Everybody Sings! 2012 Cranbrook Consultation on Music and Liturgy

Presented by the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Co-sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Hosted by Christ Church Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills Michigan

Tuesday, July 31 through Saturday, August 4

This gathering is for church musicians, song leaders, clergy, liturgists, choir members, or anyone who is interested in the music of the church. The focus is on exploring ways for producing effective and creative liturgy and music for 21st century congregations, creating a common ground for combining music and worship styles of all genres, encourage and educate musicians to be dynamic and zealous leaders of congregational song, and spark the imagination to discover new and innovative ways to stir the hearts and minds of our communities of faith through enthusiastic music making and authentic worship.

Taking place at Christ Church Cranbrook, part of the prestigious Cranbook Educational Community, this five-day conference offers numerous workshops, daily worship in a variety of styles, and opportunities for small group discussions and informal dialogue. More than a series of informative workshops, this is an opportunity to exchange ideas, express insights, and share your best resources with other church musicians and liturgists.

The Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music presents this gathering as a tool to gather information about the musical needs and liturgical trends of Episcopal congregations of all sizes, but with particular interest in small congregations. The goal of this gathering is to provide a dynamic environment for learning, listening, praying, thinking, and conversing. But mostly, this is all about creating a space for SINGING together.
Anyone interested in being a part of this exciting event is invited to attend. Space is limited to the first 50 registrants. At the end of the week, each participant will leave with a large resource notebook containing all the handouts and musical examples used during the week. All genres of music will be explored, including traditional Anglican church music, world music, and newly emerging styles. Particular focus will be on congregational song and every session will include a generous amount of singing.

Equally valuable to lay and clergy, this gathering will provide appropriate credits to those requiring continuing education units (one credit per day, maximum of four).

ACCOMODATIONS

A catered lunch and dinner is provided each day at Christ Church. Lodging is available for a special rate of $84 per night at the Radisson Hotel on Woodward Ave in Bloomfield Hills, one mile away from the church. Free on-demand shuttle service is provided to and from Cranbrook and the downtown Birmingham shopping area. Complementary continental breakfast is available at the hotel each morning. Participants should contact the Raddision hotel directly to make reservations and ask for the “Cranbrook Consultation” rate, which is available on hotel stays several days before and after the gathering.  Hotel number: 1 (248) 644-1400.  Website:  http://www.radisson.com/bloomfield-hills-hotel-mi-48304/mibloomf

REGISTRATION and FEES

To register for Everybody Sings! contact Christopher Reynolds, registrar at creynolds@christchurchcranbrook.org or call 248-644-5210 ext 17. The fee is $300.00 for the entire gathering from Tuesday through Saturday. Daily rates are available at $75 per day. Payment can made either by check and mailed, or electronically through the Christ Church Cranbrook’s website: www.christchurchcranbrook.org.

PRINCIPAL LEADERS

We are thrilled to present the following A-list of musicians and clergy who will come together and form creative, dynamic, and highly engaging team to instruct and inspire everyone gathered at the 2012 Cranbrook Consultation — “Everybody Sings!”:

Dent Davidson, Bishop’s Associate for Liturgy and the Arts in the Diocese of Chicago.

Isaac Everett,  Minister for Liturgical Arts at The Crossing, an emergent church in Boston, and the author of The Emergent Psalter, a musical translation and commentary on the book of Psalms

Lisa Gray, Canon to the Ordinary in the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, and life-long vocal musician

Gary Hall, Rector of Christ Church Cranbrook, former Dean and President of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary and Professor of Anglican Studies

James Hamilton, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Farmington Hills, Michigan and co-creator of Lex Orandi, an ancient/future emerging worshipping community in Southeast Michigan

Julia Huttar-Bailey, Priest-in-charge at St. Michael and All Angels in Lincoln Park, MI, former SCLM member, and a longtime church musician At St. Clare’s Episcopal Congregation in Ann Arbor, MI

Ruth Meyers, Academic Dean at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Hodges-Haynes Professor of Liturgics, and SCLM chair

Sandra Montes, Director of Music and Worship Leader at Iglesia Episcopal San Mateo in Houston, TX and SCLM member.

Jeannine Otis, Director of Music at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery in New York City, and SCLM member

John Repulski, Director of Music at Christ Church Cranbrook, SCLM Member, Coordinator for “Everybody Sings 2012″

William Bradley Roberts, Professor of Church Music and Director of Chapel Music at Virginia Theological Seminary

Beth Taylor, Associate Priest at Christ Church Cranbrook, occasional cabaret performer and bluegrass singer

SCHEDULE

The gathering begins on Tuesday afternoon with registration and social time at Christ Church Cranbrook. Each day will include workshop style sessions on various topics related to congregational song, including experiencing new music, discussions on how to inspire better church musicians and congregational singing, hands-on sessions on teaching new music to congregations, and presentations on innovative ideas on liturgy.  Each evening will have a different worship service (Eucharist, Evening Prayer, Compline) employing new and creative examples of music and liturgy.  Also, each evening will have a discussion/consultation session where everyone present shares their ideas and expresses their thoughts on related topics in guided small group discussions and plenary round table talk-backs. The results of these evening session will be related back to the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to help formulate future projects and resources that will be widely available and serve the entire Episcopal Church. The gathering ends on Saturday afternoon with a closing 5 P.M. Eucharist. Those who will be around on Saturday evening are invited to attend the finals of “Episcopal Idol”, a fun and cheeky talent competition promoting good hymn singing and awareness of the great hymnals of the Episcopal Church.

