LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1977, Page 127

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RESOLUTIONS 127

Action Adopted (7).

(The convention declined to consider Overture 3-121A asa
substitute motion.)

To Deal with the Proposed
Lutheran Book of Worship

RESOLUTION 3-044

Report 3-02 (CW, pp. 58—62); Overtures 3-54, 3-
116, 3-201 A—3-228 (CW, pp. 85, 103, 125—132)

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
has stated in its Constitution that one condition of
membership in the Synod is the “exclusive use of
doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms
in church and school” (Constitution VI, 4); and

WHEREAS, There has been a desire for an updated
Lutheran hymnal by members of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
in convention at Detroit in 1965 instructed the Presi-
dent of the Synod to invite the other Lutheran church
bodies in North America to work with the LCMS in the
preparation of common worship materials, and the
Synod at Milwaukee in 1971 urged the speedy comple-
tion of these materials; and

WHEREAS, The Synod’s Commission on Worship has
been working diligently with the Inter-Lutheran
Commission on Worship for the production of common
worship materials; and

WHEREAS, Theological questions have been raised
by agencies and members of the LCMS (e.g., CTCR,
faculty members of the two seminaries, worship
material reviewers) concerning the proposed Lutheran
Book of Worship (e.g., commemorations, eucharistic
prayer forms, adequacy of expressions, optional use of
“he descended to the dead” in the Apostles’ Creed,
theological implications of hymn text alterations,
confirmation promise, fellowship implications); and

WHEREAS, Members of the Synod have not had the
opportunity to review the final draft of the proposed
Lutheran Book of Worship; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention assembled
commend our Commission on Worship for all its work
and effort expended on the proposed Lutheran Book of
Worship; and be it further

Resolved, That in the light of many theological
questions (raised in whereas 5) a “blue ribbon”
committee of seven be appointed as follows:

1) a representative of the CTCR;
2) a representative of the Commission on Worship;

3 & 4)a representative from each synodical
seminary, appointed by the respective seminary
presidents;

5) a synodical Vice-President selected by the
praesidium;

Dr. Paul E. Foelber, Commission on Worship.
and Dr. E. H. Happel, Chairman of Committee 3

6 & 7) two members appointed by the synodical
President; and be it further

Resolved, That this committee be responsible for
conducting a thorough review of the final ILCW draft
of the Lutheran Book of Worship as it has been
reviewed by the doctrinal review process, utilizing the
(published) study of the CTCR as well as other sources
for the purpose of formulating a recommendation to:

a) adopt the final draft of the Lutheran Book of
Worship, or

b) adopt the final draft of the Lutheran Book of
Worship with specified modifications, or

c) reject the Lutheran Book of Worship and propose
that an alternative new hymnal for the LCMS be
developed; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod’s congregations be given
the opportunity to review and respond to the final
ILCW draft of the Lutheran Book of Worship and the
blue-ribbon committee’s evaluation of the same; and be
it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod in convention appeal to the ALC, LCA, and
ELCC to postpone publication of the Lutheran Book of
Worship until the LCMS has implemented the above
process and reached a final determination on the
Lutheran Book of Worship; and be it further

Resolved, That if the other participating church
bodies of the ILCW deem it necessary to proceed
unilaterally in the publication of the Lutheran Book of
Worship or if the blue-ribbon committee determines the
Lutheran Book of Worship unsuited for use in the
LCMS, the Commission on Worship is directed to
gather materials for a new hymnal for the LCMS
utilizing all available material; and be it further

Resolved, That if a separate hymnal is to be
developed by the Commission on Worship, the blue-
ribbon committee be directed to review the worship
materials after the doctrinal review process; and be it
finally