Care of Creation Baptismal Question (Additional Baptismal Question)
Type of Resource: Baptism
Status of Resource: Authorized
Approved Language: Will you cherish the wondrous works of God, protect and restore the beauty and integrity of all creation?” (Response: I will, with God’s help)
Baptismal Covenant and Care of Creation Background
In 2013, the Bishops of ECCT convened a working group to explore an addition or change to the Baptismal Covenant to reflect more deeply on our relationship with all God’s creation. The Working Group solicited input from all the congregations in ECCT and received responses from nearly 40 worshipping communities. Using this information, the Working Group created a proposed new question for the covenant which was approved by the 230th Convention of ECCT in 2014 and forwarded to General Convention for consideration for trial use. The new proposed baptismal question was as follows:
“Will you cherish the wondrous works of God, and protect the beauty and integrity of all creation?”
In 2015, General Convention tabled the request, pending future Prayer Book Revision.
Again in 2017, ECCT Convention approved a resolution to General Convention for approval for trial use with a revised question per the underlined language.
“Will you cherish the wondrous works of God, protect and restore the beauty and integrity of all creation?”
In a parallel effort, the church wide Advisory Council on the Care of Creation submitted a resolution asking the GC to either support use of the additional question from ECCT or make minor changes to the covenant “ Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of the Earth and every human being?
At the 2018 General Convention, resolution A068 was passed that among other items included this resolve: “That bishops engage worshiping communities in experimentation and the creation of alternative texts to offer to the wider church, and that each diocese be urged to create a liturgical commission to collect, reflect, teach and share these resources with the TFLPBR”
This resolution allows ECCT worshipping communities to experiment with the proposed baptismal covenant additional question. Several worshipping communities have already begun to use this additional question in their worship.