Be sure to find the Everybody Sings page on Facebook and visit it often to find out the latest discussions and important information related to this gathering.

For more information, contact John Repulski, event coordinator at jrepulski@christchurchcranbrook.org or 248-644-5210.

Also visit the website www.everybodysings.org.

Introducing the Blessings Report / Introduciendo el informe de las Bendiciones

To introduce the resources for blessing same-gender relationships, members of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music and the task groups that developed the materials have been making presentations at provincial synod meetings in each of the Episcopal Church’s nine provinces.

At most of the meetings, we have recruited volunteers to read through the liturgy in a reader’s theater format, enabling those present to hear and imagine how this liturgy would be celebrated. It’s generated lively discussion.

The presentation in Province VIII was webcast, and you can access it here.

The slides from the presentation in Province V are available here. It’s the last document on the list.

At several of the presentations, we’ve shown a video from St. Paul’s Church, Fayetteville, Arkansas, discussing their process of discerning whether to bless the relationships of same-gender couples in their congregation. The video can be found here. The St. Paul’s website has a narrative about their process and links to many of the resources they used during their process.

Ruth Meyers
Chair, Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music

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Para introducir los recursos para las bendiciones de uniones de parejas del mismo género, miembros de la Comisión Permanente de Liturgia y Música y los grupos de trabajos que desarrollaron los materiales han estado haciendo presentaciones en las reuniones de los sínodos provinciales en cada una de las nueve provincias de la Iglesia Episcopal.

En la mayoría de las reuniones, hemos reclutado voluntarios para que lean la liturgia en un formato de lectura teatral, permitiendo a aquellos presentes escuchar e imaginar cómo esta liturgia podría ser celebrada.    Esto generó discusiones dinámicas.

La presentación en la Provincia VIII fue publicada en el internet, y puede acceder a esta aquí.

Las diapositivas de la presentación en la Provincia V están disponibles aquí. Es el último documento en la lista.

En varias de las presentaciones, hemos mostrado un video de la Iglesia San Pablo en Fayetteville, Arkansas, discutiendo su proceso de discernimiento sobre de bendecir o no las uniones de parejas del mismo género en su congregación.  El video puede ser encontrado aquí. La página de internet de la iglesia San Pablo tiene una narrativa sobre su proceso y enlaces a muchos de los recursos que utilizaron para su proceso.

 Ruth Meyers
Coordinadora, Comisión Permanente de Liturgia y Música

The SCLM’s Report on Same-Gender Blessings now available in the “Blue Book”

The SCLM’s Report on Same-Gender Blessings now available in the “Blue Book”

The Rev. Thaddeus Bennett

April 30, 2012

The work of the SCLM’s The Blessings Project, concerning same-gender blessings and responding to the 2009 General Convention Resolution C056, has been published in its entirety in the “Blue Book,” the collection of reports to the Episcopal Church’s 77th General Convention of the work completed by its committees, commissions, agencies and boards (CCABs), during

the 2010-2012 triennium.  The Blue Book and the SCLM’s Report are available to download at:

(http://generalconvention.org/gc/prepare).

The SCLM’s report regarding same-gender blessings starts on page 166 and the two proposed Resolutions, A049 and A050, are found on page 168.  The Appendix contains all the work of The Blessings Project (the SCLM and its 5 Task Groups) in the section entitled, I Will Bless You, and You Will Be a Blessing:  Resources for Blessing Same‑Gender Relationships, beginning on page 184 and concluding on page 281.

The Blue Book, at more than 750 pages, also contains more than 150 “A” resolutions that the CCABs have proposed to the General Convention, which meets July 5-12 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the Diocese of Indianapolis. (Legislative committee hearings and some other convention activities begin July 4.)

Go take a look and tell us what you think.

El informe de la SCLM sobre la Bendición de Unión de Parejas del Mismo Género ya está disponible en el ” Libro Azul”

Rev. Thaddeus Bennett

30 de abril del 2012

El trabajo de la SCLM El Proyecto de las Bendiciones, sobre la bendición de uniones de parejas del mismo género y en respuesta a la resolución C056 de la Convención General 2009, ya ha sido publicado por completo en el ” Libro Azul”, la colección de informes a la 77 Convención General de la Iglesia Episcopal del trabajo completado por sus comités, comisiones, agencias y juntas ( CCABs), durante el trienio 2010-2012.  El Libro Azul y el informe de la SCLM está disponible para ser descargado de la página de internet: (http://generalconvention.org/gc/prepare).

El Informe de la SCLM sobre la bendición de unión de parejas del mismo género comienza en la pagina 166 y las dos Resoluciones propuestas, A049 y A050, se encuentran en la pagina 168.   El apéndice contiene todo el trabajo de El Proyecto de las Bendiciones (del SCLM y de sus 5 Grupos de Trabajo) en la sección titulada, Yo Te Bendeciré  Y Tu Serás Una Bendición: Recursos para la Bendición de Uniones de Parejas del Mismo género.

