Open Source Liturgy Project: 4 Cores "Frozen" for Open Release

Companions,

Today I can announce that after over a year of preparation, writing, feedback from scholars and leaders from many denominations, and lots of tweaking, I can announce (and show you!) the beginnings of the fruit of the Open Source Liturgy Project: 4 "Frozen" Cores now openly released.

I know that "frozen" may sound ominous. In the world of open source software, however, it's great news. It means that what has been developed has been tested and debugged and finalized enough to be considered reliable for use. It also means that any future changes to these are more likely to be editorial (saying the same things better or formatting them for easier use) rather than substantive. The Cores are like the kernel in Linux-- once they're finalized, you don't mess with them much. That way developers can know what they're working with and don't have to worry that changes in the Core could make their work incompatible or obsolete anytime soon.

What's in this "code release"? The basic guidelines for developing new ritual texts for baptism, Holy Communion, marriage, and services of death and resurrection (the latter two presuming primarily Christian participation). Still under development are two additional cores-- for marriage and services of death and resurrection when the persons involved may not profess the Christian faith. "Code freeze" date for those is October 15.

As with everything we'll produce in this project, the Cores are covered under a Creative Commons License (currently version 3.0) that allows for them to be copied and shared freely, but does not allow for them to be sold or altered without written permission.

Where can you see what's been done?

Right HERE.

The link takes you to the Release Candidates page of the Open Source Liturgy Project Wiki-- where resources developed in the project will be placed after they've undergone two rounds of testing, feedback and revision (core compatibility and field testing). You'll see the four categories for the cores down the left center of the page. Click on a category, then click on the name of the core document that comes up in the long rectangular box labeled Objects to the right and center.

It's a good beginning. I'm grateful for your ongoing prayers, support, feedback and participation along the way.

Peace in Christ,

Taylor Burton-Edwards