# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1995_S112 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES 113 Resolved, That the Commission on Worship, in consul- tation with the Commission on Theology and Church Rela- tions and the seminary faculties, study the theology of wor- ship and develop guidelines to give congregations practical assistance to foster worship consistent with Lutheran the- ology and practice. Such guidelines should encourage litur- gies, sermons, hymns, songs, prayers, etc., which 1. are Christ centered and not human centered; 2. distinguish properly between Law and Gospel; 3. emphasize the Gospel of Christ’s forgiveness; 4. are faithful to the Word of God and in harmony with our Lutheran Confessions; and be it further Resolved, That the Commission on Worship provide these guidelines in a form that will be available for-use in the fall of 1997 in District conferences, circuit conferences, forums, and the like. _ Action: Adopted as amended (9). (It was proposed that the words for the purpose of hymnal re- vision be added after etc. in the first resolve. The convention was informed that this. matter is already in process. By common con- sent the word the was added before Lutheran and tradition after faith in the first sentence of the rationale.) To Provide Synodically Developed Worship Resources RESOLUTION 2-07 Report R2-04 (CW, pp. 49-51); Overtures 2-24, 2- 26-28, 2-36 (CW, pp. 143-44, 146) Rationale: There has been a proliferation of new orders of service among the congregations of the Synod. Many of these or- ders fail to include the basic elements of evangelical Lutheran worship. The Synod’s Constitution calls for “ex- clusive use of doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks, and cat- echisms in church and school” (Art. VI 4). While there is room for diversity in worship practice in our midst, such di- versity must be based upon our common confession of the faith. The Synod’s Commission on Worship has provided helpful resources such as “What Is Basic in Lutheran Wor- ship?” In order to further encourage thoroughly Lutheran worship, be it Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to use the synodically approved hymnals: The Lutheran Hymnal or ‘Lutheran Worship; and be it further Resolved, That pastors, musicians, and laity of our church be encouraged to attend Real Life Worship Confer- ences which emphasize sound biblical and confessional Lutheran worship, theology, and practice; and be it further Resolved, That the Commission on Worship provide ,evaluation of other worship resources being used or consid- ered throughout the Synod through publication in Lutheran Worship Notes; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage the Commission on Worship in its plans to issue a supplement to Lutheran Worship, also giving consideration to hymns of various ethnic origins; and be it finally Resolved, That the Commission on Worship develop new musical and textual materials to augment present worship resources of the Synod. Action: Adopted (9). To Encourage Every Sunday Communion RESOLUTION 2-08A Overture 2-51 (CW, pp. 149-50) WHEREAS, The opportunity to receive the Lord’s Supper each Lord’s Day was a'reality cherished by Luther and set forth clearly with high esteem by our Lutheran Confessions (Article XXIV of the Augsburg Confession and of the Apol- ogy); and WHEREAS, Our Synod’s 1983 CTCR document on the Lord’s Supper (p. 28) and our Synod’s 1986 translation of Luther’s Catechism both remind us that the Scriptures place the Lord’s Supper at the center of worship (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:20, 33), and not as an appendage or an occa- sional extra; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in convention encourage its pastors and congregations to study the scriptural, confessional, and historical witness to every Sunday communion with a view to recovering the op- portunity for receiving the Lord’s Supper each Lord’s Day. Action: Adopted (4). (An amendment to add in every service before each Lord’s Day in the resolve was declined as was an amendment to add a final resolve stating that those who would commune would be exam- ined and absolved. Delegates declined to consider a substitute motion which would leave the decision regarding the frequency of offering the Lord’s Supper with each congregation, and an amendment which would have requested the Commission on Worship to bring to the congregations materials which would be instructive with regard to the frequency of offering the Lord’s Supper was declined.) To Reaffirm Lutheran Catechetical Instruction RESOLUTION 2-094 Overture 2-59 (CW, p. 151) WHEREAS, The Word of God is the only rule and norm of Christian faith and life; and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions, which include Luther’s Small Catechism, are a faithful exposition of the truth of God’s Word; and_. WHEREAS, The historic hymns and liturgy of the Lutheran church are also faithful expositions of God’s Word; and WHEREAS, Some catechetical instruction, especially for - adults, does not stress the use of Luther’s Small Catechism and a Lutheran hymnal; therefore be it _ Resolved, That pastors and congregations of the Synod provide thorough Lutheran catechetical instruction that uses the Holy Scriptures, Luther’s Catechisms, and a Lutheran hymnal with all who desire communicant mem- bership. Action: Adopted (11).