El Libro Azul, con su mas de 750 páginas, también contiene más de 150 resoluciones ” A” que las CCABs han propuesto para la Convención General, que se reunirá los días 5-12 de julio en el Centro de Convenciones de Indiana en Indianápolis, Indiana en la Diócesis de Indianápolis. (Las sesiones de los comités legislativos y otras actividades de la Convención iniciaran el día 4 de julio)

Vaya, véalo y díganos que piensa.

Synods Experience the Proposed Liturgy

Synods experience the proposed Liturgy

The Rev. Thaddeus Bennett

April 16, 2012

 Members of the SCLM and the Task Groups that prepared the SCLM’s report are beginning to present to the pre-General Convention Provincial Synod meetings being held around the church.

 In late March we presented to Province IX and this past weekend (April 13-14) the Province of New England (Province One) spent 2 hours looking at and discussing the SCLM’s work.  The next presentations will be at Province V at the Marriott at O’Hare (April 24-25) and at Province VI at the Doubletree, Omaha (April 26-28).  The purpose of all these presentations is to help Bishops and Deputies understand the work of the SCLM, bring clarity to the various parts of the Report and to answer questions so that at the General Convention the church can discuss and decide how best to move forward in mission and ministry.

 The most important part of these meetings is to allow those present to experience the proposed liturgy, either as a role play or as a theater-style reading.  As one bishop said, “The liturgy always informs the theology and theology always informs the liturgy.  By experiencing the liturgy, rather than just reading it, we help everyone engage the material in an important way. This in turn informs our conversation around the theological work of the SCLM.”

 Let us know what you think about your Synod presentation and how things went.

 Los Sínodos experimentan la Liturgia propuesta

Rev. Thaddeus Bennett

16 de Abril del 2012

 Los miembros de la SCLM y los Grupos de Trabajos que prepararon el informe de la SCLM están comenzando a hacer presentaciones a las reuniones Pre- Convención General de los Sínodos Provinciales que se están realizando alrededor del país.

 A finales del marzo presentamos a la IX Provincia y este pasado fin de semana (13-14 de abril) a la Provincia de Nueva Inglaterra (Provincia Uno) invirtiendo dos horas mirando y discutiendo acerca del trabajo de la SCLM.   Las próximas presentaciones serán en la Provincia V en el Hotel Marriot de O’ Hare (24-25 de abril)  y a la Provincia VI en el hotel Doubletree de Omaha (26-28 de abril).   El propósito de estas presentaciones es ayudar a los obispos y diputados a entender el trabajo de la SCLM, traer claridad sobre las varias partes del informe y responder preguntas, de manera tal que en la Convención General la iglesia pueda discutir y decidir cómo es la mejor manera de seguir adelante en misión y ministerio.

 La parte más importante de estas reuniones es permitir a aquellos presentes tener la experiencia de la liturgia propuesta, ya sea como un estilo de interpretación de roles o lectura teatral.  Como dijo un obispo, ” La liturgia siempre informa la teología y la teología siempre informa la liturgia.  Al experimentar la liturgia, más allá que una simple lectura de la misma, nos ayuda a todos a involucrarnos con el material en una manera importante.  Esto en retorno, informa nuestra conversación acerca del trabajo teológico de la SCLM”.

 Déjenos saber que usted piensa sobre la presentación en su Sínodo y como se dieron las cosas.

 

Helping a Congregation and Same-Gender Blessings / Ayudando a una congregación y a las bendiciones de parejas del mismo genero

Helping a Congregation and Same-Gender Blessings
The Rev. Thaddeus Bennett
March 30, 2012

Some of the SCLM material is public.  Some will come soon with the release of the Blue Book.  In this later material there is a whole section on working with your congregation to discern whether or not your Christian community will have same-gender blessings as part of its life in Christ.  The material is designed not to convince anyone of what is right or wrong.  Rather, it is designed to open the conversation so that God’s people can share their thoughts and insights.

What!  Have a conversation where all can be heard and respected?  Well, yes, that is what God’s people have been doing for centuries, admittedly sometime better than others.  However, the SCLM wants everyone to know that such open and balanced conversations can happen.  Indeed, we offer you a chance to hear the story of one:  St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Go to:  www.stpaulsfay.org/id541.html  and watch the 7 minute video.  Listen to the slow and deliberate process they used to have such conversations.  Listen to how everyone got to speak.  Hear how they used church resources to help them design a good process.  Note at the end of the video that they offer you those same resources from their church web page.

Go.  Watch and see.  Listen.  Then, ask if you might do the same in your congregation.  What might God be calling you to do?

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Ayudando a una congregación y a las bendiciones de parejas del mismo genero
Rev. Thaddeus Bennett
30 de marzo, 2012

Parte del material de la SCLM es público. Otra parte vendrán pronto con la publicación del Libro Azul.  En este material posterior hay una sección entera sobre el trabajo con su congregación para discernir si su comunidad cristiana tendrá o no bendiciones de parejas de personas del mismo-género como parte de su vida en Cristo. El material esta diseñado no para convencer a cualquier persona de que es correcto o incorrecto. Al contrario, esta diseñado para iniciar la conversación, de manera tal que el pueblo de Dios pueda compartir sus pensamientos y entendimientos profundos.

