One of the decisions made at the 2006 General Convention involves the lectionary, which is the schedule of scripture readings we use in worship. Currently we use the lectionary found in the Book of Common Prayer, which is a 3 year cycle based on the lectionary of the Roman Catholic Church. Since 1983, some members of the Episcopal Church and other Anglican churches have been using a new lectionary on a trial basis. The Revised Common Lectionary, as the current version of this lectionary is known, is also a 3 year cycle of readings. It is extremely similar to the BCP lectionary, but contains some innovations, as described by the Office of Liturgy and Music:

The option of semi-continuous reading of the great Old Testament narratives on the Sundays after Pentecost, to provide exciting new preaching opportunities, vacation Bible School ideas or informal summer story-telling for adults as well as children.
• Genesis through Judges in year A; the Davidic Covenant and Wisdom literature in Year B; the prophets – Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Joel and Habbakuk – in Year C.



The option of lections in thematic harmony with the Gospel of the day for the Sundays after Pentecost.

• This follows the pattern of the present lectionary in which the readings from the Old Testament and the New Testament are chosen in relation to the Gospel.



The Inclusion of women and their role in salvation history, offering texts about women never heard on Sunday before.

• The most notable example is the account of the woman anointing Jesus at Bethany [Mark 14:3-9]. Jesus responded by saying “wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.” This text, omitted in the present lectionary, is included in the Revised Common Lectionary as part of the Passion narrative read on Palm Sunday in Year B.

The resolution passed at GC’06 states:

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention direct that the Revised Common Lectionary shall be the Lectionary of this Church, amending the Lectionary on pp. 889-921 of The Book of Common Prayer, effective the First Sunday of Advent, 2007; with the provision for continued use of the previous Lectionary for purposes of orderly transition, with the permission of the Ecclesiastical Authority, until the First Sunday of Advent 2010.

What does this mean for the lay person? Not much, really. But expect there to be some variation in readings among the churches you frequent as we make the transistion.

written by AmyGee