LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 129

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CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES
not in any way detract or distract from the primary mission
of God’s kingdom here on earth. We will remember 1-02!
Action: Adopted as amended (8)
(The resolution was amended with the addition of the second
resolve and was adopted as amended [yes: 1,034; no: 91]. The
final resolve is added as required by Res. 1-02, adopted by the
convention in an earlier session.)

To Continue to Foster Discussion
on Worship
RESOLUTION 2-05A
Report 2-02 (CW, pp. 29–31); Overtures 2-50–55, 259–60 (CW, pp. 149–52)
Preamble
During the past triennium the Commission on Worship
began the assignment given to it by the 1998 synodical convention to work toward building consensus in worship (Res.
2-10). From the beginning it was understood that this
process would be a work in progress. In its report the commission indicates that while there is clearly a desire to
work toward consensus in the matter of worship practices,
there is still disagreement on a number of crucial issues.
The Preamble to 1998 Res. 2-10 carefully presents a balanced understanding of our confessional principles concerning worship. While our Lutheran Confessions nowhere
give the expectation of rigid uniformity in all rites and ceremonies (AC VII 2–4; AP XV 5, 10–11; FC SD X 9), nevertheless they speak very highly of the usefulness of rites and
ceremonies, particularly 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; FC
SD X 7).
For most of our Synod’s history, harmony in worship
practice has been the norm and has been considered a salutary and commendable characteristic of orderly congregational life. While unity of faith is not dependent on a uniformity of practice, it is greatly strengthened when there is
broad agreement concerning both our theology and practice
of worship.
As at previous conventions, a number of overtures have
again highlighted the divergence of practice among us. In
order to express our God-given unity in the Gospel and to
exhibit our love for one another as we work toward consensus, therefore be it
Resolved, That we give thanks to God for the progress
that has been made during the past triennium toward
building consensus in worship; and be it further
Resolved, That we reaffirm the following statements
made by the 1998 synodical convention (Res. 2-10):
• 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;
• That we give thanks for the opportunity provided in the worship assembly to thank, praise, sing, and petition in response
to God’s grace;
• That we give thanks to God for the freedom in the Gospel
that is ours in Christ;
• That we acknowledge that there is no one rite or ceremony
that alone gives expression to the truth of the Gospel;

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• That we acknowledge the blessings that have and continue to
come to us through the rites and ceremonies of the church;
• 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 congregations and their pastors, musicians, and other worship planners be reminded that worship practices in their local setting have broader implications which affect other congregations throughout the
Synod and the church-at-large, especially in a mobile society; and be it further
Resolved, That the President of the Synod, the Council of
Presidents, the seminaries, universities, and colleges, and
the Commission on Worship continue to find ways to foster
discussion among groups with diverse viewpoints for the
purpose of building greater understanding of our theology
of worship and fostering further discussion of worship practices that are consistent with this theology; and be it finally
Resolved, That all action taken in this resolution shall be
used to help carry out “The Great Commission” and shall
not in any way detract or distract from the primary mission
of God’s kingdom here on earth. We will remember 1-02!
Action: Adopted (9)
(The resolution was adopted as presented by the floor committee [yes: 895; no: 150]. The final resolve is added as required
by Res. 1-02, adopted by the convention in an earlier session.)

To Approve Field-Testing Plan
for New Hymnal
RESOLUTION 2-06
R2-02 (CW, pp. 29–31); Overture 2-58 (CW, p. 151)
WHEREAS, The 1998 synodical convention encouraged
the Commission on Worship to “begin the task of developing and testing materials” for a new hymnal (Res. 2-12);
and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran hymnal project has already
completed a significant amount of work and has begun the
process of testing these materials; and
WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.929 a requires that final approval of
an official hymnal must be preceded by a “process of exposure and testing decided upon by the Synod in convention”;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Commission on Worship continue to
develop materials for both a new hymnal and agenda; and
be it further
Resolved, That the Commission on Worship make available at the congregational, Circuit, and District levels during the next triennium for study and testing:
• all liturgical orders;
• all new hymns;
• a detailed summary of changes to hymns in our current
hymnals and supplements;
• all rites for the new agenda; and be it further
Resolved, That the Commission on Worship develop a
process to receive and evaluate comments and suggestions
that result from the field testing; and be it further
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