¡Qué! ¿Tener una conversación donde todos pueden ser escuchados y respetados? Bueno, si, esto es lo que el pueblo de Dios ha estado haciendo por siglos, y hay que admitir que algunas ves mejor que otras.  Sin embargo, la SCLM quiere que todos sepan que tales conversaciones abiertas y balanceadas pueden ocurrir.  De hecho, le ofrecemos la oportunidad de escuchar la historia de una conversación: La Iglesia Episcopal San  Pablo en Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Visite la página: www.stpaulsfay.org/id541.html  y vea el video de 7 minutos.  Escuche el lento y deliberado proceso que ellos utilizaron para tales conversaciones.  Escuchen como cada persona va a hablar.  Escuchen como utilizaron recursos de la iglesia para ayudarles a diseñar un buen proceso.  Note que al final del video ellos les ofrecen los mismos recursos de la página de internet de su iglesia.

Vaya, observe y vea.  Escuche.  Entonces, pregúntese si usted puede hacer lo mismo en su congregación.  ¿ Qué podría Dios estar llamándole a hacer?

Some Words about the Anti-Judaism Resolution

At the General Convention of 2009, it was resolved that the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music be directed “to collect, develop and disseminate materials that assist members of the Church to address Christian anti-Judaism expressed in and stirred by portions of Christian scriptures and liturgical texts.”  It was further resolved that the Commission in union with the Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations should prepare “a statement defining anti-Judaism and why it demands our attention.”  [Resolution 2009-A089]  On several occasions during this triennium, the SCLM members have discussed how we might best fulfill this Resolution.  I had offered to chair this project because of my particular commitment to this subject.

From the occasion of our first meeting, I found myself with questions and doubts about how this work might be accomplished most effectively.  Although the 2009 Convention had suggested the preparation of a pamphlet as well as age-appropriate educational materials for children, I acknowledged my doubts about the long term effectiveness of such materials.  It is too easy for such materials, of a type often produced in the past by the national Church, simply to be pushed aside as new concerns and issues arise.

In our meeting late in 2011, the members of the SCLM supported my suggestion that the most appropriate place in which to focus our proposals on this important issue would be in the context of our public worship, and more specifically in the context of liturgical preaching on those occasions when the most problematic texts arise during the course of the liturgical year.  To accomplish this, we believe that commentary should be made available for our clergy as a resource for those times when the lectionary will call them to preach on what are seen as “the difficult texts.”  Many such resources already exist, but often written by Christian authors who are quite committed to this concern but for whom the normative context for preaching is not with reference to an authorized lectionary.

Given that we are now quite near the time of the next General Convention, we have asked that this Convention authorize the extension of this project into the coming triennium (2013—2015), and that during that period, as an aid to preaching on the texts generally viewed as central to this issue, the SCLM would make available in its BLOG, appropriate commentary which would, it is hoped, cast a stronger light upon these texts and aid our clergy in a common effort to address the problem of anti-Judaism in their preaching.

Many of the most difficult texts occur, not surprisingly, during Holy Week, especially on Good Friday, and also during Eastertide.  It is our plan that appropriate commentary would be made available well in advance so that it could be used as a substantial resource in our liturgical preaching.

* * * * * * * * * *

A CONCLUDING NOTE:

ANTI-JUDAISM OR ANTI-SEMITISM

At the request of the SCLM, Professor Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski prepared a study document which he presented at a meeting of the Commission at its meeting in October 2010, in Concord, NH.  In this paper, Professor Joslyn-Siemiatkoski noted that the focus on this issue in the Episcopal Church has been on liturgical language, and that the more fundamental issue which needs to be addressed is our theology of covenant.  He comments that the concern must lie with anti-Judaism rather than anti-Semitism because the prejudice “is not aimed at a race but at religious and theological categories that denigrate Judaism.”

He notes further that liturgical language is the symptom “of the underlying theological problem of supersessionism and its expression in Christian life and thought.  Only once the problem of supersessionism has been addressed and resolved can the specific issue of liturgical language be fully remedied.”

With his permission, I wish to quote part of Professor Joslyn-Siemiatkoski’s essay.  He has summed up the issue which faces the church, and offers an excellent point of departure for the plan of the SCLM to offer commentary on the problematic passages in Scripture as they come up in the lectionary in the course of the liturgical year.

He writes, “Central to Christian anti-Judaism is a theological position that marginalizes Judaism as a lived expression of belief and culture rooted in an eternal covenant between the people of Israel and God. (See also his essay, “ ‘Moses Received the Torah at Sinai and Handed It On’ [Mishnah Avot 1:10]:  The Relevance of the Written and Oral Torah for Christians,” Anglican Theological Review 91:3 [2009]:  pp. 444-5.) Supersessionism  is commonly defined as the belief that the church has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people.  Three core elements comprise supersessionist theology.  First is the understanding that Judaism is an obsolete, spiritually arid religion.  Second, the church has fulfilled the spiritual longings of Israel by entering into full relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ.  As a corollary, the historical people of the Israel of the Old Testament are no longer necessary for the implementation of God’s plan of salvation.  Third, since the Jews rejected Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah and were willing actors in the events leading to his crucifixion, God has ended the covenant with the historical people of Israel.  Evidence for the abrogation of the covenant by God is found in the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 C.E. by the Romans and the subsequent expulsion of the Jews from the land of Israel.”

