Resolution Number: 1976-A104
Title: Adopt The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer [First Reading]
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred As Substituted and Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, the forms of making, ordaining, and consecrating Bishops, Priests and Deacons, the form of Consecration of a Church or Chapel, and the office of institution of ministers, and Historical Documents of the Church, including the Articles of Religion, published on February 2, 1976 by the Church Hymnal Corporation, as amended by this Sixty-Fifth General Convention, is hereby adopted and declared to be The Book of Common Prayer of this Church pursuant to Article X. of the Constitution: and be it further

Resolved, That notice of this resolve be sent within six months to the Secretary of the Convention of every Diocese and of the Convocation of every Missionary Diocese and of the Convocation of the American Churches in Europe, to be made known to the Diocesan Convention or Convocation of the Missionary Diocese or of the Convocation of the American Churches in Europe, at its next meeting; and be it further

Resolved, That the foregoing resolutions and actions be referred to the 66th General Convention.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, 1976 (New York: General Convention, 1977), p. C-11.

Legislative History

Author: The Standing Liturgical Commission
Originating House: House of Deputies
Originating Committee: Committee on Prayer Book and Liturgy

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(A104)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this Sixty-Fifth General Convention hereby takes the first constitutional action, under the terms of Article X of the Constitution, to adopt the said Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer, as amended; and accordingly designates the said document as The Proposed Book of Common Prayer, as amended; and accordingly designates the said document as The Proposed Book of Common Prayer; and refers it to the Sixty Sixth General Convention for the second constitutional action under the terms of Article X of the Constitution.

On the Sixth Day, the time set for the Special Order to consider and act upon prayer book revision in the House having arrived, the Chairman of Dispatch of Business informed the House that Resolution A-104 was the matter under consideration.

Deputy Lemoine (Long Island), Chairman of the House Committee on Prayer Book & Liturgy, made an opening statement on behalf of the Committee through this legislation. The chairman invited members of the Committee to address the House. The following deputies addressed the House for the Committee: Deputies Carranza (Central & Southern Mexico), Minich (Southeast Florida), Spence (Texas), Tillman (Georgia), Walker (Michigan).

It being the time called for in the Special Order governing debate on prayer book revision for amendments to Resolution A-104, the Chair called for amendments.

Deputy Casper (Long Island), presented and moved a substitute amendment allowing the House to debate and vote on specific portions of The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer separately.

Amendment failed

Deputy Gearhart (Maryland) moved an amendment authorizing the continued optional use of The Book of Common Prayer (1928) after the adoption of The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer as amended.

Amendment failed

Deputy Kellogg (Pennsylvania) moved an amendment changing the canons to allow bishops to authorize use of The Book of Common Prayer (1928) following adoption of The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer.

Amendment failed

Deputy Betts (California) moved to amend The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer by inserting at the end of the Summary of the Law on page 321 and at the end of the Summary of the Law on page 353 the new commandment of our Lord quoted in John 13:34, which reads "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you."

Amendment failed

Deputy Winters (Tennessee) moved an amendment to insert the words "and the Son" after the phrase "who proceeds from the Father" in the Nicene Creed, ICET version on pages 329, 361, 520, 542 of The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer.

Amendment failed

Deputy Trueman (Milwaukee) moved to amend The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer "The Declaration of Consent" on page 426, to add in each paragraph after the word "together" in line 2 the following phrase: "according to God's Holy Ordinances."

Amendment failed

Deputy Taylor (Virginia) moved to amend the 2nd paragraph, first sentence, on page 13 of The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer to add the words, "The services, rites, and rubrics contained in The Book of Common Prayer (1928) and other forms set forth by authority within this church may be used."

Deputy Chandler (Southern Virginia) called for a vote by orders, the result of which was:

Clergy Lay
113 votes cast 113 votes cast
57 needed for affirmative action 57 needed for affirmative action
25 yes 38 yes
73 no 60 no
15 divided 15 divided

The Amendment failed in both orders

Deputy Hamilton (Pittsburgh) moved to amend The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer to allow certain specific rubrics to be more permissive.

Amendment failed

Deputy Jordan (Southern Virginia) moved to amend the ICET text of the Nicene Creed by retaining the words "visible and invisible."

Amendment failed

Deputy Johnson (Atlanta) moved to amend page 427 of the marriage service in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer so that the celebrant may read to the congregation the following: "will you who witness this celebration do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?"

Amendment failed

On the Seventh Day, debate resumed on revision of The Book of Common Prayer.

