B001 (Experimental Creation Care Language for the Baptismal Covenant)
House of Deputies Message #338
The House of Deputies informs the House of Bishops that on Jun 28, 2024 it considered resolution B001 (Experimental Creation Care Language for the Baptismal Covenant). The house acted to:
Concur
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,
Resolved, that the 81st General Convention direct the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to develop additional language for the Baptismal Covenant that expresses our Baptismal responsibility to care for creation, and report proposed revisions to the 82nd General Convention. And be it further
Resolved that this General Convention encourage congregations that wish to experiment with such language request the permission of their ecclesiastical authority to do so.
That the following two alternative
Covenant (BCP p. 305), from the Book of Alternative Services 1984 of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Baptismal Covenant will be made available for trial use under Article X.b in the Episcopal Church following General Convention 81 the 81st General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky in June, 2024:
1) Will you strive for justice and peace among all, and respect the dignity of the Earth and of every human being.
I will, with God’s help.
2) Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth?
I will, with God’s help.
And be it further
Resolved, that dioceses of the Episcopal Church will report to the Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music regarding the trial use of the alternative expressions for the Baptismal Covenant by April 2027; and be it further
Resolved, that the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music develop a process for dioceses to report on their use of this addition to the Baptismal Covenant.
Resolved, that the Standing Committee Commission on Liturgy and Music include a report and recommendation on the suggested language for the Baptismal Covenant in its Blue Book report to the 82nd General Convention 82.