The ongoing debate at Episcopal Cafe about the future of the Episcopal, couched in terms either of “What’s up for grabs?” or “What’s non-negotiable?” continues to generate thoughtful responses. Here’s one from Derek Olsen in which he argues that the Book of Common Prayer 1979 is one of those non-negotiables. He means not the book itself, of course, but the liturgy and spirituality that are laid out in it: the centrality of the Eucharist and the Daily Office.

Of course, for many the BCP has been up for grabs, tinkered with in efforts to be more culturally or theologically relevant, or to compete with the multimedia extravaganzas of the megachurches.

Olson says something else of great interest to me. He says that a primary goal of liturgical spirituality is “a disciplined recollection of God,” that parishes have a responsibility to be a witness to that recollection both to the larger world, and to its members:

Are we forming communities that embody the love of God and neighbor in concrete actions? Not just in what programs the institution is supporting, but are we feeding regular lives with a spirituality that not only sustains them but leads them into God’s work in a thousand different contexts in no way related to a church structure? Are our parishes witnessing to their members and to the wider community in their acts of corporate prayer for the whole even when the whole cannot be physically there?

 

I was struck by what he said as I reflected on two phone calls that came into the church this afternoon within a few minutes of each other. Both were from non-members. One came from a woman who belonged to a congregation from another denomination but knew about our work with the homeless and wanted to make regular contributions to support that work.

The other came from a woman who called ostensibly to find out why no Madison Episcopal churches had service times listed in the Saturday newspaper. I explained that all of us thought our limited publicity budgets could better spent elsewhere. I then asked about her. It turns out she too is a member of another mainline denomination, but finds their worship becoming “too folksy” for her taste. I encouraged her to visit us.

What’s non-negotiable? Beautiful worship that allows people to experience God–to love God; and active outreach, sharing God’s love with those around us.