New Prayer of Reconciliation passes first motion
(Staff) A MOTION to remove a controversial prayer titled “For the Conversion of the Jews” from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) and replace it with one “For Reconciliation with the Jews” passed almost unanimously on its first reading at General Synod on July 15th.
The amendment would delete the prayer found on p. 41 from the collection “Prayers and Thanksgivings upon Several Occasions” from use and future printings of the BCP, and replace it with the new prayer. The amendment will require a second reading at the next General Synod in 2022 before the change can be made.
The resolution passed by almost unanimous votes in all three orders with only one lay member voting no and one bishop abstaining.
Bishop Bruce Myers brought forward the resolution. The new prayer has been approved by the Prayer Book Society of Canada (PBSC), whose president, Gordon Maitland, crafted the prayer along with Anglican priest and PBSC member Chris Dow, in consultation with the Canadian Rabbinic Caucus. It reads:
O GOD, who didst choose Israel to be thine inheritance: Have mercy upon us and forgive us for violence and wickedness against our brother Jacob; the arrogance of our hearts and minds hath deceived us, and shame hath covered our face. Take away all pride and prejudice in us, and grant that we, together with the people whom thou didst first make thine own, may attain to the fulness of redemption which thou hast promised; to the honour and glory of thy most holy Name.— “For Reconciliation with the Jews”
While concern over anti-Semitism was part of the motivation for creating the new prayer, Myers also spoke of how much the two faiths held in common.
Rabbi Adam Stein, associate rabbi of Beth Israel Syna-gogue in Vancouver, addressed General Synod praising the new prayer:
“We had some great discussions with [Myers] and others about this new text….I think it’s just such a wonderful thing…that a prayer that certainly made the Jewish community quite uncomfortable might soon be replaced with one that’s so beautiful and so positive – and not just that, ‘Let’s take this thing out and have a blank spot,’ but to replace it with something with such beautiful language.”
“It’s clear to me that the Anglican community is seeing its prayer book partially through the eyes of the Jewish community, and understanding how these words can impact us. I think it can only strengthen your own understanding and commitment to your faith, as well as strengthen the relations between our two communities.”
Bp Myers assured the delegates that there still remained several prayers in the BCP that spoke of conversion to the Christian faith but that they did not single out a specific people as the old prayer did.
For a full discussion by Maitland and Dow on the rationale for the new prayer they created see anglicanplanet.net/rethinking-a-controversial-prayer.
TAP Comments:
The new prayer has a strong penitential element although so did the older one in its petition: “Take away all pride and prejudice in us that may hinder their [the Jewish people’s] understanding of the Gospel.”
The dilemma of sorts is that Christianity is a faith that evangelizes and seeks to convert while Judaism is not. Certainly one can convert to Judaism and there are specific conversion rites but such converts are not actively sought, only welcomed when they come of their own accord. In Matthew 28:16–20, Jesus, just before his Ascension, calls on his followers to actively make disciples of and baptize all nations in the name of the Trinity. This is known as the Great Commission.
In the current BCP (1962) several prayers for missions can be found on pages 40 to 42. There is also a brief but powerful service “Prayers at Mid-Day” (pp. 16-17) that focuses on mission and includes three fine prayers, none of which singles out a particular people but includes such sentiments as:
BLESSED Saviour, who…didst hang upon the cross stretching out thy loving arms: Grant that all mankind may look unto thee and be saved….
ALMIGHTY Saviour, … we beseech thee to illumine the world with the radiance of thy glory, that all nations may come and worship thee….
FATHER of mercies, …Forgive, we pray thee, our unbelief, and so enlarge our hearts, and enkindle our zeal, that we may fervently desire the salvation of all men, and with more ready diligence labour in the extension of thy kingdom….
For the full Mid-Day Service see: http://prayerbook.ca/resources/ bcponline/prayers-at-mid-day/. TAP
