Liturgics

The canonical area of Liturgics focuses on Christian corporate worship as it has developed and is now expressed through the Anglican Prayer Book tradition. Liturgics includes the theology and history of worship, as well as the practice and leadership of public worship.

Candidates for ordination will be asked to answer both specific content questions (e.g. true or false, multiple choice) and reflective essay questions.

Candidates will also be required to demonstrate proficiency in planning and presiding at the Anglican offices such as the Daily Office, the Pastoral Offices and the Holy Eucharist. Requirements for this practical portion of the examination vary by Diocese.

Recommended Reading

The basic liturgical texts of the Anglican Church in North America are available on the ACNA website: http://anglicanchurch.net/?/main/texts_for_common_prayer. Candidates should be familiar with all of the current documents.

"We receive The Book of Common Prayer as set forth by the Church of England in 1662, together with the Ordinal attached to the same, as a standard for Anglican doctrine and discipline, and, with the Books which preceded it, as the standard for the Anglican tradition of worship." - The Constitution of the Anglican Church in North America, Article 1.6.

Resources

There are many books available regarding corporate worship in the Anglican tradition. For a basic introduction to worship and the Prayer Book we recommend:

Worship by Evelyn Underhill

The Book of Common Prayer: A Biography by Alan Jacobs

Introduction to Christian Worship (3rd edition) by James F. White

The Book of Common Prayer 2019 [1]

For copies of all the historic versions of The Book of Common Prayer see http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/

Areas of Liturgics

1. History of Christian worship
2. Content and use of The Book of Common Prayer
3. Sanctification of time: the church year and calendar of saints
4. Sacramental theology
5. Christian initiation: Baptism and confirmation
6. Shape of the Holy Eucharist
7. Other sacraments and pastoral services
8. Daily Office
9. Liturgy and mission
10. Music in worship: history and theology
11. Hymnal tradition and music selection in corporate worship
12. Sanctification of space: vestments, furnishings, and architecture