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as a distraction from *all this,* here's a theology thought for my fellow layfriends who are episcopalian-ish:
there's a template for when layfolk need to do something that is normally reserved for clergy. turn with me to page 80 of your 1979 BCP or http://bcponline.org
there's a template for when layfolk need to do something that is normally reserved for clergy. turn with me to page 80 of your 1979 BCP or http://bcponline.org
this is the appointed form for doing general confession in the daily office. the confession has 2 parts: the people confess, the priest absolves. but oftentimes the officiant of the daily office is laity or a deacon, who aren't allowed to absolve according to our church order.
in that case, the rubrics state that:
"A deacon or lay person using the preceding form remains kneeling, and substitutes 'us' for 'you' and 'our' for 'your.'"
rather than declare pardon, we lays ask for it. a theology of ordination drawn from our catechism supports this:
"A deacon or lay person using the preceding form remains kneeling, and substitutes 'us' for 'you' and 'our' for 'your.'"
rather than declare pardon, we lays ask for it. a theology of ordination drawn from our catechism supports this:
in the BCP catechism (p856), part of the ministry of the priesthood is:
"to administer the sacraments; and to bless and
declare pardon in the name of God."
so, when laity do it we don't declare. but, according to the rubrics, that doesn't mean God doesn't pardon. God provides!
"to administer the sacraments; and to bless and
declare pardon in the name of God."
so, when laity do it we don't declare. but, according to the rubrics, that doesn't mean God doesn't pardon. God provides!
it just means that in situations that fall outside our mutually discerned church order (orders of ministry), we don't use as strong language for it: we ask it humbly rather than declare it so.
let's look at another priestly ministry, according to the catechism: blessings.
let's look at another priestly ministry, according to the catechism: blessings.
priests bless in the name of God, but that doesn't mean our blessings only flow from priests! blessings come from God. when you are in need, God will provide. ask for it! a bcp/rubrically appropriate remix of a blessing might be "we ask God bless us" rather than "God bless you."
which sounds a little silly when you say it to a friend who's sneezing, but maybe is less silly when you want to remember your baptism and ask god to bless water you set aside for that purpose.
rubrically that blessing belongs to the priests, bc holy water is powerful stuff and you gotta be careful with it, but in coronatide how many of us are going into baptism of christ sunday unable to remember our baptism with holy water because the priest blessing is unavailable?
if it is truly necessary to your life of faith and your intention is not to abuse the sacramental blessing but to nourish your faith and your community to be able to carry out your ministry in the world, God will be with you when you need Them.
and so, if you need to take a prayer from the bcp that's normally reserved for clergy and say it as a layperson + feel that god is in that prayer in the same way as you would in church, i commend the strategy employed on page 80. these are hard times. but god will see us through.
all this only goes if you ascribe power to the rubrics and the community that lives by them. if you don't, let it all hang out!
but if the prolonged lack of access to the benefits of having clergy is destroying your spiritual life, god won't be mad for your prayer in faith.
but if the prolonged lack of access to the benefits of having clergy is destroying your spiritual life, god won't be mad for your prayer in faith.
anyway, a benefit of discerning laity is there's a little more freedom in terms of how closely we theoretically need to hew to rubrics, canons, etc. they are tools for holiness, not idols. i hope this is helpful or at least not harmful. and if you discourse please don't be cruel.
two more thoughts :
1. another source of episcopal prayers that might be edifying in a life of faith is the most recent book of occasional service https://episcopalchurch.org/files/lm_book_of_occasional_services_2018.pdf
1. another source of episcopal prayers that might be edifying in a life of faith is the most recent book of occasional service https://episcopalchurch.org/files/lm_book_of_occasional_services_2018.pdf
and,
2. if you often feel drawn to do the ministry things reserved for priests outside of emergency situations that's worth thinking about in terms of vocational discernment!
2. if you often feel drawn to do the ministry things reserved for priests outside of emergency situations that's worth thinking about in terms of vocational discernment!