Obviously all of these supersessionist ideas require intense reflection on the part of all Christians since often they have inherited such views, even in a subliminal way, through what they have heard from childhood in the anti-Jewish attitudes which are often  assimilated quite uncritically.

Growing up, as I did, as a Jewish kid in New Orleans, I experienced from the time I entered school the anti-Judaism which was bred into the bone of many of my classmates.  This became so serious that my parents decided to put me into a private school which had been founded early in the 20^thcentury to offer a safe place for Jewish children to get an education.  The children who had persecuted me (and that is not too strong a word) all came from Christian families and had learned there, as one classmate said to me, that “you killed our Christ.”  Such anti-Judaism remains in American society, but it is our hope that in this project the Episcopal Church will confront its presence among our own members and begin to reclaim the important theological and spiritual ties which link our hope in God to that of our Jewish brothers and sisters.

Louis Weil

Hodges-Haynes Professor Emeritus of Liturgics at The Church Divinity School of the Pacific

Member, Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music

Witnessing a Blessing / Atestiguar una bendición

Witnessing a Blessing
The Rev. Thaddeus Bennett

I hope that by now you know that the General Convention Office has released part of the SCLM report.  The section on Theological Reflection, the SCLM’s 2 proposed resolutions and the Trial Liturgy have been released.  The House of Bishops is discussing it during their meeting this week and House of Deputies (HOD) will discuss the excerpts in the online forum on the website of Bonnie Anderson, HOD President. http://houseofdeputies.org/deputy-online-forum/. That discussion on the Deputy Online Forum will take place March 16-23 and is available to the public for viewing. In addition, excerpts are also being made available to the wider church on Anderson’s website: http://houseofdeputies.org/blessingexcerpts

So, now everyone is able to see the trial liturgy.  So far, there has been very little reaction.  Might we be coming to a time when we are more interested in supporting a couple who want to make a life-long commitment?  Might we acknowledge that witnessing such a blessing will not only bring insights and blessing to the couple but also to us and to the Church?

 That is the hope.  Indeed, that is always the hope when we ask God to bless – that God’s people will see and remember that God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to show us the way of love and still send the Holy Spirit to bring that message of love to us over and over again.

 Whenever we witness such a thing, may we cry loudly, Amen!

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Atestiguar una bendición
Rev. Thaddeus Bennett

Yo espero que ya sepan que la Oficina de la Convención General ha publicado parte del informe de la SCLM.  La Sección sobre Reflexión Teológica, la segunda propuesta de resoluciones de la SCLM y la Liturgia Experimental han sido publicadas.  La Cámara de Obispos está discutiendo esto durante su reunión esta semana y la Cámara de Diputados (HOD) discutirá los extractos en su foro de internet en la página de internet de Bonnie Anderson, Presidenta de la HOD. http://houseofdeputies.org/deputy-online-forum/.  La discusión en el Foro de Diputados en Internet se realizara los días 16-23 de marzo y estará disponible para el público.   Además, los extractos están disponibles para toda la iglesia en la página de internet de Anderson: http://houseofdeputies.org/download-document/resources-for-same-sex-blessings-excerpt-spanish.html y http://houseofdeputies.org/download-document/resources-for-same-sex-blessings-excerpt-spanish-part-two.html

 Entonces, ahora todos pueden ver la liturgia experimental.  Hasta ahora, ha habido poca reacción.  ¿Podría ser que estamos llegando a un tiempo en el cual estamos más interesados en apoyar a una pareja que quiere hacer un compromiso para toda la vida? ¿Podríamos reconocer que al ser testigos de tal bendición, esto no solo traería entendimiento profundo y bendición a la pareja sino también a nosotros y a la Iglesia?

 Esta es la esperanza.  De hecho, esta es siempre la esperanza cuando le pedimos a Dios que bendiga- que el pueblo de Dios vea y recuerde que Dios nos ama tanto que envió a Jesús a mostramos el camino del amor y todavía envía al Espíritu Santo a  traernos ese mensaje de amor una y otra vez.

 ¡Siempre que atestigüemos tal cosa, gritemos en alta voz, Amen!

release of materials

Yesterday the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music released excerpts from the resources we’ve developed. As the article on Episcopal News Service notes, a series of meetings this spring will give us an opportunity to introduce these materials to Bishops and Deputies, who will consider them at General Convention this July. The Province IX Synod (dioceses in Latin America and the Caribbean) met this week and heard a presentation. The House of Bishops will discuss the materials at their meeting later this month, and Deputies will participate in a discussion in the Deputy Online Forum from March 16-23. Representatives of the Commission will make a presentation at each Provincial Synod in Provinces I-VIII later this spring.

The Deputy Online Forum site includes links to the resources in both English and Spanish. The discussion is live-streamed and publicly available; only those who are deputies will be able to post in the discussion.

Developing these materials has been a rich and rewarding process as the Commission has heard stories and reflected together on Scripture and tradition in light of our contemporary context. Here on the blog, we’ve been exploring different aspects of the resources as the Church prepares for General Convention. We’ll continue to post reflections throughout the spring.

