Ruth A. Meyers – författare

The use of a Book of Common Prayer has been a hallmark of Anglicanism, resulting in a liturgical language that shapes doctrine. What began as a single Book of Common Prayer in sixteenth-century England has developed into a family of prayer books authorized by member churches of the global Anglican Communion. The Oxford Handbook of the Book of Common Prayer offers a holistic view of the prayer-book tradition in Anglicanism and explores new directions emerging in the Communion. Written by forty-six diverse Anglican scholars from throughout the world, it analyzes historic and more recent editions bearing that title in churches throughout the Anglican Communion, as well as modern books that fulfill the same function, to aid understanding and practices of worship in Anglicanism. The Handbook begins with an exploration of the Book of Common Prayer in context, assessing its colonial legacy and exploring the significance of the book for Anglican identity. It considers inculturation of worship and cultural differences in the texts of the books and in the use and interpretation of the books. Themed sections cover the language of the Book of Common Prayer, including questions of translation and inclusive and expansive language, and worship space, rubrics, and music. Other sections consider theologies and practices of the liturgical year, Christian initiation (baptism, confirmation, admission to communion), services of the word (daily offices and eucharist), ordination and ministry, and pastoral offices. While many of the chapters introduce historical background, the focus in this volume is the interpretation and use of contemporary Prayer Books, with attention to the impact of the twentieth-century Liturgical Movement. Since the 1980s, Anglicans have met through the International Anglican Liturgical Consultation to consider principles for liturgical revision and to share news of developments in their home Provinces, and this book takes note of the findings of these consultations.

The use of a Book of Common Prayer has been a hallmark of Anglicanism, resulting in a liturgical language that shapes doctrine. What began as a single Book of Common Prayer in sixteenth-century England has developed into a family of prayer books authorized by member churches of the global Anglican Communion. The Oxford Handbook of the Book of Common Prayer offers a holistic view of the prayer-book tradition in Anglicanism and explores new directions emerging in the Communion. Written by forty-six diverse Anglican scholars from throughout the world, it analyzes historic and more recent editions bearing that title in churches throughout the Anglican Communion, as well as modern books that fulfill the same function, to aid understanding and practices of worship in Anglicanism. The Handbook begins with an exploration of the Book of Common Prayer in context, assessing its colonial legacy and exploring the significance of the book for Anglican identity. It considers inculturation of worship and cultural differences in the texts of the books and in the use and interpretation of the books. Themed sections cover the language of the Book of Common Prayer, including questions of translation and inclusive and expansive language, and worship space, rubrics, and music. Other sections consider theologies and practices of the liturgical year, Christian initiation (baptism, confirmation, admission to communion), services of the word (daily offices and eucharist), ordination and ministry, and pastoral offices. While many of the chapters introduce historical background, the focus in this volume is the interpretation and use of contemporary Prayer Books, with attention to the impact of the twentieth-century Liturgical Movement. Since the 1980s, Anglicans have met through the International Anglican Liturgical Consultation to consider principles for liturgical revision and to share news of developments in their home Provinces, and this book takes note of the findings of these consultations.

The use of a Book of Common Prayer has been a hallmark of Anglicanism, resulting in a liturgical language that shapes doctrine. What began as a single Book of Common Prayer in sixteenth-century England has developed into a family of prayer books authorized by member churches of the global Anglican Communion. The Oxford Handbook of the Book of Common Prayer offers a holistic view of the prayer-book tradition in Anglicanism and explores new directions emerging in the Communion. Written by forty-six diverse Anglican scholars from throughout the world, it analyzes historic and more recent editions bearing that title in churches throughout the Anglican Communion, as well as modern books that fulfill the same function, to aid understanding and practices of worship in Anglicanism. The Handbook begins with an exploration of the Book of Common Prayer in context, assessing its colonial legacy and exploring the significance of the book for Anglican identity. It considers inculturation of worship and cultural differences in the texts of the books and in the use and interpretation of the books. Themed sections cover the language of the Book of Common Prayer, including questions of translation and inclusive and expansive language, and worship space, rubrics, and music. Other sections consider theologies and practices of the liturgical year, Christian initiation (baptism, confirmation, admission to communion), services of the word (daily offices and eucharist), ordination and ministry, and pastoral offices. While many of the chapters introduce historical background, the focus in this volume is the interpretation and use of contemporary Prayer Books, with attention to the impact of the twentieth-century Liturgical Movement. Since the 1980s, Anglicans have met through the International Anglican Liturgical Consultation to consider principles for liturgical revision and to share news of developments in their home Provinces, and this book takes note of the findings of these consultations.

