Unity in Diversity
In the Piscean Age, the way things were done was simple: Authority in the form of
Church or State laid down the rules and everyone was coerced to conform to this
"sanctioned" way. This led to super-organisations where leaders dictated that
there would be lots of the same. Unity was to be found in uniformity. There was little
room to experiment or for diversity.
Paradigm Shift
In the Aquarian Age an ever-increasing number of people are searching for a
non-prescriptive way to express their spirituality. This implies a paradigm shift with
regard to authority and responsibility. No longer is the spiritual seeker happy to follow
the instructions given by a particular person claiming authority, but wants to determine
for him or herself how to give expression to this spirituality. The Young Rite gives the
seeker this opportunity, amongst others by acknowledging the validity of individual
experience and by providing a non-prescriptive path of development based on the Christian
tradition.
Autonomy
The first step to break down the hierarchy is the restoration of autonomy. Just as each
individual is expected to be his or her own authority, this same freedom needs to be given
to groups operating within the Young Rite. Diversity is encouraged. Within the richness of
diversity many expressions may be found, all depicting the process of awakening to the
spiritual truths, yet each expression lays the emphasis on a different aspect. We do not
have one, authorised and final liturgy. We have many, constantly changing liturgies.
Experimentation is therefore encouraged.
Multiple Forms
In order to vouchsafe the Apostolic Succession, we keep the Traditional Form of the Holy
Eucharist. This Traditional Form may be celebrated as often as a group chooses to, but is
obligatory whenever one of the major orders (subdeacon, deacon, priest or bishop) is to be
conferred. This is also the form that is taught in the liturgical training for those
priests who wish to become celebrants.
Next to the Traditional Form, each group may also develop several
experimental forms. These experiments are first tried out in private and once in a form
that is relatively stable and workable, is published in an official liturgy. This is not
the end of the experiment, as each form is "for the mean time". Liturgy in the
Young Rite is therefore not static, but work in progress.
Groups may share and exchange forms, jointly develop them, or
experiment on their own.
Examples of current experiments
Several experiments are being undertaken currently. In the Netherlands a circle form has
been developed and a brand new "Universal Eucharist" is under development. In
South Africa a new form of concelebration by a male and a female priest is under
development.
Under the 'Resources' section some of the liturgies are available for
download. We do not copyright our experiments, as we believe any individual or
organisation should be allowed to use or modify our liturgies for their own use.
