LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 131

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CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES
adopted without amendment [yes: 1,034; no: 52]. The final resolve
is added as required by Res. 1-02, adopted by the convention in an
earlier session.)

To Encourage Appropriate
Evaluation of This Far by Faith
RESOLUTION 2-09A
Overtures 2-61 (CW, p. 152); L2-67 (TB, p. 31)
WHEREAS, The Board for Black Ministry Services, the
Commission on Worship, and others in the Synod worked
in cooperation with other Lutheran bodies to formulate a
worship supplement for use in congregations in ministry to
African-American, Caribbean, and African immigrant people; and
WHEREAS, This supplemental resource is treasured by
many congregations because its collection of hymns, folk
songs, spirituals, and cultural resources speaks in the language of black culture; and
WHEREAS, President Barry provided the Board for Black
Ministry Services, at its request, a special report on the
doctrinal review of the worship supplement This Far by
Faith, in which he recognized both useful materials and
materials with doctrinal concerns; and
WHEREAS, The Commission on Worship is currently
preparing guidelines for the evaluation of worship materials; and
WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters
ruled that “the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod do
not require that The Lutheran Hymnal and Lutheran Worship be the only hymnals used in worship services of LCMS
congregations,” but that “[i]t is also clear from the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod … that great care must be
taken in the selection and use of worship materials in
LCMS congregations. Art. VI 4 stipulates that one condition for acquiring and holding membership in the Synod is
the ‘exclusive use of doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks,
and catechisms in church and school’ making it the responsibility of every church worker and congregation to carefully review the doctrinal content of all worship materials
before their public use” (CCM Ruling #99-2148, CW, pp.
322ff); therefore be it
Resolved, That the Board for Black Ministry Services be
commended for its desire to provide doctrinally pure materials that speak in the language of black culture to congregations in ministry to African-American, Caribbean, and
African immigrant people; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations using This Far by Faith be
encouraged to evaluate its contents on the basis of Holy
Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, utilizing also the
guidance provided by the report prepared by Dr. Barry as
well as the guidelines being prepared by the Commission
on Worship, so that appropriate materials from this resource may be used responsibly; and be it further
Resolved, That all congregations be reminded of their responsibility to review carefully the doctrinal content of the
worship resources they use; and be it further
Resolved, That the Commission on Worship be encouraged to use doctrinally pure materials from This Far by
Faith and other ethnic hymn collections as resources for the
new hymnal; and be it finally

131

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 committee changed the title of the resolution, replacing
the words Responsible Use with the words Appropriate Evaluation prior to its presentation to the convention. An amendment
to change the second resolve to read: Resolved, That congregations who have considered the use of This Far by Faith be encouraged to evaluate its contents on the basis of Holy Scripture and
the Lutheran Confessions, the report provided by Dr. Barry, and
the guidelines being prepared by the Commission on Worship; and
to add as a third resolve: Resolved, That congregations refrain
from using This Far by Faith until such time as our Synod’s doctrinal concerns have been addressed by the publisher; was not carried. The resolution was adopted without amendment [yes: 1,021;
no: 77]. The final resolve is added as required by Res. 1-02,
adopted by the convention in an earlier session.)

To Commend CPH and Encourage
Use of CPH Materials
RESOLUTION 2-10A
Overtures 2-42, 2-44 (CW, pp. 147–48)
WHEREAS, The major role of our congregations is the
proclamation of the Gospel in truth and purity; and
WHEREAS, Concordia Publishing House is the official
publishing arm of the LCMS and has historically provided
solid curricula for congregational use in Sunday schools, vacation Bible schools, Lutheran day schools, preschools and
early childhood centers, midweek and confirmation programs, adult learning sessions, and other Christian growth
settings in the LCMS; and
WHEREAS, Everything published by Concordia Publishing House is approved by our Synod’s doctrinal review
process; therefore be it
Resolved, That CPH be commended for the high-quality
materials it produces; and be it further
Resolved, That CPH be encouraged to continue to produce
the highest quality materials possible by listening to the
needs of our congregations, by responding to the challenges
of communicating the Gospel to people of diverse cultures and
languages in the 21st century, and by working with congregations to find ways to use CPH materials successfully in various settings and programs; and be it further
Resolved, That LCMS congregations be encouraged to
use CPH materials as much as possible; 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 as amended (12)
(After the resolution was introduced by the committee, it was
agreed by common consent to add the words of diverse cultures
and languages after the word people in the second resolve. The
resolution was adopted without further change [yes: 830; no: 37].
The final resolve is added as required by Res. 1-02, adopted by
the convention in an earlier session.)

To Give Thanks to God
for Ministry of Dr. Bryant Clancy
200l Convention Proceedings