A eucharistic prayer that the bishop-elect wrote for Easter season 2008 says this: \u201cIn the ancient days, at the dawn of time, You leaned over creation[,] scooped it to your breast and breathed the moist breath of life. … The fire of your Spirit kindled a love between Mary and Joseph; a fire that became the roaring flame of eternal compassion\u201d\u201dthe heart of Jesus.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
The lectionary texts are notable for their exclusion of male pronouns, even when the subject of the sentence is a man. A reading from Genesis 2 refers to Adam as \u201cthe earth creature\u201d\u009d and \u201cit.\u201d\u009d Readings from the gospels of John and Mark refer to Jesus as \u201cthe Chosen One,\u201d\u009d \u201cthe Only Begotten One,\u201d\u009d \u201cmy Beloved, my Own\u201d\u009d and \u201cthis One.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
The Rev. Canon Ralph McMichael, canon for ministry formation in the Diocese of Missouri, expressed concern about the texts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are stewards of the church\u2019s liturgy,\u201d\u009d he said. \u201cLiturgy does not exist for our self-expression, whatever form it might take.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n