50-1. The public reading of the Holy Scriptures is performed by the minister as God’s servant. Through it God speaks most directly to the congregation, even more directly than through the sermon. The reading of the Scriptures by the minister is to be distinguished from the responsive reading of certain portions of Scripture by the minister and the congregation. In the former God addresses His people; in the latter God’s people give expression in the words of Scripture to their contrition, adoration, gratitude and other holy sentiments. The psalms of Scripture are especially appropriate for responsive reading.

DIGEST: The current text dates to 1975 [M3GA, 3-15, Item 2, p. 57. The text of this paragraph has no precedent in the PCUS Book of Church Order, but is found in the OPC's BoCO.

BACKGROUND AND COMPARISONS :
PCA 1975, M3GA, 3-15, Item 2, p. 57.
The public reading of the Holy Scriptures is performed by the minister as God’s servant. Through it God speaks most directly to the congregation, even more directly than through the sermon. The reading of the Scriptures by the minister is to be distinguished from the responsive reading of certain portions of Scripture by the minister and the congregation. In the former God addresses His people; in the latter God’s people give expression in the words of Scripture to their contrition, adoration, gratitude and other holy sentiments. The psalms of Scripture are especially appropriate for responsive reading.

No comparable text in the following editions:
PCA 1973, The Directory for the Worship of God, Chapter III
Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text
PCUS 1933, DfW, III
PCUS 1925, DfW, III
PCUS 1894, DfW, III
PCUSA 1789, DfW, III
PCUSA 1786, DfW, 2d draught

OTHER COMPARISONS:
UPCNA 1926, Part IV-Worship, VI-343
The reading of the Scriptures is an integral part of public worship, and should have a place in every service. The importance of this ordinance demands studious and prayerful preparation on the part of the minister. With due reverence and thoughtfulness he should so read the Word that the message of the Spirit may be clearly expressed.

OPC 2005, Directory for Worship, III-2
The public reading of the Holy Scriptures is performed by the minister as God's servant. Through it God speaks most directly to the congregation, even more directly than through the interpretation of Holy Writ in the sermon. For this reason the minister does well to refrain from interspersing the reading of God's Word with human comments, and the congregation should attend to the reading with deepest reverence. The reading of the Scriptures by the minister is to be distinguished from the responsive reading of certain portions of Scripture by the minister and the congregation. In the former God addresses his people; in the latter God's people give expression in the words of Scripture to their contrition, adoration, gratitude and other holy sentiments. The psalms of Scripture are especially appropriate for responsive reading.


COMMENTARY:
Morton H. Smith, Commentary on the Book of Church Order, 6th edition, 2007, p. 413.
That the reading of Scripture in public worship is Biblical may be found in several places in the New Testament. For example our Lord read the Scriptures in the synagogue service (Luke 4). Peter at Pentecost set the example for all Christian worship in citing the prophecy of Joel, which he quoted before he preached his sermon.
In accord with Larger Catechism, Q. 156, the Directory indicates that the reading of Scripture is to be performed by the minister of 4 the Word. This differs from the next paragraph of the Directory. The reason for reading the Bible in the worship service is stated, namely, that through such reading God is speaking directly to the congregation. Since this is true, a reading of suitable length should be used.
A distinction is made between the reading of the Word by the minister and the responsive reading of Scripture. The reading by the minister is seen as God's directly addressing the congregation, whereas responsive readings give the people the opportunity to read divinely inspired expressions of contrition, adoration, gratitude and other holy sentiments. The book of Psalms, which has all of these sorts of expressions is the most suitable section of Scripture for this type of reading. The Book does not restrict responsive readings to the Psalter, but does commend its use.