The resources released now include a theological reflection, a proposed liturgy, and two resolutions the Commission is proposing to General Convention.  The full set of resources will include an introduction explaining the process the Commission has undertaken, a section on canons and legal issues, pastoral guidelines for preparing couples for a blessing liturgy, a discussion guide, and an appendix that compiles relevant General Convention legislation. These resources will be published in the Blue Book, the compilation of reports to the General Convention that General Convention Office will be issue in April

We invite you to read the excerpts and tell us what you think.

Ruth Meyers

Chair, Standing Commission on Lturgy and Music

SCLM Releases partial Report on Blessing Same-Gender Relationships, including Trial Liturgy.

Taken from:  http://www.episcopalchurch.org/notice/standing-commission-liturgy-and-music-releases-report-blessing-same-gender-relationships

 Note: The following information is presented in English and Spanish

Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music releases
report on blessing same-gender relationships

House of Bishops, House of Deputies to discuss before General Convention 2012

[March 8, 2012] The Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) of the Episcopal Church has forwarded to the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies excerpts from its report, “I Will Bless You, and You Will Be a Blessing”: Resources for Blessing Same-Gender Relationships.

The report, nearly three years in the making, was prepared by the SCLM in compliance 2009-C056, “Liturgies for Blessings,”  a resolution  approved by the General Convention (GC) of the Episcopal Church in 2009 which directed the SCLM to collect and develop theological and liturgical resources for the blessing of same-gender relationships through an open process.

Excerpts from the report are being made available for discussion at the upcoming House of Bishops (HOB) meeting in March. Members of the House of Deputies (HOD) will discuss the excerpts in the online forum on the website of Bonnie Anderson, HOD President. http://houseofdeputies.org/deputy-online-forum/  The discussion on the Deputy Online Forum will take place March 16-23 and is available to the public for viewing.

In addition, excerpts are also being made available to the wider church on Anderson’s website: http://houseofdeputies.org/blessingexcerpts

“Since 2009, the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music has consulted widely throughout the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion,” said the Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers, Hodges-Haynes Professor of Liturgics at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific and chair of the SCLM. “Providing our report to the church’s two legislative houses, the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies, is the next step in our open process. We look forward to their discussions and to presenting our report to General Convention in July.”

The excerpts released March 8 include a theological reflection on blessing same-gender relationships, a proposed liturgical rite, and the legislative resolutions that the SCLM will recommend to GC12 in Indianapolis July 5-12.

The Report
The report’s theological reflection notes that the SCLM has reviewed more than 30 years of General Convention’s deliberation on same-gender couples, especially resolution 2000-D039, approved in 2000, that identified characteristics the Church expects of couples living in marriage and other lifelong committed relationships: “fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God.”

“Such covenantal relationships can reflect God‘s own gracious covenant with us in Christ, manifest the fruits of the Spirit in holiness of life, and model for the whole community the love of neighbor in the practice of forgiveness and reconciliation,”  the report states.

Resolutions Proposed to General Convention
The first of the two resolutions submitted by the SCLM asks GC12 to commend the SCLM’s report for study by the church and to allow trial use of its liturgical rite beginning on December 2, the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning of the church’s liturgical year. The trial use period would include an open process for review and a report to GC in 2015.

This resolution also requests that GC12 extend the provision of “generous pastoral response,” first provided in 2009, particularly to bishops in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal. This provision has allowed bishops to use their discretion in allowing clergy to officiate at the marriages or civil unions of same-gender couples in states where those unions are legal.

The second resolution asks GC12 to create a “task force of not more than 12 people, consisting of theologians, liturgists, pastors, and educators, to identify and explore biblical, theological, historical, liturgical, and canonical dimensions of marriage.” This task force, explained Meyers, would help the church study the issues raised by the marriage equality debate in civil society.

The full set of resources the SCLM has developed includes an introduction explaining the process that has been undertaken, a survey of legal and canonical matters, pastoral resources for preparing a couple for a liturgical blessing, a discussion guide for congregations, and an overview of GC legislation. These, along with the excerpts released March 7, will be published in April as part of the reports to GC12 from all official commissions, committees, agencies, and boards of The Episcopal Church, known as  The Blue Book,

For more information contact SCLM at sclm@episcopalchurch.org

Episcopal Church Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music: http://generalconvention.org/ccab/mandate/2

The Episcopal Church: www.episcopalchurch.org

C056: http://38.149.19.55/ViewLegislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=898&type=Final
Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music releases report on blessing same-gender relationships
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/notice/standing-commission-liturgy-and-music-releases-report-blessing-same-gender-relationships

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For more info contact:
Neva Rae Fox
Public Affairs Officer
The Episcopal Church
publicaffairs@episcopalchurch.org
212-716-6080  Mobile: 917-478-5659

La Comisión Permanente de Liturgia y Música presenta el informe sobre la bendición
de relaciones del mismo género

La Cámara de los Obispos y la Cámara de los Diputados lo debatirán antes de la Convención  General 2012

[8 de marzo, 2012] La Comisión Permanente de Liturgia y Música (SCLM) de la Iglesia Episcopal ha remitido a la Cámara de los Obispos y a la Cámara de los Diputados extractos de su informe, “Yo les bendeciré, y ustedes serán una bendición”: recursos para bendecir relaciones del mismo género.

