The Episcopal Church and trial [use] marriage

May 7, 2018 by

by Stephen Noll, Contending Anglican

Dearly Beloved, we have come together in the presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and this woman two people in Holy Matrimony.

One of the blessings of the electronic keyboard for writers and teachers is the ease in revising. By pressing the “Track Changes” button, I can strike through anything and then at my leisure [delete it] altogether. And that is what the Episcopal Church USA (TEC) is doing with its Prayer Book and in particular the service of Holy Matrimony…

.. .There is nothing wrong with revising the Prayer Book from time to time. This was done several times prior to the standard 1662 version and has been done several times since (though 1662 remains the standard). The Anglican Church in North America has been preparing a new Prayer Book in a multi-year process aimed at completion in 2019. It is worth noting, however, clear limits to such revision: according to the Preface to the American Prayer Book, changes are allowed “provided that the substance of the Faith be kept entire.”

In TEC, however, “trial use” has taken a different direction, with a proliferation of “supplemental” rites and hymnody. The ever-busy “Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music” has churned out five volumes of “Enriching Our Worship” and four volumes of “Liturgical Studies.” One wonders whether a eucharistic liturgy that consistently strikes through God the Father and Jesus Christ as Lord is keeping the substance of the Faith entire, but I shall leave that to others to expound (see here and here and here). My concern is with the marriage rite.

Read here

 

See also: “Communion Partners”, marriage doctrine and liturgy in The Episcopal Church (USA), by Andrew Goddard, Fulcrum:

“While the process was far from ideal and some wording unhelpful, the level of outrage that has resulted is difficult to understand in relation to the substance of the letter.  Most of this simply states the realities of Church of England and wider Anglican doctrine, practice and discussions.  The reply is also more restrained than those from other provinces, including Australia whose Primate – not a GAFCONite conservative – is clear that “there is little question that changing the doctrine of marriage is a matter of grave consequence, indeed a church dividing matter”.

What is concerning is that few in England have commented on the seriousness of what is being proposed by The Episcopal Church (TEC) at its General Convention this summer.  This is despite the details being in the public domain and the response to them constituting a central element of William Nye’s reply.”

Read here

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