Book of Alternative Services into French. He requested that the Bishops return the completed forms to him before the end of the meeting, or send them to the Reverend Paul Gibson, Church House, Toronto.
Text
That this House express its deep appreciation to the Doctrine and Worship Committee for its diligent and devoted service and to the Anglican Book Centre for its great care and expertise in the publication of the Book of Alternative Services. CARRIED #4-9-85
The Synod then considered the section dealing with Christian initiation. Bishop Seaborn moderated a panel discussion on the subject -- panelists were Dr. H. Dempster, Bishop Davis, Dr. E. Fairweather and Bishop Somerville. Because of the interest generated, it was necessary to introduce a motion to extend the discussion of the report.
Text
That we continue to discuss the Doctrine and Worship Report for a further half hour. CARRIED IN BOTH HOUSES
Notes
[Recorded as No. 77 in Acts of Synod, p. 69. List of Acts includes actions which are NOT resolutions/acts.]