Report of the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee : Supplemental Liturgical Material
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official7030
- Date
- 1998 March 6-8
- Type
- Resolution 10-03-98
- Mover
- Ms. L. Roff
- Seconder
- Mrs. D. Brookes
- Text of motion
- That this Council of General Synod commend the supplementary liturgical material* to the 1998 General Synod. CARRIED #10-03-98
- Notes
- * See attached material.
- Council members expressed appreciation to the members of the Faith Worship and Ministry Committee by applause.
- [N.B. Electronic database includes first two pages of material i.e. introduction but not complete text of documents (pp. 3-21).]
- Supplementary Liturgical Material
- There are five liturgical documents in this collection: three Supplementary Eucharistic Prayers (S1, S2 and S3), and two Services of the Word (SW1, SW2).
- Supplementary Eucharistic Prayers
- General Synod in 1995 called for the creation of eucharistic prayers reflecting a Reformed theological conscience and eucharistic prayers inclusive in language and images. The Faith Worship and Ministry Committee invited submissions from representative groups in the Church and appointed a sub-group to process the responses and develop fresh liturgical texts. Three texts have been created: one reflecting the Reformed theological conscience, and two distinct inclusive prayers reflecting different points of view of which the Committee became aware.
- In seeking to follow the instructions of General Synod, the Faith Worship and Ministry Committee first gave consideration to what might be intended by the terms `Reformed' and `inclusive'.
- An Understanding of `Reformed'
- The term `Reformed' refers to a theological culture strongly influenced by the sixteenth century Christian leader John Calvin. The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of the Church of England are generally regarded as consonant with, and perhaps historically inspired by, Reformed doctrine. Through the centuries, many in the Anglican world have identified themselves as members of the Reformed theological community. The eucharistic prayer in the Book of Common Prayer of 1559 is often regarded as one of the most distinguished examples of a liturgy consistent with a Reformed theological conscience.
- It was our conclusion that a Reformed eucharistic theology should reflect the following emphases: (1) God is sovereign, and God is generous in love, grace, and pardon beyond anything we can ask, deserve, or control; (2) in the eucharist what is important is what God does, not anything that we do; (3) in the eucharist God confirms the benefits of the finished work of Christ, and seals the promises of the Gospel; (4) what we have to offer God is ourselves, and our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for Christ's work of redemption; (5) claims should not be made for the physical elements of bread and wine which obscure the truth that God is at work in all creation.
- An understanding of `inclusive'
- We understand an `inclusive' prayer as one which includes all members of the Church community through word and symbol. There are different ways of conveying inclusivity. We approach the task by attempting to incorporate various images of God and God's work in a balanced way. Our aim was to use the resources of the Christian tradition to expand the language of prayer, within the Trinitarian structure of our eucharistic prayers.
- The prayers recognize the reality of those groups who feel cut off from the community of Christ. It may be that a particular community is in a situation in which it feels abandoned by the Holy One. An example of the latter might be in a congregation in a town where the mill or other major industry has closed down. In such cases, even though a Eucharist is normally a prayer of praise, there are times when praise is difficult: times of anger, frustration, disappointment, and loss. In one of these prayers we have attempted to provide an opportunity for groups who feel alienated from God or the Church to be heard and therefore held as part of the community.
- We sought as well to be inclusive of ecological realities, understanding that God has created us out of the earth and has commanded us to be responsible stewards of creation.
- Services of the Word
- The 1995 General Synod, following the recommendations of the BAS Evaluation Commission, requested a Service of the Word as the main Sunday act of worship.
- The Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee proposes two services of the Word. The first might be described as an expanded and more `user-friendly' version of Morning and Evening Prayer in the Book of Alternative Services. It is designed for simplicity and minimal preparation. The second service confirms
- Subjects
- Anglican Church of Canada - Liturgy - Texts
- Liturgical renewal - Anglican Church of Canada
- Eucharistic prayers - Anglican Church of Canada
- Service of the word - Anglican Church of Canada
- Inclusive language - Anglican Church of Canada
- Nonsexist language - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada. Book of Alternative Services