BCP 2019

[Shane R]

ACNA has completed and adopted a new American prayer book: Anglican Church in North America – 2019 Book of Common Prayer

The book launched rather ignominiously, as it was not used at the very service where it was formally accepted! Within a week, the Diocese of Quincy had announced it is not permitted for use in public services of the church within that diocese; they use Common Worship instead (which I found odd for an American diocese). Also, there was immediate discontent from the Anglo-Catholics over a rubric which permitted pouring out consecrated wine on the ground, rather than demanding that it be consumed. It has been announced that this rubric will undergo a minor change for the second printing.

It's also noteworthy that the Reformed Episcopal Church, an affiliate jurisdiction within the ACNA confederation, had just completed a prayer book in 2005. Their book apparently never got any serious consideration for broader adoption.

The big question is: who is going to use this BCP2019?

 

[PloverWing]

It seems useless to me to have a book of "Common Prayer" that is not in "common" use because the people and churches aren't accepting it. What is the procedure for approving a new prayer book in the ACNA? You'll never get unanimous approval of a book, presumably, but it seems like it ought to require approval by X% of clergy, Y% of the laity, Z% of congregations, something like that, for some reasonably large X, Y, and Z.

 

[Deegie]

Thanks for posting that. I'm a total liturgy geek and I hadn't yet noticed the publication of this book. I only had time to read through the two Eucharistic canons but wanted to share my thoughts.

The "Anglican Standard Text" claims to be the 1662 service in contemporary English, yet the language chosen is almost exactly the same as the 1979 Rite II service pre-Sanctus, with throwbacks like "and with your spirit". I'm a bit curious why ACNA didn't try to get more distance in the pre-Sanctus from a prayer book they don't like very much. Post-Sanctus seemed like a much abridged Rite I / 1928 eucharistic prayer in modern language and it flowed nicely.

Also noticed there was no effort to use gender-neutral language for any person of the Godhead...it's all "he" all the way. That runs contrary to the current climate in TEC, but doesn't surprise me to see with ACNA. The filioque being optional in the Nicene Creed seems to fit the current Anglican trend of being a bit more friendly to our Orthodox brothers and sisters. I expect all new prayer books will likely do that (or eliminate it altogether). The Prayers of the People appear to be original (at least I haven't seen that language before) and are well-written. I thought at first that having only one form in each service would be very limiting, but then I noticed the additional direction allowing flexibility.

I saw the direction about the consecrated wine being "reverently poured in a place set aside for that purpose". That sounds more like a piscina was intended and not on the ground? Especially since there is no provision for the bread to be disposed of in/on the ground.

All in all, I'm quite impressed. I might even steal some of the language. For example, having the Prayer of Humble Access in modern English is quite helpful.

Thanks for posting and for reading my rambling!

 

[Shane R]

I'm a bit curious why ACNA didn't try to get more distance in the pre-Sanctus from a prayer book they don't like very much.

I don't know that statement to be an accurate reflection of ACNA's culture. I'm fairly confident the 1979 is the most widely used prayer book across their confederation.

My assessment is that large parts of the book were copy-paste from 1979. I compared the liturgy for the Easter Vigil when it was still in trial stage and it was identical to the same service in the 1979.

I saw the direction about the consecrated wine being "reverently poured in a place set aside for that purpose". That sounds more like a piscina was intended and not on the ground? Especially since there is no provision for the bread to be disposed of in/on the ground.

I believe the electronic form has already been updated to reflect the compromise the HOBs reached for the second printing.

 

[Deegie]

I don't know that statement to be an accurate reflection of ACNA's culture. I'm fairly confident the 1979 is the most widely used prayer book across their confederation.

Oh, interesting. Thanks. I was under the misimpression that they used the 1928 more than the 1979.

I believe the electronic form has already been updated to reflect the compromise the HOBs reached for the second printing.

Ah. That would explain it!

 

[Albion]

Oh, interesting. Thanks. I was under the misimpression that they used the 1928 more than the 1979.

definitely not.

I wonder if you might be thinking of the Continuing Anglican churches, although with them there is no "more than" (the 1979). It would just be "rather than."

 

[Arcangl86]

Wait, how is it a Book of Common Prayer if dioceses can just decide not to use it?