Deputy Urion (New Hampshire) moved that the service of Holy Communion in the 1928 book be substituted for Rite III in The Draft Proposed Book. Deputies Price (Virginia), Whittemore (Bethlehem), Smalley (Bethlehem), Carroll (Chicago), and Chamberlain (Bethlehem) opposed the amendment.

The previous question was called for and debate was terminated.

The clerical deputation from Western North Carolina called for a vote by orders on the amendment.

Ballot No. 7 on the amendment by Deputy Urion was taken by orders.

Deputy Towner (Nevada) moved that the President of the House be given the privilege of ruling out of order amendments of like substance that the House had previously determined.

Motion defeated

After some discussion by deputies from Central Florida, Louisiana, California and Kentucky, the previous question was called for and debate terminated.

Later in the same day, the Chair announced the results of the vote by orders on the amendment moved by Deputy Urion (New Hampshire).

The results were:

Clergy Lay
110 cast 109 cast
56 needed for affirmative action 55 needed for affirmative action
6 yes 11 yes
102 no 94 no
2 divided 4 divided

Amendment defeated

Later on the Seventh Day, further amendments to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer were made:

1.Deputy Plowe (South Dakota) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

On pages 334 and 362, after "The Peace" add the rubric: "The Peace may be exchanged here or elsewhere in the service."

Amendment defeated

2.Deputy Hungerford (Northwest Texas) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

"Provided that the Psalter as printed in The Book of Common Prayer be substituted for the Psalter as printed in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer."

Amendment defeated

3.Deputy Swinford (Lexington) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

To amend page 414 of The Draft Proposed Book paragraph one, line 2 by deleting "are expected" and replacing it with the word "shall" and by deleting the word "to" so that the sentence would read: "In the course of their Christian development, those baptized at an early age 'shall,' when they are ready and have been duly prepared, make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism and to receive the laying on of hands by the bishop."

Amendment defeated

4.Deputy Baiz (Pittsburgh) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

Whereas the report of the Committee on Prayer Book and Liturgy on page 5 reports its vote to omit the "Reproaches from the Cross," from the Good Friday Liturgy (found in The Proposed Book of Common Prayer on pages 281-283); be it

Resolved that it is the sense of the House of Deputies that the Reproaches, which are optional by rubric, be restored to The Proposed Book of Common Prayer.

Amendment defeated

5.Deputy Bennett (Springfield) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

Resolved, that in Eucharistic Prayer "A" of the Great Thanksgiving on line 16, be amended to read". . .nature, to live and to die as one of us. . ." and that in the 4th line from the bottom of page 367 be amended to read "to love and to serve you.."

Amendment defeated

6.Deputy Duell (Colorado) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

Resolved, that at every point where the ICET version of the Nicene Creed appears in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer the phrase "suffered death and was buried" be replaced by the phrase "suffered, died, and was buried."

Amendment defeated

7.Deputy Duell (Colorado) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

Resolved, that in the Psalter in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer the generic masculine third personal singular pronoun be restored at every point where it has been replaced.

Amendment defeated

8.Deputy Sherman (Central Pennsylvania) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

I move to amend the ICET text of the Nicene Creed in each place it appears in The Draft Proposed Book by deleting in paragraph 2, line 11, the words "power of" so that the phrase reads "by the Holy Spirit He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary."

Amendment defeated

9.Deputy Dorrance (Central Florida) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

On page 265 DPBCP, in the 3rd line of the Celebrant's prayer before the imposition of ashes, after the word, "mortality," add the word, "and penitence."

Amendment adopted

10.Deputy Sadler (Los Angeles) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

Amended "Celebration of Marriage," p. 429". . .in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (or, if desired, In the Name of God).

Amendment adopted

11.Deputy Romig (Washington) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

In "The Holy Eucharist: Rite Two," in Eucharistic Prayers A, B, C, and D, on pages 364, 365, 370, 373, and 376; and in "An Order for Celebrating The Holy Eucharist," on pages 405 and 407 (12 instances altogether) change "Do this for the remembrance of me" to "Do this in remembrance of me."

Amendment defeated

12.Deputy Williams (Spokane) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

To delete line 10 of the prayer of Confession on page 362, "have mercy on us and forgive us" and substitute therefore the following: "Forgive what we have been; amend what we are; direct what we shall be."

