Publication of Dutch services for use in Church of England parishes

Bishop Robert has authorised the experimental use for two years, before final versions are submitted to the General Synod for permanent approval, of several Dutch-language services: baptism, marriage, funeral and Holy Communion. These new liturgies, spearheaded by the Revd Dorienke de Vries, Assistant Chaplain in Arnhem and Nijmegen in the Netherlands, are the fruit of 14 years of debate and discussion. The Chaplain-President, when he was chaplain in Leuven, experimented with earlier versions of Dutch services, with advice from Dutch and Flemish students at KU Leuven and ETF Heverlee. The Secretary-General, when he was chaplain in Gent, chaired the Mission Working Party which pressed ahead with this project. The Central Committee rejoices that these services in one of the federal languages of Belgium are now widely available for our Flemish parishes' use. (For Church of England parishes in Wallonia and Brussels, authorised French translations of several services in Common Worship. The Episcopal Church USA recently authorised an entirely new French translation of the Book of Common Prayer)