Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1981 · 54th Convention › Page 192
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 192

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

192 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

rejecting the general use of the LBWby our congregations; and

WHEREAS, The absence of a specific synodical resolution
rejecting the use of the LBW for general congregational usage
could be construed to lend credence to the misleading but all too
presently expressed view that the Synod therefore doesn’t
really care that the LBWis in general use by these congrega-
tions; and

WHEREAS, The Synod is very concerned that doctrinally
pure books (including hymnbooks) are used by the congrega-
tions of the Synod, as per Article VI, 4, of Synod’s Constitution;
and

WHEREAS, The Synod would desire to be as helpful to these
misled congregations as it can possibly be; and

WHEREAS, It would be helpful to District officers if the Synod
spoke out more directly on the issue; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod state clearly in convention that
the general congregational usage of the LBWis a clear viola-
tion of Article VI, 4, of our Constitution; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod direct each District President to
deal pastorally with each such congregation engaged in
general usage of the LBW, pointing out the doctrinal problems
as reported by the Special Hymnal Review Committee chaired
by the Rev. Dr. Robert C. Sauer (Appendix IV, 1979 Workbook);
and be it further

Resolved, That each such congregation be counseled to
make plans to replace the LBW with either The Lutheran
Hymnalor the Lutheran Worship as soon as it is possible to be
arranged; and be it further

Resolved, That, as an aid to this pastoral counseling, each
District (with congregations in its midst who are engaged in
general usage of the LBW) be encouraged to initiate a special
fund of moneys for the purpose of aiding these congregations
who find it financially difficult to replace the LBW with either
The Lutheran Hymnal or the Lutheran Worship; and be it
further

Resolved, That each member in these Districts be encour-
aged to contribute to the fund in order that all congregations
may be once again in peaceful union in their public worship
services; and be it further

Resolved, That each District be encouraged to consider this
fund a special] discretionary pastoral fund of the District
President (or his appointee), to be used-with as little publicity
as is desirable in the District; and be it finally

Resolved, That the convention pause momentarily for a
special prayer, upon passage of this, reflecting upon the
delicateness of this task.

Redeemer Lutheran Church
Lebanon, Conn.
Robert G. Small, Secretary

3-108

To Delete Bylaw 11.115
“Official Service Books and Hymnals”’

WHEREAS, Article VI of the LCMS Constitution states that
one of the conditions of membership is “exclusive use of
doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms in
church and school” (Point 4); and

WHEREAS, The Bylaws of the LCMS state that one of the
functions of the Commission on Worship is to “recommend
worship materials to the church and advise and warn against
the use of worship materials which are unworthy of use in the
Christian worship of the Lutheran Church” (Bylaw 11.113 c);
and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod at its

1977 convention approved changes in Bylaw 11.115 which now
reads:

a. All service books and hymnals which are to be accepted as
official service books and hymnals of the Synod shall be given such
status only by a convention of the Synod after a process of exposure
and testing decided upon by the Synod in convention.

b. Revisions in such books shall be made only by a convention of
the Synod after requesting the Commission on Worship for an
evaluation and recommendations;
and

WHEREAS, As a result of this Bylaw change the LCMS in
convention at St. Louis, 1979, approved for the first time in the
history of the Synod “‘An official [underlining by floor commit-
tee] hymnal” in Res. 3-01; and

WHEREAS, Congregations are capable of making responsible
decisions on the use of various worship resources; and

WHEREAS, An “official” hymnal is an unnecessary designa-
tion; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Southeastern District petition the 1981
convention of the LCMS to delete Bylaw 11.115 a and b; and be
it further

Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to study
recommendations of the Commission on Worship as they relate
to various worship resources available for congregational use.

Southeastern District
Ralph E. Wiechmann, Secretary

3-109 /

To Make Available Materials Ee
for a New Lutheran Agenda

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Agenda was first issued in 1948
and, like The Lutheran.Hymnal, has served congregations of
the Synod well; and

WHEREAS, The need for a new hymnal brought about the
production of Lutheran Worship, therefore be it

Resolved, That the Commission on Worship be authorized
to make available materials for inclusion in a new agenda
which could be approved by the Synod at the next convention.

Salem Lutheran Church
Florissant, Mo.

Floyd L. Stolzenburg, Pastor
Randy Adler, President

Melvin Vahrenhorst, Secretary

3-110

To Prepare
for New Official Service Book

WHEREAS, There is a need for a Lutheran agenda as a
companion to Lutheran Worship; and

WHEREAS, According to Bylaw 11.115, such a service book
shall be given official status only by a convention of the Synod
after a process of exposure and testing has taken place;
therefore be it

Resolved, That suitable orders for occasional services be
produced by the Commission on Worship, and tested, so that
the successor to The Lutheran Agenda can be accepted as an
“official service book” of the Synod at the next synodical
convention.

Trinity Lutheran Church
Cincinnati, Ohio
Robert Schneider, President