Resolution Number: 1988-A097
Title: Endorse Criteria for Adding Commemorations to the Church Calendar
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred As Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the General Convention approve and endorse the following criteria for the inclusion of additional commemorations within the Calendar of the Church Year:

1. Historicity.

Saints days are not celebrations of ideas that have been given mythical expression. Christianity is a radically historical religion and sees history as the locus of God's action. We should not, therefore, celebrate the lives of saints who are, in fact, only mythical figures. This does not, of course, preclude the liturgical celebration of spiritual or theological realities which are not presented as human lives within history.

2. Christianity.

While the patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament are a vital part of Christian history and have been celebrated in various traditions, those persons included in a liturgical calendar should be identified with Christian history. For those who have lived within the Christian era, this will normally mean they were baptized, or that they suffered martyrdom while catechumens.

3. Significance.

While no soul is insignificant, first attention should be given to those persons who seem particularly important for the contemporary life of the whole Episcopal Church, taking care that this contemporary life is understood as but one moment in the total history of the Christian Church and the whole history of salvation.

4. Historical Perspective.

Saving the possibility of more immediate local commemorations using the Common of Saints, no persons should be listed in the Calendar before the elapse of two generations (normally fifty years) from that person's death.

5. Memorability.

In addition to its concern to keep well-known witnesses of the faith within the living memory of our liturgical prayer, the Church should also remember other witnesses to its life and mission for whom such attention has been lacking.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Detroit, 1988 (New York: General Convention, 1989), p. 639.

Legislative History

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

House of Bishops

Original Text of Resolution:

(A097)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the General Convention approve and endorse the following criteria for the inclusion of additional commemorations within the Calendar of the Church Year:

1. Historicity.

Saints days are not celebrations of ideas that have been given mythical expression. Christianity is a radically historical religion and sees history as the locus of God's action. We should not, therefore, celebrate the lives of saints who are, in fact, only mythical figures. This does not, of course, preclude the liturgical celebration of spiritual or theological realities which are not presented as human lives within history.

2. Christianity.

While the patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament are a vital part of Christian history and have been celebrated in various traditions, those persons included in a liturgical calendar should be identified with Christian history. For those who have lived within the Christian era, this will normally mean they were baptized, or that they suffered martyrdom while catechumens.

3. Significance.

While no soul is insignificant, first attention should be given to those persons who seem particularly important for the contemporary life of the Episcopal Church, taking care that this contemporary life is understood as but one moment in the total history of the Christian Church and the whole history of salvation.

4. Historical Perspective.

Saving the possibility of more immediate local commemorations using the Common of Saints, no persons should be listed in the Calendar before the elapse of two generations (normally fifty years) from that person's death.

5. Memorability.

In addition to its concern to keep well-known witnesses of the faith within the living memory of our liturgical prayer, the Church should also remember other witnesses to its life and mission for whom such attention has been lacking.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

In numbered paragraph 3, on line 2:

insert the word "whole" before the words "Episcopal Church."

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #36)

House of Deputies

The Committee on Prayer Book and Liturgy presented its Report #6 on House of Bishops Message #36 relating to Resolution A097a (Criteria for Additional Commemorations) and moved concurrence.

Deputy Johnson of East Tennessee moved an amendment to A097a.

Proposed Amendment:

In lines 2 and 3:

delete the words "the following criteria for the inclusion of additional commemorations within the Calendar of the Church Year" and insert the words "the proposal that all the following criteria for the inclusion of additional commemorations within the Calendar of the Church Year be met."

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

A vote was taken on A097a.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #261)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 9.

Report Reference:   Standing Liturgical Commission, Reports to the 69th General Convention, 1988, pp. 171-207.
Abstract:   The 69th General Convention endorses criteria for the inclusion of additional commemorations within the Church Calendar.