The Agenda for the July meeting of the General Synod is now available and contains the following snippet:
Update (4 June): The Agenda has been revised and the updated agenda is here but it does not yet contain the actual texts to be introduced at the Synod. The timetable for Sunday is the same as in the original agenda.
Sunday 13 July
EITHER
(if Article 7 Reference Meetings are not required)
2.30 pm – 6.15 pm
Archbishops’ Council’s Annual Report 2013
Liturgical Business
Additional texts for Holy Baptism – First Consideration
Churches’ Mutual Credit Union (CMCU): PresentationOR
(if Article 7 Reference Meetings are required)
4.00 pm – 6.15 pm
Liturgical Business
Additional texts for Holy Baptism – First Consideration
Churches’ Mutual Credit Union (CMCU): Presentation
At the moment the papers pertaining to this liturgical business are not available. We’ll add details when this is published.
Are these ‘additional texts’ the ones mentioned and explored by Ian Paul:
http://www.psephizo.com/life-ministry/experimental-baptism/
and found here:
http://www.churchofengland.org/media/1903641/baptism%20pack%20for%20trial%20use.pdf
One issue I’d like to mention, in a broader liturgical context, is the value there may be in aligning Anglican liturgy with Roman Catholic liturgy, to assist Christians who encounter both, and to witness to the unity of our faith at its deeper levels.
Is liturgy explored, and developed, in collaboration and consultation with the Roman Catholic Church. Are there joint working parties?
Susannah – yes presumably these are the basis of the texts to be brought to Synod. The House of Bishops statement (20 May) said that [only] minor amendments had been made by them to the draft text. The process for liturgical authorization is that material is always introduced into Synod in a form agreed by the House of Bishops. So whatever drafts have gone before the text is that of the Bishops, rather than that of the Liturgical Commission.
As for joint working – I can’t answer that one directly. However, the various denominations do have observers at each others’ meetings. So there is a member of the CofE’s Liturgical Commission who acts as observer at meetings of whatever the Roman Catholic equivalent is. And similarly the RCC has an observer at meetings of the Liturgical Commission. And similarly for other denominations. In the past work has also been done by the Joint Liturgical Group.
I’m sure someone will fill in or correct the details for us.