El informe, elaborado durante casi tres años, fue preparado por la Comisión (SCLM) de acuerdo a la resolución 2009-C056, “Liturgias para las bendiciones”, aprobada por la Convención General (CG) de la Iglesia Episcopal en 2009, que pidió a la Comisión (SCLM) recopilar y desarrollar recursos teológicos y litúrgicos para la bendición de las relaciones del mismo género mediante un proceso abierto.

Extractos del informe se han hecho disponibles para debate en la próxima reunión Cámara de los Obispos (HOB) en marzo. Los miembros de la Cámara de los Diputados (DOH) discutirán los pasajes en el foro en línea en el sitio de la web de Bonnie Anderson, Presidente de HOD http://houseofdeputies.org/deputy-online-forum/

Además, también hay fragmentos a disposición de toda la Iglesia en la página web de Anderson:  http://houseofdeputies.org/blessingexcerpts_sp

“Desde 2009, la Comisión Permanente de Liturgia y Música ha consultado ampliamente a través de la Iglesia Episcopal y la Comunión Anglicana”, dijo la Rvda. Dra. Ruth Meyers, Hodges-Haynes profesora de liturgia en el Seminario Teológico del Pacífico y presidente de la Comisión (SCLM). “Presentar nuestro informe a las dos cámaras legislativas de la Iglesia, la Cámara de los Obispos y la Cámara de los Diputados, es el siguiente paso en nuestro proceso abierto. Esperamos con interés sus debates y la próxima presentación de nuestro informe en la Convención General en julio”.

Los extractos dados a conocer el 8 de marzo incluyen una reflexión teológica sobre la bendición de las relaciones del mismo sexo, un rito litúrgico, y las resoluciones legislativas que la Comisión (SCLM) recomendará a la Convención (GC12) en Indianápolis del 5 al 12 de julio.

El informe

La reflexión teológica del informe indica que la Comisión (SCLM) ha revisado más de 30 años de deliberaciones de la Convención General sobre parejas del mismo sexo, especialmente la resolución 2000-D039, aprobada en 2000, que identificó las características que la Iglesia espera de las parejas que viven en matrimonio y otras relaciones comprometidas para toda la vida: “fidelidad, monogamia, afecto y respeto mutuo, comunicación cuidadosa y honesta, y el santo amor que permite a los que viven en este tipo de relaciones ver en el otro la imagen de Dios”.

“Tales relaciones de alianza pueden reflejar la propia gratuita alianza de Dios con nosotros en Cristo, manifestar los frutos del Espíritu en la santidad de vida, y modelar para toda la comunidad el amor al prójimo en la práctica del perdón y la reconciliación”, dice el informe.

Resoluciones propuestas para la Convención General

La primera de las dos resoluciones presentadas por la Comisión (SCLM) pide a la Convención (GC12) encomendar el informe de la Comisión (SCLM) para su estudio por la Iglesia y para permitir el uso de prueba del  rito litúrgico empezando el 2 de diciembre, el primer domingo de Adviento y el inicio del año litúrgico de la Iglesia. El período de uso de prueba incluiría un proceso abierto para su revisión y un informe para la Convención General del año 2015.

Esta resolución también pide que la Convención (GC12) amplíe la provisión de la “respuesta pastoral generosa”, propuesta ya en el año 2009, en particular a los obispos en las diócesis en jurisdicciones civiles donde el matrimonio del mismo género, las uniones civiles, o compañerismos domésticos son legales. Esta disposición ha permitido a los obispos utilizar su discreción para permitir al clero oficiar en los matrimonios o uniones civiles de parejas del mismo sexo en los Estados donde esas uniones son legales.

La segunda resolución pide a la Convención GC12 crear un “grupo de trabajo de no más de 12 personas, compuesto por teólogos, liturgistas, pastores y educadores, para identificar y explorar las dimensiones bíblicas, teológicas, históricas, litúrgicas y canónicas del matrimonio”. Este grupo de trabajo, explica Meyers, ayudaría a la Iglesia a  estudiar las cuestiones planteadas por el debate sobre la igualdad del matrimonio en la sociedad civil.

El conjunto completo de recursos que la Comisión (SCLM) ha desarrollado incluye una introducción que explica el proceso que se ha llevado a cabo, un estudio de asuntos jurídicos y canónicos, recursos pastorales para la preparación de una pareja para la bendición litúrgica, una guía de discusión para las congregaciones, y un resumen de la legislación de la Convención General. Éstos, junto con los extractos dados a conocer el 7 de marzo se publicarán en abril como parte de los informes para la Convención (GC12) de todas las comisiones oficiales, comités, organismos y consejos de la Iglesia Episcopal, conocido como el Libro Azul,

Para ulterior información contacte a SCLM en sclm@episcopalchurch.org

Comisión Permanente de Liturgia y Música de la Iglesia Episcopal: http://generalconvention.org/ccab/mandate/2

La Iglesia Episcopal: www.episcopalchurch.org
C056: http://38.149.19.55/ViewLegislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=898&type=Final

La Comisión Permanente de Liturgia y Música presenta el informe sobre la bendición de relaciones del mismo género

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/es/notice/la-comisi%C3%B3n-permanente-de-liturgia-y-m%C3%BAsica-presenta-el-informe-sobre-la-bendici%C3%B3n-de-relacio # # #

Para ulterior información contacte a:
Neva Rae Fox
Oficial de Asuntos Públicos
La Iglesia Episcopal
publicaffairs@episcopalchurch.org
212-716-6080  Móvil: 917-478-5659

LITURGIA: Lo que se escucha Y lo que se ve. / LITURGY: What is heard AND What is seen.

