A personal account of the creation of A New Zealand Prayer Book was prompted by the 2010 earthquake in Christchurch.

Bishop Brian Carrell spent 25 years on the commission that produced the prayer book back in 1989, and he was still tossing up whether to publish his copious notes and memories of the work when the quake upended his study in the early hours of September 4.

With all his books and papers strewn across the floor, Bishop Brian suddenly was struck by the precariousness of life – and the realisation that now was time to get cracking on that book.

The result, Creating a New Zealand Prayer Book, was officially launched at a gathering of about 25 people – including several commission members – at Theology House in Christchurch last Sunday, March 10.

In his address, Bishop Brian said his aim was a ‘scholarly work’ rather than a ‘work of scholarship’ – that is, a book easily read by any member of the church, not just post-graduate researchers.

He then drew out three ‘sub-texts’ in the book.

Through the work of the commission, this church was able to address potentially divisive issues by consensus, through persuasion rather than coercion.

That work, Bishop Brian added, enjoyed a high degree of grassroots support because the commission insisted on “constant consultation, delegation and accountability in all we undertook”.

Thirdly, through an era in which the Anglican Church considered and ultimately turned down the Plan for Union, the commission demonstrated “functional ecumenicity” as other church representatives, including Roman Catholics, took a full part in the commission’s work (apart from voting on decisions).

These sub-texts offered suggestions for church life today, Bishop Brian said. But the primary significance of his new book lay in its contribution to the memory of our church, keeping alive the story of how we travelled in the past.

To that end, Bishop Brian's personal reminiscences are not only part of the history of our prayer book but also a contribution to the history of our church as it passed through the tumultuous years of 1964-89.

Copies of Creating A New Zealand Prayer Book may be ordered through Theology House, www.theologyhouse.ac.nz 
 

The Rev Dr Peter Carrell is Director of Theology House.