[February 26, 2019] “The Episcopal Church is in the process of developing new translations of its Book of Common Prayer 1979 into Spanish, French and Creole,” said the Rev. Dr. Juan M.C. Oliver, custodian of the Book of Common Prayer.

“For some time now, the Church has been aware of the need for new translations, carried out by professional literary translators of proven ability,” added Oliver. Dr. Oliver heads the project as chairman of the Task Force for Liturgical Translations, a subcommittee of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music of The Episcopal Church. The 79th General Convention mandated and budgeted the project, which will likely be completed during this triennium. In January, the task force met to review plans for hiring professional translators who will prepare a first draft over the next year and a half. These drafts will be sent for feedback to congregations worshipping in the target languages, in the U.S. and abroad.

The task force is organized into three language teams who will work with the translators. Members of these teams are: French – The Rt. Rev. Pierre Whalon, Rev. Pierre-Henri Buisson and Rev. Luk DeVolder; Haitian Creole (Kreyol) – The Rev. Nathanael St. Pierre, Rev. Magarettie Saintliver and Rev. André Wildaine; and Spanish – The Rev. Susan Saucedo Sica, Rev. Frederick Clarkson and Rev. Juan M.C. Oliver.

The project is being widely advertised to encourage qualified persons to apply. Applicants must be native speakers of either French, Haitian Creole (Kreyol) or Spanish, bilingual in English and experienced in literary translation, including poetic prose.  Additional desirable, but not necessary, qualifications are experience with liturgical, biblical or theological vocabularies, as well as some knowledge of music. The application deadline is February 28.

For more information or to apply as a potential translator, please click here.