In Spirit and Truth: A Vision of Episcopal Worship

by Sylvia Sweeney (Editor), Kevin J. Moroney (Editor), Stephanie Budwey (Editor), Samuel Torvend (Editor), Sylvia Sweeney (Contribution by)

Overview

An invitation to a conversation about the direction of our worship life.

The Anglican colloquium of the North American Academy of Liturgy acknowledged the need for a collection of insights to aid in the liturgical formation of the Episcopal Church as we move into liturgical revision. The volume's contributions have been shaped around the clauses of resolution A068, looking at the ways in which parishes and individuals can live into this time of revision and creativity. With a shared understanding of our deepest held Christian values, the editors look forward to what the future brings for our collective worship lives and our missional lives as bearers of Christ to a troubled and broken world.

This volume provides churches with tools for intelligent, cogent, accessible historical and theological conversation illuminating the way forward for the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640652989
Publisher:	Church Publishing, Incorporated
Publication date:	12/17/2020
Edition description:	NY
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

The Very Rev. Sylvia Sweeney, PhD is Dean and President of Bloy House, the Episcopal Theological School at Los Angeles where she also teaches Liturgics and Homiletics. Before coming to Bloy House in 2009, she was a parish priest in congregations in Montana, Idaho, and California. She is the author of Ecofeminist Perspective on Ash Wednesday and Lent (Peter Lang Publishing, 2009) and Winged with Longing for Better Things (Church Publishing, November 2019). A core theme of her teaching and writing is how a well-developed twenty-first-century baptismally centered theology of the church offers essential common ground for conversation and cooperation between scholars and (lay and ordained) ministers.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

A068 Plan for the Revision of the Book of Common Prayer xi

1 Changing to Remain the Same: The Evolving Prayer Book Tradition Jeffrey D. Lee 1

2 Liturgy for Mission: An Interpretation of Resolution A0681 Kevin J. Moroney 13

3 Common Prayer, a Strong Thread Kathryn A. Rickert 25

4 The Episcopal Church: So Much More than a National Church Sylvia Sweeney 37

5 Diversity and Common Worship Ruth A. Meyers 47

6 Can Anglican Liturgy Be Universal? Juan M. C. Oliver 59

7 Initiated but Unfinished: Catechetical Foundations for Fine-Tuning the Baptismal Rite William H. Petersen 73

8 Baptism and Ordination in the BCP 1979 Elise A. Feyerherm 87

9 On the Integrity of Eucharistie Communion Louis Weil 97

10 What Episcopalians Can Learn from Our Lutheran Communion Partners about the Composition of Eucharistie Prayers James Farwell 109

11 Rites of Healing and Transition in the Baptized Life: New Pastoral Orders in a new Prayer Book Susan Mane Smith 123

12 Welcoming Care of God's Creation in Liturgical Reform Samuel Torvend 135

13 Praying the Present and Future Kay Sylvester 145

14 "What We Think Is New Is in Fact Very Old!" Stephanie A. Budwey 157

15 Very Members Incorporate: Expansive Common Prayer Cameron Partridge 169

References 181

Contributors 189

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“The essays of In Spirit and Truth are a generous invitation to learn more about the deep theological, spiritual, and cultural issues calling the Episcopal Church to liturgical revision. In these pages, some of our church’s finest scholars and liturgists consider how Resolution A068 of the 79th General Convention provides a long-awaited opportunity for our beloved tradition to adapt in faithful and creative ways. At its best, the work of General Convention inspires books like this.”
—Gay Clark Jennings, President, House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church

“…..In Spirit and Truth following another volume (2018’s Issues in Prayer Book Revision), along with journal articles, online conferences, and websites devoted to just ‘liturgical revision’ could mean. The goal of this volume is primarily to promote conversation beyond the academy and the church’s liturgical gatekeepers….”
—Doxology, Volume 32.1

“From time to time, the natural evolution of the Church’s liturgical life comes to a crossroads moment that demands of us a hard look at how we pray together. It’s sort of like packing for a journey and deciding what to take along and what to leave behind. The Church is presently at such a crossroads, and the essays in this book will stimulate a lot of useful conversation about what we need for the journey ahead.”
—Neil Alexander, Chair of the Task Force for Liturgical and Prayer Book Revision

“Liturgy at its heart is an encounter with Christ, grounded in Baptism and sustained and deepened in the Eucharist; liturgical revision is guided by and serves this encounter. The lucid and accessible essays that make up this volume invite the Church to discern how the Spirit is calling us to extend the reach of Christ’s ‘saving embrace’ through our worship and sacramental celebration. A series of questions at the end of each chapter makes this a valuable resource for individual and congregational study and reflection as we look ahead to the revision of the Prayer Book.”
—Frank T. Griswold, XXV Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

Editorial Reviews

The essays of In Spirit and Truth are a generous invitation to learn more about the deep theological, spiritual, and cultural issues calling the Episcopal Church to liturgical revision. In these pages, some of our church’s finest scholars and liturgists consider how Resolution A068 of the 79th General Convention provides a long-awaited opportunity for our beloved tradition to adapt in faithful and creative ways. At its best, the work of General Convention inspires books like this.”
—Gay Clark Jennings, President, House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church

“…..In Spirit and Truth following another volume (2018’s Issues in Prayer Book Revision), along with journal articles, online conferences, and websites devoted to just ‘liturgical revision’ could mean. The goal of this volume is primarily to promote conversation beyond the academy and the church’s liturgical gatekeepers….”
—Doxology, Volume 32.1

“From time to time, the natural evolution of the Church’s liturgical life comes to a crossroads moment that demands of us a hard look at how we pray together. It’s sort of like packing for a journey and deciding what to take along and what to leave behind. The Church is presently at such a crossroads, and the essays in this book will stimulate a lot of useful conversation about what we need for the journey ahead.”
—Neil Alexander, Chair of the Task Force for Liturgical and Prayer Book Revision

“Liturgy at its heart is an encounter with Christ, grounded in Baptism and sustained and deepened in the Eucharist; liturgical revision is guided by and serves this encounter. The lucid and accessible essays that make up this volume invite the Church to discern how the Spirit is calling us to extend the reach of Christ’s ‘saving embrace’ through our worship and sacramental celebration. A series of questions at the end of each chapter makes this a valuable resource for individual and congregational study and reflection as we look ahead to the revision of the Prayer Book.”
—Frank T. Griswold, XXV Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

From the Publisher