A224 Amend Article X with clarifying amendments (post 2024-A072) [First Reading]

At the 80th General Convention, the Convention responded to an ever-growing awareness that the Church had neither the expense nor energy for a full revision of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. However, the Convention also recognized that the worship and prayer of our Church continues to evolve, reflecting the prayer life of our diverse faith communities. The 80th Convention passed 2022-A059, beginning the process amending the Constitution of the Episcopal Church that requires two successive approvals of the General Convention. A second reading of this amendment is now before this Convention for final approval.

Given the pressing need to accomodate these evolving liturgies of the Church, the Committee on Constitution and Canons recommended the approval of 2024-A072 while realizing some of the language of the Article created ambiguity and confusion. Therefore, as members of that committee and with the encouragement of both co-chairs, we offer this amendment for first reading.

This proposed amendment seeks to clarify the intent, language, and understanding of Sections 1, 2, and 3 of Article X, inclusive of Prayer Book memorialization language passed by the 79th General Convention in 2018-A068. This Resolution maintains all of the language of Article X as proposed this convention for a second reading in 2024-A072 and clarifies language in new sections 1, 2, and 3.