REC General Council approves contemporary language version of 2003 REC Prayer Book

The following was taken from David Virtue's weekly news summary and commentary:

A story VOL ran recently about the Reformed Episcopal Church's "trial use" Book of Common Prayer issued by Bishop Richard Boyce. The trial BCP has been approved by no one in authority in the REC, including the Committee on Doctrine and Worship and the Standing Liturgical Commission and is extra canonical in that no individual bishop is authorized under the canons to issue his own liturgy. Therefore, the book has no legal standing whatsoever, according to REC spokesman Jim Payne, Archdeacon DMA of the Reformed Episcopal Church.

"The 53rd General Council did, however, approve a beautiful contemporary language version of the 2003 REC BCP - one that modernizes the language while preserving the theology, meter and structure of the 1662 BCP so that existing liturgical music can still be used along with contemporary music. This version, for optional use, was approximately 5 years in the making and was taken through the legitimate process of approval. We are very excited to have it available alongside the traditional BCP."

As soons as I obtain a copy of this service book, I will review it for Anglicans Ablaze readers. It is not listed on the "publications" page of the REC website, which looks long overdue for a much needed upgrade.