The Report of the Liturgical Advisory Committee (LAC) was received by General Synod this afternoon (Thursday May 12). The report highlights the LAC’s ongoing work with the Church of Ireland Historical Centenaries Working Group in providing liturgies pertinent to the decade of centenaries. It also focuses on the supplement to the Church Hymnal, Thanks & Praise, which was launched last September and work on the Companion and a CD which are progressing towards publication.

Proposing the report, Bishop Harold Miller (Down and Dromore) paid tribute to Canon Edgar Turner, one of the early members of the LAC, who died this year and acknowledged his enormous contribution to the liturgical life of the Church of Ireland. “We honour Edgar’s contribution to the liturgical life of the Church of Ireland. He was there at every stage – white books, red books, blue books, grey books, APB, AOS, 2004 BCP.  His mind was always acute, his memory elephantine, and his openness to sensible change never waned,” Bishop Miller said.

The Bishop drew attention to the LAC’s plans for the future, specifically work on a potential Morning Prayer Three and a series of Collects of the Word. He added that the committee will reprint the Book of Common Prayer later this year as stocks had run out.

The report was seconded by the Very Revd Gerald Field who praised the Thanks & Praise Committee and the sub committee who put together the liturgical resources for the commemorations, in particular for the 1916 Rising.

Speaking to the report, Canon David Crookes (Raphoe) added his own tribute to Canon Turner for his help with succession lists. He also spoke of the use of the Book of Common Prayer and the departure from its use in some settings. He suggested that the use of screens in churches turned churches into cinemas. He said that modern liturgy was essential but it must be provided within certain parameters, namely the prayer book.

Archdeacon Andrew Orr spoke about the re–election of committees and suggested that members of committees ask if there is anyone who would like to serve on them before re–electing existing members of committee. He suggested issuing a request would widen the pool of people who serve on them.

Cindy O’Shea (Cashel, Ferns and Ossory) said she liked Thanks & Praise but observed that the guitar chords were beyond the ability of many amateur church musicians.

Paul Willoughby (Cork) paid tribute to Canon Jim Pike who recorded hymns for use in parishes with no organist or organ.

George Woodman (Connor) thanked the Bishop of Down and Dromore for his tribute to Canon Edgar Turner. He also hoped that the LAC would provide a service of both thanksgiving and penitence and a chance to reflect prayerfully on democratic government. He urged people not to be frightened of innovation in liturgy.

The Revd Gary McMurray (Clogher) recommended an app and website called PrayerMate for daily prayer points which can be accessed from mobile phones and Facebook and Twitter.

In reply, Bishop Miller supported people being innovative but encouraged them to do so in a liturgically sensitive way. He said a lot of modern songs were quite complex and hope that the CD would clarify this. He encourage people to talk to the committee if they felt they could be of use to the LAC. Regarding screens, he said that the Church of England utilised monitors rather than screens. He said if we were to follow in Cranmer’s footsteps we wouldn’t just replicate what he did. “Cranmer, when the Book of Common Prayer came out, was on the cutting edge of technology of his time – he was taking the technology of his time and making worship real. If Cranmer was around now he would probably be using PowerPoint,” he said.

Liturgical Advisory Committee Motions Passed by General Synod

The Liturgical Advisory Committee (LAC) has tabled three motions at General Synod this afternoon.

Two of the motions (Motion No 5 and Motion No 6) are special resolutions dealing with additions to the Table of Readings and the Collets in The Book of Common Prayer (2004: revised 2005). They were proposed by Archdeacon Ricky Rountree (Glendalough) and Bishop Michael Burrows (Cashel, Ferns and Ossory).  Synod has given leave for both to be brought before General Synod 2017. Members of Synod can make observations on the proposals over the next month.

The third motion deals with membership of the LAC. The members elected to the LAC for the term May 2016 to May 2019 are:

Rt Rev Harold Miller

Very Rev Gerald Field

Ven Ricky Rountree

Very Rev Nigel Dunne

Rev Alan Rufli

Rev Dr Peter Thompson

Rev Robert Ferris

Rev Ken Rue

Rev Julie Bell

Rev Abigail Sines

Rev Nigel Pierpoint

Rev Johnny Campbell Smith

Mrs Jacqueline Mullen

Mr John Morris.