Survey on "Expansive Language" Versions of the BCP Liturgies in Trial Use at SJE

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On July 12, 2018, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church (TEC) adopted a resolution that allows all congregations in the Episcopal Church to use optional, expansive-language versions of three Rite II Eucharistic prayers in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. The goal of these versions was to have less masculine-dominated imagery, while still maintaining historic and trinitarian formulas and rites. For example, instead of the people responding "And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever," the new rite has them respond, "And blessed be God’s reign, now and for ever. Amen." It also included a revised version of the Nicene Creed that was developed several years ago and is a more accurate translation of the original greek. You can read more about these liturgies online here: https://tinyurl.com/ExpansiveHE

At SJE, we've been using the Trial Use versions of these liturgies since the beginning of the New Year. We'll make a decision about whether to continue using these liturgies at the next Worship Gathering, scheduled on Monday, April 1, at 6:00pm. Your answers to the survey questions below will help inform the Gathering as they make their decision. If you are available on April 1, please come to the Gathering so you can be a part of the conversation!

Please note we are asking for names to be included so we can be sure no one inadvertently fills out the survey twice! It will also help us reach out to you if we have any questions about your answers.

What is your name? *

Did you notice we are using these Expansive Language versions of our liturgies? *

Yes, I had noticed!

Honestly, I had not even noticed! (If you hadn't noticed, you can either answer the questions below or just skip to the last question.)

Which of the following statements best reflects how these revised rites have impacted your own worship?

I have found the revisions meaningful and helpful to my worship.

I appreciate the intent of the revisions, but they did not do enough changes to make our liturgies truly expansive.

I found the revisions a bit disruptive, but I am getting used to them and appreciate their intent.

I have found the revisions disruptive and honestly just prefer the language of the current BCP.

Clear selection

Whether or not we continue using these rites, there could be some further teaching done to heighten our understanding of why TEC has provided gender-expansive language versions of our liturgies. Which of the following things in the revised rites would you be interested in learning more about? (Please select as many as you are interested in)

Learning more about diverse gender images for God that are used in Scripture and Tradition.

Learning more about the revised Nicene Creed—why was "and the Son" removed from "the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father."?

What other areas of prayer book revision are being explored by the Episcopal Church right now?

How does the use of gendered images in liturgy impact the experience those who are gay or transgender?

How does the use of gendered images in liturgy affect those who have a history of abuse from a dominant person in their life?

What do you think our community should do with these trial-use rites going forward? *

I think we absolutely should continue using the expansive language versions of our liturgies.

I think we should continue using these versions, but that we should revisit the question again next year.

I personally don't love these versions, but if the majority of the community desires them, I am comfortable continuing with them.

I do not like these versions and hope very much our community can return to the language of the 1979 book.

I honestly have no opinion. This simply does not impact my worship much one way or another.

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