D041 (Support the Adoption of an Ecumenical Feast Day of Creation in our Liturgical Calendar)

House of Bishops Message #145

The House of Bishops informs the House of Deputies that on Jun 26, 2024 it considered resolution D041 (Support the Adoption of an Ecumenical Feast Day of Creation in our Liturgical Calendar). The house acted to:

Adopt with Amendment


Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the 81st General Convention support global ecumenical efforts to declare a worldwide Feast Day of Creation in 2025, and direct the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, the Standing Commission on Ecumenical Relations, any interim body charged with matters relating to the care of creation, and the Presiding Bishop’s staff to participate in liturgical and theological conversations with the Anglican Consultative Council and its various bodies and Member Churches, together with other worldwide communions and the Consultation on Common Texts, to gain consensus on issues such as the name of the Feast Day, liturgical resources, and lectionary readings; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music implement the process to add the Feast to the Book of Common Prayer, once the global ecumenical process achieves consensus on the details; and be it further

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention encourage promotion of September 1, the first Sunday in September, 2024, as a special day of prayer for Creation, and encourage congregations and other worshiping communities to use resources from the Liturgical Materials Honoring God in Creation found in the Book of Occasional Services 2022 to celebrate this special day of prayer; and be it further

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention encourage celebration of the Season of Creation (September 1-October 4) in The Episcopal Church with liturgical and educational resources; and be it further

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention request the Executive Council Budget Committee to consider an allocation of $130,000 for implementation of this resolution.