 

[Shane R]

Wait, how is it a Book of Common Prayer if dioceses can just decide not to use it?

That is the question many have asked. There does not seem to be an answer forthcoming.

I forgot to mention there is going to be a supplement to this book published in a few months. The supplement is going to make a retrograde move to put a 'Rite I' sort of gloss on all of the liturgies in BCP2019; ie. 'traditional English'. There is no plan to ever put the two together, they will always be separate volumes. I personally doubt the traditional English version will make it to a second printing.

 

[Silverback]

ACNA has completed and adopted a new American prayer book: Anglican Church in North America – 2019 Book of Common Prayer

The book launched rather ignominiously, as it was not used at the very service where it was formally accepted! Within a week, the Diocese of Quincy had announced it is not permitted for use in public services of the church within that diocese; they use Common Worship instead (which I found odd for an American diocese). Also, there was immediate discontent from the Anglo-Catholics over a rubric which permitted pouring out consecrated wine on the ground, rather than demanding that it be consumed. It has been announced that this rubric will undergo a minor change for the second printing.

It's also noteworthy that the Reformed Episcopal Church, an affiliate jurisdiction within the ACNA confederation, had just completed a prayer book in 2005. Their book apparently never got any serious consideration for broader adoption.

The big question is: who is going to use this BCP2019?

I was always under the impression that Anglican Bishops had the authority, within reason, to do as they please in matters of worship.

why not simply adopt the 1928 BCP, and be done with it?

 

[Albion]

why not simply adopt the 1928 BCP, and be done with it?

Oh, don't you know that people can't understand the wording? It's too old-fashioned.

In addition, it stresses that God has standards we may not like and, worse than that, he looks mean and we humans are described as wicked and sinful.

I'm being sarcastic, of course, but the usual justifications for some new book of alternative services are about the same as the reasons given for producing yet another "modern language" Bible.

See if you recognize the following--

Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is Heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your Heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on Earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever.

Amen.

 

[seeking.IAM]

What is ACNA's intention in the Creed regarding the filioque? The text in the new Prayer Book has it in brackets with a footnote but I can't discern the intention. Is it in or out?

I keep hearing rumors that TEC has decided to take it out of our next Prayer Book revision, but I don't know for sure.

 

[Shane R]

What is ACNA's intention in the Creed regarding the filioque? The text in the new Prayer Book has it in brackets with a footnote but I can't discern the intention. Is it in or out?

I keep hearing rumors that TEC has decided to take it out of our next Prayer Book revision, but I don't know for sure.

The brackets indicate that it is optional.

 

[Arcangl86]

What is ACNA's intention in the Creed regarding the filioque? The text in the new Prayer Book has it in brackets with a footnote but I can't discern the intention. Is it in or out?

I keep hearing rumors that TEC has decided to take it out of our next Prayer Book revision, but I don't know for sure.

A few GCs ago TEC decided to remove it in the next BCP revision, IIRC based on a recomendation from Lambeth.

 

[David Goforth]

Oh, don't you know that people can't understand the wording? It's too old-fashioned.

In addition, it stresses that God has standards we may not like and, worse than that, he looks mean and we humans are described as wicked and sinful.

I'm being sarcastic, of course, but the usual justifications for some new book of alternative services are about the same as the reasons given for producing yet another "modern language" Bible.

See if you recognize the following--

Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is Heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your Heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on Earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever.

Amen.

Does the 1928 BCP have a lot of prayers for the dead in it and other Catholic type theology? I've never been to an Anglican Church that has used it.

 

[Albion]

Does the 1928 BCP have a lot of prayers for the dead in it and other Catholic type theology? I've never been to an Anglican Church that has used it.

The traditional BCP (1549-1928) remains the standard in the Continuing Anglican churches in America and it doesn't have prayers for the dead except for a reference in the "prayer for the whole state of Christ's church" in which there are petitions for all sorts of people, including "all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear: beseeching thee to grant them continual growth in thy love and service...."

If you want to check out any of these churches, they normally are listed in phone books, etc. under "Anglican" whereas The Episcopal Church is listed as "Episcopal."

 

[Shane R]

Does the 1928 BCP have a lot of prayers for the dead in it and other Catholic type theology? I've never been to an Anglican Church that has used it.

Have a look: