Do you think An English Prayer Book (OUP, 1994), the work of The Church Society, which is largely a modern language adaptation of the Book of Common Prayer and is intended to preserve the doctrine of the BCP and 39 Articles, as the note about Interpretation on p4 states, falls within the discretion allowed to the minister under the provision of canon B5?
Could a PCC and incumbent decide that it does (c.f. Common Worship, Authorization, p vii)?
The question would be, is it a matter of "substantial importance... according to particular circumstances" (Canon B5, p20, 10/00)? Is "no one understands the BCP (here) anymore" a sufficiently particular circumstance?
If a question is raised, the bishop may give "such pastoral guidence, advice or directions as he may think fit, but such reference shall be without prejudice to the matter in question being the subject matter of proceedings under the Ecclesiastical Jurisdication Measure 1963." Does anyone know if a Bishop has every said anything relevent (to this!!!) or if there have ever been proceedings?
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
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5 comments:
No.
Well, how do you know and are you sure?
Should we campaign for this? Afterall, everyone loves the BCP and Common Worship concedes the principle of modern language versions of BCP material and services?
I might contact the Church Society about this.
We might argue that Common Worship with its varriations and Service of the Word also sets our a principle of greater flexibility and discretion within the bounds of Scripture and the witness of the historic formularies.
An English Prayer Book has been widely used in whole or in part around the country with the endorsement of a number of bishops in whole or in part.
Maybe we should use it untill a Bishop strats proceedings against us? After all, all sorts of illegal unorthodox services are used so if ours is probably legal and orthodox....
I think Gerald Bray's article on the Oath of Canonical Obedience tells us that we dont really know the state of the law.
We don't need to argue about Common Worship - it is approved by General Synod, which is all the canons are concerned with.
Canons B1-B4 all require the current or past approval of General Synod for a form of service.
Canon B5 is concerned with alterations within a form of service, not replacement of a form of service.
The experimental forms of service in Canon B5A are ones to be submitted for the approval of Synod, and in the interim approved by the House of Bishops.
The English Prayer Book is therefore not "legal". Of course, it is a different question altogether whether you think that matters, and if your Bishop is happy with it....
Yes, but CW does give us principles about the C of E's attitude to liturgy, don't you think? It is not irrelevant to the interpretation of the canons?
Could you not say that An English Prayer Book or at least parts of it IS a variation within a form of service rather than its replacement since it is largely a modern language version of the BCP not a new service?
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