The Lectionaries

Lectionaries are lists of scriptural texts (lections) which are for use in worship. They had their beginning in the 4th Century, with the assignment of certain texts to specific days in the Church year. The Roman Catholic Church developed a Lectionary in 1969, revised in 1981, which provides for a three-year cycle of differing lections, so that at the end of three years the worshipper will have heard (and meditated upon) a large amount of New Testament, and somewhat less of the Old Testament, also called the Hebrew Bible. In the newest lectionary, which we will be discussing, 3991 New Testament verses will be read out of the 7959 total number in the New Testament. Half. When John Paul II was pope, and following Vatican II, the Roman church developed a revised lectionary, with much change from the previous lectionary.

The Common Lectionary (pages 889– 931 of the Book of Common Prayer), published in 1983, is an ecumenical project (as opposed to a solo Roman church publication) of several American and Canadian denominations and others, developed out of a proper concern for the unity of Christ’s church and a desire for a common experience in hearing and in studying Scripture.

Next, the Revised Common Lectionary was published in 1992. This revision is based upon the Common Lectionary, taking into account constructive criticism which had been solicited and accepted. It is the product of the Consultation on Common Texts, which comprises about 20 denominations, with representatives from the Episcopal Church, the Lutherans, the Anglican Church in Canada, the Roman Catholic Church, the Methodists, Presbyterians, and others. The Revised Common Lectionary has a few new features, outstanding among which is the presence of readings concerning women and their roles in salvation history. Many of these texts have not been read in churches before. Another new feature is having two sets of Old Testament lessons.

A major value of the Revised Common Lectionary is its ecumenical posture. This new lectionary will be used widely by most Protestant denominations and widely in the Anglican Communion. The Roman church and the Lutherans have adopted it with some variations. The Unitarian-Universalists have adopted it, and many other denominations, some of which are listed above. Objection has been raised because of the cost, and the concern by some that we’re not ready for this yet. The Episcopal House of Bishops decided last June that the Revised Common Lectionary “shall be the lectionary of this church.