Amendment defeated

13.Deputy Stelk (Southern Ohio) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 65th General Convention of the Episcopal Church meeting in Minnesota in 1976 replace the Confession of Sin as found in Rite Two of the Daily Office and of the Holy Eucharist in The Proposed Book of Common Prayer with the following prayer:

Most merciful God, with sorrow we confess that we have sinned against you

in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by

what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart;

we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

We do repent and pray you of your mercy

forgive what we have been,

amend what we are,

direct what we shall be;

that we may delight in your will,

and walk in your ways,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Amendment defeated

14.Deputy McGlyn (Western Kansas) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

That The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer be amended by the deletion of that portion called "An Order for Marriage" beginning on page 437 and by the deletion of that portion called "An Order for Burial" which begins on page 506.

Amendments defeated

15.Deputies Gayle and Louttit (Georgia) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

Be it Resolved, that the first amendment on page 1 of the report of the House of Deputies Committee on Prayer Book and Liturgy be deleted so as to retain in the calendar the entry on page 29 of The Draft Proposed Book, "Holy men and women of the Old Testament."

Amendment defeated

16.Deputy Lewis (Virginia) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

Amend No. 3 to read: "Prayer for the bereaved may be offered here."

Amendment adopted

17.Deputy Lewis (Virginia) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

In the rubric on page 431 of Draft Book after the word "omitted," change the period to a comma "," and add "or prayers from Services for Trial Use, pages 316-317."

Amendment defeated

18.Deputy Kline (Erie) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer by substituting the words "Will all of you witnessing" for "All of you who witness" at the top of page 10 of Resolution A-104 and at the bottom of page 435 of The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer.

Amendment adopted

19.Deputy Webster (Panama) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

Resolved, on page 42 of The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer, next to last line, substitute the following: "Except in Lent, there may be added Alleluia," and on page 63, last line, substitute the following: "Except in Lent, there may be added Alleluia."

Amendment adopted

20.Deputy Maxwell (Eau Claire) moved the following amendment to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

That each letter in the Great AMEN in all Eucharistic Prayers found on pages 338, 345, 365, 371, 374 and 377 in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer be capitalized to denote that it is the Great AMEN and to give significance to this fact.

Amendment adopted

There being no further proposed amendments to The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer, the Chair announced that the remaining time be spent on debate of the main motion. Several deputies expressed their support or opposition to the proposed book as amended by the committee and this House.

The time having arrived for the termination of all debate on the main motion, the delegation from Northwest Texas requested a vote by orders.

One minute of silent prayer was called for before the casting of ballots.

The results of Ballot No. 8 on Resolution A-104, The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer as amended are as follows:

Clergy Lay
113 votes cast 111 votes cast
57 needed for affirmative action 56 needed for affirmative action
107 yes 90 yes
3 no 12 no
3 divided 9 divided

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message No. 61)

House of Bishops

On the Eighth Day, the Bishop of Iowa, Chairman of the Committee on the Prayer Book, moved concurrence to the House of Deputies Message No. 61 (Res. A-104).

The motion to concur was seconded by the Bishop of Rhode Island.

The House proceeded to vote on the amendments presented by the Prayer Book Committee and to act on other amendments made from the floor.

The Bishop of Iowa moved that the House of Bishops not concur with Additional Amendment I of the House of Deputies Message No. 61 (Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer).

The Motion was seconded by the Bishop of Long Island.

After discussion, a motion was made not to concur (to delete the filioque clause).

The House did not concur

The Bishop of Iowa moved the adoption of the following amendment: Committee HB 14--Prayer Book and Liturgy.

Resolved, that the Custodian of the Standard Book of Common Prayer, in consultation with the Editorial Committee of the Standing Liturgical Commission, be instructed to make such changes in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer as are appropriate, as a result of the decision to ordain women to the episcopate and priesthood.

The changes needed are of three kinds:

  1. italicize pronouns
  2. rubrics put into the passive voice
  3. some changes of text

The motion was seconded by the Bishop of Ohio.

Amendment adopted

The Bishop of Ohio on behalf of the Committee on Theology moved the adoption of the following amendment: (Reference C-49)

Those who have not been baptized as adults by a bishop and, consequently, have not made a public profession of their faith in his presence as liturgical representative of the universal church, will be expected to present themselves to a bishop for Confirmation in the course of their Christian development.

The motion was seconded by the Bishop of West Missouri.

Amendment adopted

The Bishop of Costa Rica moved the adoption of the following substitute to amend the rubrics on page 421 of The Proposed Draft Book of Common Prayer:

Those who have not been baptized as adults by a bishop according to the rites of this Church, are expected to make a public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their baptism and to receive the laying on of hands by the bishop.

