LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 109

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CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES
Christian education, especially counseling that the most
effective education agencies available to the church for
equipping children and youth for ministry are the fulltime Lutheran elementary and secondary schools, so
that the Gospel of Jesus Christ may become even more
effective in the life of the individual Christian and of the
congregation.”
Action: Adopted (6)

To Build Consensus on Worship
RESOLUTION 2-10
Report R2-02 (CW, pp. 28–29); Overtures 2-01–10, 215–17, 2-20–25 (CW, pp. 127–29, 131–34)
Preamble
Our Lutheran Confessions state that “the highest worship in the Gospel is the desire to receive forgiveness of
sins, grace, and righteousness” (AP IV 310). It is through
the Word of God and the Sacraments that our Lord delivers
this forgiveness and grace, thus nourishing and sustaining
His church (Acts 2:42; AC V). Through His commands to
baptize and teach (Matt. 28:19–20) and to “do this” in remembrance of Him (Luke 22:19–20; 1 Cor. 11:23–25), Jesus
has revealed what is absolutely necessary for the church’s
worship, namely that “the Gospel is taught purely and the
sacraments are administered rightly” (AC VII 1).
Beyond these divinely mandated means of grace, God
has not commanded additional rites that must be observed
(Gal. 5:1; Acts 15:10–11; Col. 2:16–17, 20–23; Matt. 15:8–9).
The Lutheran Confessions reiterate this point, especially
rejecting the opinion that human rites and ceremonies are
necessary for salvation (AC XV 2–4; AP XV 5, 10–11; etc.).
Furthermore, they state that the unity of the Church is not
dependent on a similarity of rites (AC VII 3; AP VII/VIII
33a).
Because the Word of God and the Sacraments cannot be
delivered to the people of God in a vacuum, some form of
rites and ceremonies will be necessary. Through the centuries, the church has instituted various rites for this very
purpose. Our confessions acknowledge the usefulness of
these rites, especially in so far as they promote good order
and tranquility in the church and aid in the discipline and
instruction of God’s people (AC XV 1; AP XV 13, 20–21, 38;
FC SD X 7; c.f., 1 Cor. 14:33a, 40). Likewise, the Confessions encourage the use of the church’s rites and ceremonies for the sake of love, especially for the weak in faith
(AP XV 51; AP XXVIII 17; AC XXVIII 55). The church’s
common rites and ceremonies not only set apart the church
from the world, but also serve as a unifying force within the
church, allowing Christians from every land and race to
join together with one voice to praise their Maker and Redeemer.
The synodical Constitution recognizes the balanced approach of our confessional understanding. On the one hand,
Article VI lists as a condition of membership the “exclusive
use of doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms
in church and school” (Article VI, 4). This requirement is
not intended as the imposition of a new law on congregations, but is, rather, an agreement we have voluntarily
made with one another for the sake of good order in our

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walk together. On the other hand, Article III encourages
“congregations to strive for uniformity in church practice,
but also to develop an appreciation of a variety of responsible practices and customs which are in harmony with our
common profession of faith” (Art. III, 7).
Recent synodical conventions have addressed concerns
related to worship (e.g., 1992, Res. 2-02 and 3-16; 1995,
Res. 2-06 and 2-07). A number of overtures have again
highlighted both the concern of divergence in practice and
the reminder of our freedom in Christ. In order to express
our God-given unity in the Gospel, and to exhibit our love
for one another, as we work toward a consensus, therefore
be it
Resolved, That we rejoice in the gift of God’s grace received through the proclamation of the Gospel and the
Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; and be
it further
Resolved, That we give thanks for the opportunity provided in the worship assembly to thank, praise, sing, and
petition in response to God’s grace; and be it further
Resolved, That we give thanks to God for the freedom in
the Gospel that is ours in Christ; and be it further
Resolved, That we acknowledge that there is no one rite
or ceremony that alone gives expression to the truth of the
Gospel; and be it further
Resolved, That we acknowledge the blessings that have
and continue to come to us through the rites and ceremonies of the church; and be it further
Resolved, That we remind one another of the promise we
have made to use “doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks,
and catechisms,” both to preserve the truth and for the
sake of good order; and be it further
Resolved, That the Commission on Worship bring together a forum representing the diversity of practices
within the Synod (including representatives from such entities as the President’s office; the Council of Presidents;
the Board for Congregational Services; the Board for Black
Ministry Services; North American Missions; the colleges/universities and seminaries; conferences of congregations such as those for growing, mission, ethnic, and large
churches; parish pastors; church musicians; and others) for
the purposes of increasing understanding, building consensus in our doctrine and practice of worship, and providing
input to the Commission on Worship as it develops guidelines for worship; and be it further
Resolved, That the Commission on Worship enable a
process by which songs and liturgical materials from
sources other than LCMS publications might be reviewed
for acceptability so that congregations may be assisted in
their goal of using doctrinally pure worship materials; and
be it further
Resolved, That the Commission on Worship issue regular progress reports in a variety of ways and at many levels
prior to a full progress report at the 2001 synodical convention; and be it finally
Resolved, That everyone heed the advice of Dr. Martin
Luther who, in writing to the Christians in Livonia, penned
words that speak directly to our time and place:
I pray all of you, my dear sirs, let each one surrender his own opinions and get together in a friendly way