Missiology "A robust and practical theology that integrates worship and mission into a seamless whole."Anglican & Episcopal History "A very useful and insightful text. . . . A remarkable synthesis of most of the best insights liturgical scholars and missiologists have gained regarding the relationship between mission and liturgy over the last decades."George R. Hunsberger — Western Theological Seminary "Ruth Meyers brings a deep grasp of what's at stake in the rediscovery of mission as the essence of the church, together with a generous mastery of liturgical traditions, to provide vision for seeing these two dimensions of the church's life as one. . . . This is the handbook that should accompany every Christian community on its worshiping, witnessing journey."Stephen B. Bevans, SVD — Catholic Theological Union "A wonderful, faith-filled meditation on the missional heart of worship. . . . A new classic in liturgical studies and in missiology as well."Todd E. Johnson — Brehm Center, Fuller Theological Seminary "Ruth Meyers's approach to the issues surrounding worship and mission is spot-on. Instead of approaching worship from a missional slant, or mission from a liturgical perspective, she takes both topics back to their biblical and historical roots — the nature of the church. . . . In practical and insightful ways Meyers demonstrates how a church's ministry in the world and its regular offering of worship reinforce one another. Her careful, direct, evenhanded approach is a breath of fresh air to much of the current theological discourse."Taylor W. Burton-Edwards — Worship Resources, Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church "Seminarians, pastors, deacons, and worship leaders seeking to understand, articulate, or imagine how the basic and most enduring structures of Christian worship `engage worshipers in the mission of God' will discover in these pages both Meyers's wise and challenging counsel and many wonderful companions for the journey."International Bulletin of Missionary Research "A helpful and timely new resource. . . . In Missional Worship Meyers does excellent work developing the notion that mission and worship are inseparably and integrally related."Anglican and Episcopal History "A very useful and insightful text, particularly for those just beginning to explore the field of liturgical studies. The book is a remarkable synthesis of most of the best insights liturgical scholars and missiologists have gained regarding the relationship between mission and liturgy over the last decades."Church Times "[Myers] deserves to be read, because we need to hear this message in all parts of the Church of England today."

This book documents the Episcopal Church's developing focus on baptism within the context of the liturgical movement, the emerging understanding of the eucharist, prayer book revision, and the confirmation dilemma. Drawing on historical and contemporary sources, the author presents a credible case in support of her belief that a baptismal ecclesiology is emerging from these events that have enabled people to accept a radically different initiatory pattern in the church. This book exhibits clarity on the issues discussed with the support of solid scholarship and lucid writing.

A collection of essays issued under the direction of the Standing Liturgical Commission (SLC) on baptism and ministry. Topics addressed are welcoming new ministers, reaffirmation of ordination vows, confirmation/reception, and baptismal ministry.

A significant collection of articles on expanding our language about God, compiled by Ruth A. Meyers for the Standing Liturgical Commission. Topics discussed include: theological, biblical, and historical perspectives on Supplemental Liturgical Materials; biblical origins of inclusive language; historical and theological perspectives on expanding liturgical language; and gender and trinitarian language.

2015 marks the 30th anniversary of Lee Mitchell’s great standard work on the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. As his student, protégée, and colleague, Ruth Meyers takes this classic work and updates it for the Church in its current era and for the future.