The Consultation on Common Texts (CCT) emerged from ecumenical meetings held in the mid 1960s. It was formed by Catholic and Protestant liturgical scholars in response to the reforms in the liturgy mandated by the Second Vatican Council, especially in the area of English texts for the liturgy and then in the dissemination of the 1969 Roman Lectionary (Ordo Lectionum Missae).
Read more about the publications listed below at CCT Publications.
| 1969 | The “Consultation on Common Texts” is named to reflect its original focus on the development of agreed versions of liturgical texts used in common by the churches. Membership by this time included representatives of the founding interchurch bodies and churches as well as representatives of other church bodies that wished to participate. |
| 1971 | The initial work of the CCT toward common versions of liturgical texts (Gloria, Creed, Lord’s Prayer, etc.) was soon taken up by an international body which became known as the International Consultation on English Texts (ICET). Participants in the CCT took part in this work, and the so-called ICET texts were subsequently issued in three editions: 1971, 1972,1975. |
| 1976 | A Liturgical Psalter for the Eucharist, prepared by Dr. Massey Shepherd, Jr. in consultation with the CCT is published as a translation of the psalms for liturgical use. |
| 1978 | The CCT expands its work beyond its original focus with its sponsorship of a meeting on the lectionary (the cycle of readings read in public worship) involving representatives of a number of churches because of the widespread use and adaptation by the churches of the 1969 Ordo Lectionum Missae. As a result of this meeting, the CCT was asked to take up the task of harmonizing these lectionary variants and the calendar differences between them. |
| 1983 | The Common Lectionary was published as the outcome of the CCT’s work on the lectionary. Ecumenical Services of Prayer were also published as a resource for the ecumenical celebration of morning and evening prayer. |
| 1985 | The English Language Liturgical Consultation (ELLC) is formed as a successor body to ICET, which ceased to function in 1975. As one of the constitutive bodies of ELLC, the CCT serves its member churches as a liaison with ELLC and, through it, with several regional ecumenical liturgical associations throughout the English-speaking world and the denominations which together they represent. |
| 1987 | A Christian Celebration of Marriage was published for use in worship by a number of the participating churches and in situations considered to be ecumenical in nature. It also stands as a model to churches as they continue to renew their own liturgical life and the ritual forms that give structure to it. |
| 1988 | A Celebration of Baptism was published with the same purposes as A Christian Celebration of Marriage. Praying Together, published by the ELLC, contains the most common liturgical texts and the explanations of linguistic issues. |
| 1992 | The Revised Common Lectionary is published in light of several years of comment and use of The Common Lectionary. |
| 2002 | Revised Common Lectionary Prayers is published, providing a body of collects and forms of intercession for Sundays and principal festivals related to the three-year lectionary. |
| 2005 | Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings is published, providing weekday readings that relate to the RCL Sunday readings and expand the range of Scripture appointed for use in worship. |
| 2012 | The Revised Common Lectionary 20th Anniversary Annotated Edition is published, providing notes throughout indicating convergences and divergences from Ordo Lectionem Missae and The Common Lectionary and comments indicating how some critical decisions were made. |