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LAC recommends project to explore liturgical space
The LAC hopes to formulate guidelines of good practice to help parishes to build into plans liturgical and theological considerations when designs are being discussed with planners and heritage experts.
A green paper regarding the ordering of liturgical space will be produced by the LAC for next year’s General Synod, and it is hoped that a visual presentation and a thematic debate might proceed at the General Synod based on that paper.
A Code of Good Practice would then be drawn up, informed by such debate and reaction to the green paper, for discussion at the 2010 General Synod.
Referring to the new plans to formulate guidelines, and asking members of the General Synod to receive and approve them, the Bishop of Cashel, the Right Revd Michael Burrows, stated, “while changing the words can be somewhat controversial, moving the furniture is even more exciting!”
The Liturgical Space project forms part of the LAC’s new emphasis on encouraging the proper use of liturgical material instead of producing new material.
In seconding the report to the General Synod, the Revd Maria Jansson (Ferns) launched a new educational programme, Celebrating Communion. It is the first of a series of parish-based liturgical programmes that will be published in a series called Prism.
“The purpose of this programme is to enable participants to look deeper into their faith and to explore the connection that exists between worship and life” Revd Jansson said.
The LAC has also been working (Resolution 2) to re-draft the marriage service in The Book of Common Prayer to make provisions for new legislation.
Amongst other parts of the service, the resolution seeks to remove the part where the priest asks anyone in the congregation who might know a reason why the couple cannot legally be married to “now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold (their) peace.”
The Civil Registration Act 2004 placed the responsibility to vouch for the legality of a marriage upon the couple getting married, and many consider it unnecessary and improper to request the congregation to volunteer such information.
The resolution was passed by the General Synod yesterday and will provide the means to introduce a special Bill at the 2009 General Synod that, if passed, will amend the text of The Book of Common Prayer.