The motion was seconded by the Bishop of Ecuador.

Amendment failed

Following discussion of (C-49), the Presiding Bishop appointed a committee to work on the rubric consisting of the members of the Committee on Theology and interested members of the House of Bishops.

The Bishop of Georgia moved the adoption of the following amendment:

To add the following rubric on page 584:

The Psalter as presently set forth and found in The Book of Common Prayer of 1928 may be used in place of the Psalter found on page 585 to page 808, both pages inclusive.

The amendment was seconded by the Bishop Coadjutor of Southern Virginia.

Amendment failed

The Bishop of Western New York moved the adoption of the following amendment:

That the alternative Confirmation sentences on page 420 of The Draft Proposed Book be replaced by the following Confirmation Sentence:

Strengthen, O Lord, your servant N. with your Holy Spirit, and empower him for your service; that he may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more, until he comes to your everlasting Kingdom. Amen

The amendment was seconded by the Bishop of Maine.

The Bishop Suffragan of Dallas moved a substitute motion that the word "Strengthen" be changed to "Confirm" to begin the Confirmation sentences.

The substitute was seconded by Bishop Heber Gooden.

Motion failed

Amendment failed

The Bishop of Southern Virginia moved the adoption of the following amendment:

That there be rubrical provision for the optional use of individual's name in the sentences of Confirmation on page 420 of The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer, so that the rubric reads:

The Bishop lays his hand upon each one (Name may be omitted) and says:

The amendment was seconded by the Bishop of Nevada.

Amendment failed

The Bishop of New Jersey, reporting for the Committee to rewrite (C-49), moved the adoption of the following Amendment:

Added Rubric--Preface to Confirmation

Those baptized as adults, unless baptized by a bishop, shall also make a public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism in the presence of a bishop and shall receive the laying on of hands.

The Bishop of Ohio seconded the amendment.

Amendment adopted

The Bishop of Northern California moved the adoption of the following Amendment:

DPBCP pg. 521 fourth line, add after "in every place," and make him a bishop, to the glory etc.

The amendment was seconded by the Bishop of West Missouri.

Amendment adopted

The Bishop Coadjutor of Southern Virginia moved the adoption of the following amendment:

That The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer be amended as follows:

P. 13 add the rubric: "In Services used with Rite I, personal pronouns and verbs may be appropriately changed to conform to the traditional language used therein."

The motion was seconded by Bishop Welles.

Amendment adopted

The Bishop Coadjutor of Southern Virginia moved the adoption of the following amendment:

That The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer be amended as follows:

P. 324 (or pp. 408-410) add the rubric "The Order of Service (in Rite I) after the Gospel may be Creed, Sermon, Offertory, Prayers, etc.

The motion was seconded by the Bishop Coadjutor of Newark.

Amendment failed

The Bishop of New York moved the adoption of the following amendment:

That the last "direction" on p. 300 of The Draft Prayer Book be strengthened to include the following underlined additions which are clearly included in the Prayer Book but omitted from the new services: "Parents and Godparents are to be instructed in the meaning of Baptism, and in their duties to help the new Christians grow in the knowledge and love of God as well as in their responsibilities as members of his Church, and to encourage the new Christians to present themselves, when ready and duly prepared, to the Bishop for Confirmation."

The motion was seconded by the Bishop Suffragan of New York (Wetmore).

The amendment failed by a vote of 52 for and 66 against.

Amendment failed

The Bishop of New York moved the adoption of the following amendment:

That the following questions, modernized from p. 277 of The Book of Common Prayer be inserted between the two questions to Parents and Godparents on p. 304 of The Proposed Book: "Will you be responsible for seeing that this child, so soon as sufficiently instructed, is encouraged to present himself to the Bishop for Confirmation?"

The motion was seconded by the Bishop of Fond du Lac.

The amendment was carried by a 73 to 55 vote.

Amendment carried

The Bishop of New York moved the adoption of the following amendment:

That the answer to the question on pp. 858-9 of the newly proposed Catechism, "How are the promises for infants made and carried out?", be extended by adding this sentence at the end of the answer already provided: "They are normally expected, when ready and duly prepared, to make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities undertaken in Baptism by receiving the laying on of hands from the Bishop in Confirmation."

The motion was seconded by Bishop Heber Gooden.

The amendment carried by a vote of 67 for and 61 against.

