LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1995, Page 112

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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).