Lectionary Items II: Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings

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A124

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
GENERAL SYNOD 2023
RESOLUTION

Resolution Number: A124

Subject: Lectionary Items II: Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings

Moved By: The Most Rev. Lynne McNaughton

Seconded By: Finn Keesmaat-Walsh

Be it resolved that this General Synod:

Commend Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, as commended by the Consultation on Common Texts (2005) as an alternative daily office lectionary for use in The Anglican Church of Canada.

Source: Faith, Worship, and Ministry Coordinating Committee

Submitted By: Faith, Worship, and Ministry Coordinating Committee

Does this motion contain within it any financial implications?

If yes, has the General Synod Expenditures Committee considered the implications?

Yes No

EXPLANATORY NOTE/BACKGROUND

The Consultation on Common Texts (www.commontexts.org) is the multilateral ecumenical liturgical roundtable that created the Revised Common Lectionary in the late 1980s. The Anglican Church of Canada adopted the RCL in 1993. However, because the BAS had already been developed and published by 1985, it did not include the RCL at that time. Dissonances were inadvertently created. The Faith, Worship, and Ministry committee of 2016-2019 has dealt with the challenge of 1. By forwarding to General Synod the Alternative Collects for the Revised Common Lectionary, authorized in 2019.

With respect to the Daily lectionaries, the Consultation on Common Texts had already at the time of the publication of the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) anticipated this challenge and began work on a Daily Lectionary. Eventually they settled on a model blending from several traditions. It is characterised by:

a structure that is based on the table of Sunday and Festival readings of the Revised Common Lectionary;
a weekly model that is based on the paschal cycle as reflected in the triduum and immediate days after Easter: The ‘week’ begins on Thursday, with daily readings that thematically look forward to, anticipate, or set the stage for, the Sunday readings. The readings from Monday to Wednesday then reflect back on, or pull out themes from, the Sunday readings;
a practice of repetitive concentration on one psalm – the Psalm in the Sunday RCL is prayed for 7 days, beginning on the Thursday and through to the Wednesday.
an intentional effort on the part of the Consultation members to work into the daily lectionary a wider range of bible passages than was covered in previous 2-year cycles, and not to repeat readings that are in the Sunday RCL.

PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTION

(G)

In the normal course, an ordinary motion must be passed by a majority of the members of General Synod present and voting together.

Six members of General Synod may, prior to the question being put, require a vote by Orders, with a majority of each Order being necessary to pass.

If a question passes on a Vote by Orders, any six members (two from each of three different dioceses) may immediately before the next item of business require a vote to be taken by dioceses. A motion passes if a majority (or a tie) of dioceses vote in favour.

Source: Sections 4 and 5 of the Declaration of Principles and sections 18, 19 and 20 of the Rules of Order and Procedure.

Resolution A124