Amendment carried

The Bishop of New York moved the adoption of the following amendment:

We believe the Episcopal Church teaches, and intends in its new Prayer Book to continue teaching, that Confirmation is still the normal way in which baptized persons are received into this Communion from other Christian traditions in which episcopal Confirmation or Chrismation is not practiced. We believe that this can and should be clarified by indicating that the words for Reception on pp. 305 and 417 of the draft book are intended only for those from traditions that do practice episcopal Confirmation or Chrismation. Therefore we propose the following underlined additions to these words: "I present these persons, already confirmed by episcopal laying on of hands or chrismation, to be received into this Communion."

The amendment was seconded by Bishop Heber Gooden.

Amendment failed

The Bishop of New York moved the adoption of the following amendment:

On pp. 305 and 417 of the proposed book, it is too easy to confuse the presentations for Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation with each other, and in order to distinguish between them (without destroying the essential unity they do share), we propose that the following "direction" be inserted in italics after the Bishop has said "The Candidate(s) will now be presented": The candidates for Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation are presented by their sponsors in separate groups, and the Bishop may, at his discretion, further determine that the following question and answer may be asked separately of each group after it has been presented, or even individually of each candidate (by name).

The amendment was seconded by the Bishop of Lexington.

Amendment failed

The Bishop of New York moved the adoption of the following amendment:

We also suggest that the actions of Confirmation, Reception and Reaffirmation (pp. 312 and 420-421) be distinguished in terms of what the Bishop does at each. The draft book directs the Bishop lay his hand upon the head for Confirmation, and we propose that after the words "For Reception" on pp. 312 and 420 (which should be changed to bold face type) the words, "The Bishop, standing, takes the right hand of each and says:" to be inserted, and that after the words "For Reaffirmation" on pp. 312 and 421 (which should be changed to bold face type) the words "The Bishop blesses each as follows" be inserted.

The amendment was seconded by Bishop Welles.

Amendment failed

The Bishop of New York moved the adoption of the following amendment:

The old Prayer Book question, "Do you promise to follow Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour?" is much stronger and more direct than the proposed "Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil and your commitment to Jesus Christ?" on pp. 305 and 417, and we ask that it be restored in place of the proposed form. We also ask that the simple and direct answer of the Prayer Book, "I do," be restored in place of the rather cumbersome answer proposed on pp. 305 and 417.

The amendment was seconded by the Bishop Suffragan of New York (Wetmore).

Amendment failed

The Bishop of New York moved the adoption of the following amendment:

We believe that the "impact" of the sacramental act is much stronger if the Church can agree on one --and only one --set of words to be used at the point of climax, yet the new Confirmation service (pp. 311, 420) has a second --or alternative --set of words introduced prior to the modernized traditional Anglican formula "Defend, O Lord, this your servant N. with your heavenly grace. . ." When there is true diversity on important matters in the Church, then our words of prayer may need to reflect this by the provision of alternatives, but here is a case where an alternative has been introduced at the major point of the service apparently only for the sake of variety and not because we have two major schools of thought (as we did, for example, in the alternate forms of the Prayer Book words for the Ordination of Priests). We believe the new alternative "Strengthen, O Lord, your servant N. with your Holy Spirit; empower him for your service and sustain him all the days of his life," innocuous though it is, says nothing essentially different from the traditional form; it only weakens the impact of the service by providing an alternative at the point of climax which can only cause people to wonder why it is there. For this reason we propose it be omitted.

The amendment was seconded by Bishop Heber Gooden.

Amendment failed

The Bishop of New York moved the adoption of the following amendment:

It is clear from the proposed book that Confirmation and Reception are episcopal services, a ministry that bishops offer in the service of the church, and we therefore ask that this material from pp. 414-421 of the proposed book be placed at the first of the section of "Episcopal Services" where it properly belongs before the "Preface to the Ordination Rites" beginning on p. 510, and that the Table of Contents be changed accordingly.

The amendment was seconded by the Bishop of Fond du Lac.

Amendment failed

The Bishop of New York moved the adoption of the following amendment:

On pp. 312 and 421: Insert following the blessing of those who have reaffirmed their vows the rubric: "Instead of the foregoing sentence the bishop may use the 'Form of Commitment to Christian Service' (pp. 422-423)."

The amendment was seconded by Bishop William Gordon.

