A liturgical history by Arlo Duba, Presbyterian Worship in the Twentieth Century traces the development of the Book of Common Worship (1993) from the sixteenth century to its publication in 1993. Attention is given to the roles of scholarship, tradition, and denominational receptivity in the renewal of worship. As John Witvliet, Director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, has stated, "The book teaches us an indispensable lesson, challenging all of us who are dedicated to deepening the church's corporate worship practices not only to understand and deepen the content and form of worship, but also the institutional mechanisms that influence practices."
Arlo Duba is a liturgical scholar who taught worship and liturgical studies at Princeton Theological Seminary where he was also the Director of daily Chapel Worship. He was then the Professor of Worship in the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary where he was also the Dean. He is active in the North American Academy of Liturgy, Societas Liturgica, and the Association for Reformed & Liturgical Worship