Explanation

Sec. 1. The Book of Common Prayer is understood to be those liturgical forms and other texts authorized by the General Convention in accordance with this article and the Canons of this Church.

The Book of Common Prayer in this Church is intended to be communal and devotional prayer enriched by our church’s cultural, geographical, and linguistic contexts. The Book of Common Prayer shall contain both public worship and private devotion.

The Book of Common Prayer, as now established or hereafter amended by the authority of this Church General Convention, shall be in use in all the Dioceses of this Church.

Sec. 2. No alteration thereof or addition thereto shall be made unless the General Convention approve the same shall be on first proposed reading in one regular meeting of the General Convention and, by a resolve thereof so directing, be sent within six months by the Secretary of the General Convention to the Secretary of the Convention of every Diocese, to be made known to the Diocesan Convention at its next regular meeting, and be adopted on second reading without alteration by the General Convention at its next succeeding regular meeting by a majority of all Bishops, excluding retired Bishops not present, of the whole number of Bishops entitled to vote in the House of Bishops, and by a an affirmative vote by orders in the House of Deputies in accordance with Article Art. I, Sec. 5 of this Constitution, except that concurrence in the affirmative by the orders shall require the affirmative vote in each order by a majority of the Dioceses entitled to representation in the House of Deputies.

Sec. 3. No alteration thereof or addition thereto shall be made unless it has previously been authorized for Trial Use in accordance with this Article and the Canons of this Church.

Sec. 4. But notwithstanding anything herein above contained, the The General Convention may at any one meeting, by a majority of the whole number of the Bishops entitled to vote in the House of Bishops, and by a majority of the Clerical and Lay Deputies of all the Dioceses entitled to representation in the House of Deputies, voting by orders as previously set forth in this Article:

a.     Amend the Table of Lessons and all Tables and Rubrics relating to the Psalms.

b.     Authorize for trial use throughout this Church, as an alternative at any time or times Trial Use such alterations or additions in whole or in part to the established Book of Common Prayer or to any section or Office thereof, a proposed revision of the whole book or any portion thereof as may be proposed in accord with the Canons of this Church and duly undertaken by and implemented according to the directives of the General Convention.

c.     Authorize for use throughout this Church, as provided by Canon, alternative and additional liturgies to supplement those provided in the Book of Common Prayer.

Sec. 5. And provided that nothing Nothing in this Article shall be construed as restricting the authority of the Bishops of this Church to take such order as may be permitted by the Rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer or by the Canons of the General Convention for the use of special forms of worship.

 

General Convention Resolution 2018-A068 directed the Task Force on Liturgical and Prayer Book Revision to propose to the 80th General Convention revisions to the Constitution and Canons “to enable The Episcopal Church to be adaptive in its engagement of future generations of Episcopalians, multiplying, connecting, and disseminating new liturgies for mission, attending to prayer book revision in other provinces of the Anglican Communion.”

The proposed draft revision of Article X reorganizes the text for clarity of language and structure; incorporates the text of Resolution 2018-A063, passed on first reading and pending for second reading; and responds to the expressed yearning for inclusive language and expansive imagery for humanity and divinity through approved trial and supplemental liturgies to the Book of Common Prayer and sanctioned for optional use throughout the Church.

The opening statement of Article X is not changed, retaining the principle that the BCP is the standard and normative liturgical text for worship in this Church. A second sentence is added to express the understanding that all liturgies that General Convention authorizes following the protocol of Section 2 are part of the Book of Common Prayer. The remainder of the section, setting forth the method of adoption, becomes Section 2. The amendments attempt to shift the Church’s awareness that contemporary and future methods of publication may not be restricted to the form of a book. What General Convention adopts as a prayer book is not a form of publication (a book) but rather the content, i.e., the text of the liturgies.