Amendment failed

The Bishop of New York moved the adoption of the following amendment:

P. 414, paragraph 2, line 2: We appreciate the action of the Standing Liturgical Commission in accepting our suggestion that the words "Form For" be dropped in reference to Confirmation. We now suggest that, consistent with that decision, the words "in the following form" be replaced by the words "as follows."

The amendment was seconded by the Bishop of Fond du Lac.

Amendment failed

The Bishop of Southeast Florida moved that the words "until he comes to your everlasting Kingdom" be removed from the alternate confirmation prayer on pages 311 and 420 of The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer.

Seconded by the Bishop of Louisiana.

Motion failed

The Bishop of Northern California asked reconsideration on the amendment to (A-104) on the Prayer Book which added the words "make him a bishop" to the ordination prayer in the ordinal, to introduce an alternate proposal. The Bishop of Fond du Lac moved to reconsider.

The motion to reconsider was seconded by the Bishop of Albany.

Motion to reconsider carried

The Bishop of Northern California moved the following substitute for the amendment to the ordination prayer at the bottom of page 521 in the Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer.

That on page 521 in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer the following words be added to the prayer following the first rubric, "Therefore, Father, make N. a bishop in your Church" so that the prayer now reads:

"Therefore, Father, make N. a bishop in your Church. Pour out upon him..."

The motion was seconded by the Bishop of South Carolina.

Amendment adopted

The Bishop of Ohio moved to reconsider the amendment to (A-104) on the Prayer Book based on C-49, adding a rubric at the preface to Confirmation.

The motion to reconsider was seconded by the Bishop of Long Island.

Motion to reconsider carried

The Bishop of Ohio moved a substitute rubric to be added to the preface page of Confirmation, the rubric to read as follows:

Those baptized as adults, unless baptized by a bishop, are also expected to make a public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism in the presence of a bishop and to receive the laying on of hands.

The motion to substitute was seconded by Bishop Barton.

Substitute resolution adopted

The Bishop Suffragan of New York moved the adoption of Resolution (C-7) on "Confirmation."

The motion was seconded by Bishop Heber Gooden.

Resolution failed

The motion to concur with the House of Deputies Message No. 61 on Prayer Book Revision, with amendments as added by the House of Bishops, carried.

The House concurred

Discussion arose on the name of The Proposed Book of Common Prayer. In order to make a proposed change, the Bishop of Central New York moved to reconsider the motion to concur with reference to Prayer Book Revision.

The motion was seconded by Bishop Heber Gooden.

Motion carried

The Bishop of Central New York moved two changes, each to be voted upon separately.

The first change was to delete the words "The Draft Proposed" from the title. The second change was to delete the words "Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, otherwise known as," which occur on the title page after the words "use of."

The motion was seconded by the Bishop of Utah.

Part one of Motion failed

Part two of Motion carried

After the completion of the discussion of the House of Deputies Message and the Bishops' amendments on The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer, the following resolution was before the House:

The House of Bishops concurs with the House of Deputies Message No. 61 (A-104) --Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer with the following amendments:

  1. Delete "Number 1." in the additional amendments attached to Message No. 61, which reads as follows: "1. Insert the words "and the Son" after the phrase "who proceeds from the Father" on pp. 329, 361, 520, 530, and 542 of the Nicene Creed, ICET version."
  2. That the Custodian of the Standard Book of Common Prayer, in consultation with the Editorial Committee of the Standing Liturgical Commission, be instructed to make such changes in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer as are appropriate, as a result of the decision to ordain women to the episcopate and priesthood.

    The changes needed are of three kinds:

    1. Italicize pronouns
    2. Rubrics put into the passive voice
    3. Some changes of text
  3. That the following rubric be added to the other rubrics which preface the Service of Confirmation in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:

    Those baptized as adults, unless baptized by a bishop are also expected to make a public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism in the presence of a bishop and to receive the laying on of hands.

  4. That on page 521 in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer the following words be added to the prayer following the first rubric,

    "Therefore, Father, make N. a bishop in your Church" so that the prayer now reads:

    Therefore, Father, make N. a bishop in your Church. Pour out upon him the power of your princely Spirit, whom you bestowed upon your beloved Son Jesus Christ, with whom he endowed the apostles, and by whom your Church is built up in every place, to the glory and unceasing praise of your Name.

  5. That The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer be amended as follows:

    Page 13 --add the rubric: In services used with Rite I, personal pronouns and verbs may be appropriately changed to conform to the traditional language used therein."

