Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That the 76th General Convention approve for study and occasional use, under the direction of the Diocesan Bishop or Ecclesiastical Authority, the following "An Alternative Baptismal Covenant"; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music be directed to request from bishops and dioceses written evaluations of said study and occasional use for the purpose of presenting to the 77th General Convention a resolution to include an "Alternative Baptismal Covenant" in the series Enriching our Worship:

"An Alternative Baptismal Covenant"

Celebrant Do you believe in God the Father?

People I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

Celebrant Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

People I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Celebrant Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

People I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Celebrant How will you each remain faithful to these things you believe?

People With God's help, by continuing in the apostles' teaching and fellowship,

in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers.

Celebrant How will you each respond to temptation and sin in your own life?

People With God's help, by persevering in resisting evil, and whenever falling

into sin, repenting and returning to the Lord.

Celebrant How will you each share Christ with the world?

People With God's help, by proclaiming by word and example the Good News

of God in Christ.

Celebrant How will you each follow Christ in your daily life?

People With God's help, by seeking and serving Christ in all persons,

loving my neighbor as myself.

Celebrant How will you each participate in God's redemptive work?

People With God's help, by striving for justice and peace among all people,

and by respecting the dignity of every human being.

Celebrant How will you each cultivate reconciliation between human beings and

God's created order?

People With God's help, by working for the just and proper stewardship of

God's creation, caring for all creatures and living things in this world.

EXPLANATION

This resolution is presented for the purpose of further empowering the baptized members of this Church in living daily the promises made in Holy Baptism. To the first three questions in the Baptismal Covenant in our current Book of Common Prayer (p. 304) we respond using the words of the Apostles' Creed. In the five questions which follow in the Prayer Book's current format, the celebrant is given the meaty content of the promises to which God's people are asked to assent. The words we each pray and use on a regular basis become part of who we are as Christian people. In the above proposed "Alternative Baptismal Covenant," the whole people of God claim with their own voices the powerful words of our promises. Just as the whole people of God pray together The Lord's Prayer, the intention here is to have God's people personally declare their intentions.

The purpose in changing the tense of the verbs is to focus more clearly on the continuing and daily need we all have to live actively the promises of Holy Baptism. It is also noteworthy that a question has been added which overtly reminds us of our call to be faithful stewards of the environment including the other creatures on this planet.

With the permission of the Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, the "Alternative Baptismal Covenant" has been tested in local congregations. Lay and clergy members of those churches report to the author that reciting the content of the promises is deeply, spiritually meaningful.

The Liturgy and Music Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina endorses this resolution and commends it to the 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church.