LITURGY:  What is heard AND What is seen.

The Rev. Thaddeus Bennett

 In preparing for the pre-General Convention Synod meetings, where the SCLM will make presentations about their Report, presenters for The Blessings Project met to share materials, resources and to train for those presentations.  We all agreed that one key piece of the presentation had to be for the Deputies and Bishops to experience the proposed, trial liturgy.  Thus, we practiced officiating at the liturgy and giving each other feedback and insights about its power.

One (of many) amazing insights became apparent:  The power of the presence of “Presenters” and what they do and where they stand.  First let me explain about Presenters.  In the proposed, trial liturgy, as well as in the preparation for the couple leading up to the service, there is an option to have Presenters – people chosen by the couple to stand with them and “present them to the community for this blessing.”  In our research leading up to the SCLM’s Report, we discovered that a number of congregations already do this.  The “Presenters” may be members of the congregation who have walked with the couple as they prepared for the liturgy; they may be family or friends who have supported and will support the couple in special ways; they may be parents or members of the wedding party.  However, the key is that they have a unique role in the liturgy:  They have a more active role in the liturgy, they present the couple, they speak and proclaim their care and support for the couple and for their relationship.

During the practice sessions we observed one set of “Presenters” standing to the side, one by each member of the couple and from there they spoke their words of support.  In another practice session, the “Presenters” were also by their side, but when the time came to speak their words of support, they stepped up to the couple, put their hand on a shoulder, spoke their words and remained there while the couple spoke their own words of consent to one another.  There was a wonderful power to “the outward and visible sign” that the couple were supported by a community – represented by the words and actions of the Presenters.

The proposed, trial liturgy suggests that a congregation might consider the option of Presenters for all couples using any liturgy.  It also makes clear that if Presenters are used, they must be used for both same-gender and different-gender couples. 

What actions (beyond the “We will” when asked if they will support the couple) have you found in such liturgies (that join any couple, same or different-gender) that convey the sense that not only is God acting here, not only is the couple making a commitment but that the community is also making a visible and present commitment?

LITURGIA: Lo que se escucha Y lo que se ve.

Rev. Thaddeus Bennett

 En preparación para las reuniones de Sínodos pre- Convención General, donde la SCLM hará presentaciones acerca de su inf0orme, presentadores del Proyecto de la Bendiciones se reúnen para compartir materiales, recursos y para entrenar  para esas presentaciones.  Todos estuvimos de acuerdo que una parte clave de esta presentación debe ser para que los Diputados y Obispos experimenten la propuesta liturgia de ensayo.  Así, practicamos el oficiar en la liturgia, dándonos a cada uno retroalimentación y reflexiones acerca de su poder o energía.

 Una (de muchas) reflexiones maravillosas se hizo aparente: El poder de la presencia de los ” Presentadores” y lo que ellos hacen y cuál es su posición.  Primero, permítanme explicarles acerca de los presentadores.  En la liturgia propuesta de ensayo, así como también en la preparación para la pareja que precede al servicio, hay una opción para tener presentadores- personas escogidas por la pareja para pararse con ellos y ” presentarlos ante la comunidad para la bendición”.  En nuestra investigación que llevó al informe de la SCLM, hemos descubierto que un número de congregaciones ya hacen esto.  Los ” Presentadores” pueden ser miembros de la congregación quienes han peregrinado con la pareja en la preparación para la liturgia; pueden ser familiares o amigos quienes los han apoyado y apoyaran a la pareja de manera especial; pueden ser los padres o miembros del cortejo nupcial.  De todas maneras, presentan a la pareja, ellos hablan y proclaman su cuidado y apoyo para con la pareja y su relación.

 Durante la sesiones de prácticas, hemos observado a una pareja de ” Presentadores” parados al lado, uno al lado de cada miembro de la pareja y desde esa posición, ellos pronunciaron sus palabras de apoyo.  En otra sesión de pract6ica, los ” Presentadores” estaban también parados al lado de la pareja, pero cuando llego el momento de decir sus palabras de apoyo, se pararon de frente a la pareja, pusieron sus manos en un hombro, dijeron sus palabras de apoyo, y se quedaron allí mientras la pareja dijeron sus palabras de consentimiento mutuo.  Hubo una energía maravillosa del ” signo externo y visible” que la pareja está siendo apoyada por la comunidad- representado por las palabras y acciones de los Presentadores.

 La propuesta liturgia de ensayo o prueba, sugiere que una congregación pueda considerar la opción de Presentadores para todas las parejas, utilizando cualquier liturgia.  Esto también aclara que si se usa un Presentador, estos deben ser usados tanto para parejas del mismo género como para parejas de géneros opuestos.

 Que acciones (además del ” Así lo haremos: cuando se les pregunta si apoyarán la pareja) ha encontrado usted en dichas liturgias (que unen a cualquier pareja de igual o géneros opuestos) que presenta el sentido que no solo Dios está actuando allí, que no solo la pareja está haciendo el compromiso, sino que la comunidad está haciendo un compromiso presente y visible?