  6. That the following questions, modernized from p. 277 of The Book of Common Prayer, be inserted between the two questions to Parents and Godparents on p. 304 of the proposed book. "Will you be responsible for seeing that this child, so soon as sufficiently instructed, is encouraged to present himself to the Bishop for Confirmation?"
  7. That the answer to the question on pp. 858-9 of the newly proposed Catechism, "How are the promises for infants made and carried out?" be extended by adding this sentence at the end of the answer already provided: "They are normally expected, when ready and duly prepared, to make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities undertaken in Baptism by receiving the laying on of hands from the Bishop in Confirmation."
  8. That the words "Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America otherwise known as" be deleted from the title page.

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message No. 137)

The Bishop of the Central Gulf Coast moved that the Presiding Bishop be authorized to form a Committee on Conference on the Resolution on Prayer Book Revision, if such a committee is needed.

The motion was seconded by the Bishop of Southeast Florida.

Motion carried

House of Deputies

On the Ninth Day, Deputy Tillman, Secretary of the Committee on Prayer Book and Liturgy, addressed the House concerning House of Bishops Message No. 137, moved concurrence with paragraphs 2., 3., 4., 5., and 8., and moved not to concur with paragraphs 1., 6., and 7.

1.Delete "Number 1." in the additional amendments attached to Message No. 61, which reads as follows: "1. Insert the words "and the Son" after the phrase "who proceeds from the Father" on pp. 329, 361, 520, 530, and 542 in the Nicene Creed, ICET version."

The House did not concur

2.That the Custodian of the Standard Book of Common Prayer, in consultation with the Editorial Committee of the Standing Liturgical Commission, be instructed to make such changes in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer as are appropriate, as a result of the decision to ordain women to the episcopate and priesthood.
The changes needed are of three kinds:
  1. italicize pronouns
  2. rubrics put into the passive voice
  3. some changes of text

The House concurred

3.That the following rubric be added to the other rubrics which preface the Service of Confirmation in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer:
Those baptized as adults, unless baptized by a Bishop are also expected to make a public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism in the presence of a bishop and to receive the laying on of hands.

The House concurred

4.That on page 521 in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer the following words be added to the prayer following the first rubric, "Therefore, Father, make N. a bishop in your Church" so that the Prayer now reads:
Therefore, Father, make N. a bishop in your Church. Pour out upon him the power of your princely Spirit, whom you bestowed upon your beloved Son Jesus Christ, with whom he endowed the apostles, and by whom your Church is built up in every place, to the glory and unceasing praise of your Name.

The House concurred

5.That The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer be amended as follows:
Page 13 --"add the rubric: In services used with Rite I, personal pronouns and verbs may be appropriately changed to conform to the traditional language used therein."

The House concurred

6.That the following questions, modernized from p. 277 of The Book of Common Prayer be inserted between the two questions to Parents and Godparents on p. 304 of the proposed book. "Will you be responsible for seeing that this child, so soon as sufficiently instructed, is encouraged to present himself to the Bishop for Confirmation?"

The House did not concur

7.That the answer to the questions on pp. 858-9 of the newly proposed Catechism, "How are the promises for infants made and carried out?", be extended by adding this sentence at the end of the answer already provided: "They are normally expected, when ready and duly prepared, to make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities undertaken in Baptism by receiving the laying on of hands from the Bishop in Confirmation."

The House did not concur

8.That the words "Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America otherwise known as" be deleted from the title page.

The House concurred

Deputy Guernsey (Missouri) moved to amend so that paragraph No. 8 be deleted from House of Bishops Message No. 137 and that this House not concur on this matter.

Amendment defeated

Deputy Minick (Southeast Florida) moved to amend so that this House not concur with paragraph No. 1 of House of Bishops Message No. 137.

Amendment adopted

Deputy Kouletsis (Los Angeles) moved to amend so that this House not concur with paragraph No. 3.

Amendment defeated

The previous question was called for and the House concurred with House of Bishops Message No. 137 as amended.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message No. 106)

The Chair appointed a Committee of Conference on the Prayer Book in order to resolve any differences between the two Houses on The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer. Members from this House are Deputies Lemoine, Wiles, Tillman and Price.

[The House of Bishops had already created a Committee of Conference when the Bishop of the Central Gulf Coast had moved to have the Presiding Bishop select such a committee if needed.]

At the end of the Ninth Day, Deputy Lemoine (Long Island) of the Committee of Conference on The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer presented its report stating that the Committee agreed to concur on item Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 of the House of Bishops Message No. 137 but not to concur on item Nos. 1, 6, and 7.

Deputy Lemoine moved that the Committee report be accepted.

Motion carried

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message No. 123)

House of Bishops

The Secretary read Message No. 123 from the House of Deputies.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message No. 159)

[Editor's Note: The Special Order of Business, which allowed for specific amendments to The Draft Proposed Prayer Book, resulted in the following changes:

2. That the Custodian of the Standard Book of Common Prayer, in consultation with the Editorial Committee of the Standing Liturgical Commission, be instructed to make such changes in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer as are appropriate, as a result of the decision to ordain women to the episcopate and priesthood. The changes needed are of three kinds:

  1. italicize pronouns
  2. rubrics put into the passive voice
  3. some changes of text

3. That the following rubric be added to the other rubrics which preface the Service of Confirmation in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer: "Those baptized as adults, unless baptized by a Bishop are also expected to make a public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism in the presence of a bishop and to receive the laying on of hands."

4. That on page 521 in The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer the following words be added to the prayer following the first rubric, "Therefore, Father, make N. a bishop in your Church" so that the Prayer now reads: "Therefore, Father, make N. a bishop in your Church. Pour out upon him the power of your princely Spirit, whom you bestowed upon your beloved Son Jesus Christ, with whom he endowed the apostles, and by whom your Church is built up in every place, to the glory and unceasing praise of your Name."

5. That The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer be amended as follows:

Page 13 --"add the rubric: In services used with Rite I, personal pronouns and verbs may be appropriately changed to conform to the traditional language used therein."

8. That the words "Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America otherwise known as" be deleted from the title page.

House of Deputies

On the Eighth Day, Deputy Lemoine (Long Island), Chairman of the Committee on Prayer Book & Liturgy, submitted Report No. 3 of the Committee regarding Resolution A-104 and moved the following:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, that The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, the forms of making, ordaining, and consecrating Bishops, Priests and Deacons, the form of Consecration of a Church or Chapel, and the office of institution of ministers, and Historical Documents of the Church, including the Articles of Religion, published on February 2, 1976 by the Church Hymnal Corporation, as amended by this Sixty-Fifth General Convention, is hereby adopted and declared to be The Book of Common Prayer of this Church pursuant to Article X. of the Constitution: and be it further

Resolved, that notice of this resolve be sent within six months to the Secretary of the Convention of every Diocese and of the Convocation of every Missionary Diocese and of the Convocation of the American Churches in Europe, to be made known to the Diocesan Convention or Convocation of the Missionary Diocese or of the Convocation of the American Churches in Europe, at its next meeting; and be it further

Resolved, that the foregoing resolutions and actions be referred to the 66th General Convention.

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message No. 61a)

House of Bishops

On the Ninth Day, the Secretary read Message No. 61a from the House of Deputies.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message No. 160)

Report Reference:   Standing Liturgical Commission, Reports to the 65th General Convention, 1976, pp. AA-271-AA-307.
Abstract:   The 65th General Convention adopts The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer (1976), as amended by the Convention, and declares it to be The Book of Common Prayer of the Church.
Notes:  

The General Convention considered resolution 1976-A104 under a special order of business that appears to have separated debate on specific amendments from the main resolution to adopt the final version of The Draft Proposed Book as the constitutionally authorized version of the Book of Common Prayer. The following explanatory text is taken from the report of the Standing Liturgical Commission ( Journal, p. AA-271).

Thus, the Standing Liturgical Commission has complied with the Resolution of the Sixty-Fourth General Convention that "the process of revision be brought to completion twelve months prior to the Convention at which the constitutional process of revision will begin, with the completed work being submitted to the Deputies of that Convention, and to the Bishops of the Church six months prior to such Convention" (Resolution [1973-]A138). The Commission completed its work on The Proposed Book in July, 1975, and the publication of the Draft by the Church Hymnal Corporation, well in advance of the six-month period specified in the resolution cited above, makes it possible for the Bishops and Deputies to the Sixty-Fifth General Convention to give adequate study to the Draft and to schedule the Special Order of Business "extending over not less than two days" for the consideration of The Draft Book, with a view to taking the first constitutional action on the Draft, subject to such amendments and alterations as the Convention may decide to adopt.

The re-phrasing of the original text of the resolution does not appear in the Journal, suggesting that the legislative committee crafted the final text after the process of amendment was completed.

The correct and full title of the 1976 copyrighted edition of the revised Prayer Books is The Draft Proposed Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America otherwise known as The Episcopal Church together with The Psalter or Psalms of David.