LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 160

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160

LIFE TOGETHER

the external orders are free and can without scruples be changed by
anyone at anytime, from the viewpoint of love, you are not free to
use this liberty, but bound to consider the edification of the common
people, as St. Paul says … ‘All things are lawful for me, but not all
things are helpful’ (1 Corinthians 6:12)” (AE 53:47; see also Formula
of Concord SD X 9; Apology XV 51–52); and
Whereas, In the same letter, Luther instructs: “Now when your
people are confused and offended by your lack of uniform order, you
cannot plead, ‘Externals are free. Here in my own place I am going to
do as I please.’ But you are bound to consider the effect of your attitude on others. By faith be free in your conscience toward God, but by
love be bound to serve your neighbor’s edification” (AE 53:48); and
Whereas, In explanation of AC VII, “It is enough for the true
unity of the church,” the Apology of the Augsburg Confession states,
“We believe that the true unity of the Church is not injured by dissimilar ceremonies instituted by humans. … However, it is pleasing
to us that, for the sake of peace, universal ceremonies are kept,” and
further, “We are not discussing now [in AC VII] whether it is helpful
to keep [ceremonies humanly instituted] because of peace or bodily
profit. We speak of something else. The question at hand is whether
the observances of human traditions are acts of worship necessary
for righteousness before God” (Apology VII and VIII 33–34); and
Whereas, Nearly 70 percent of all LCMS congregations have
adopted Lutheran Service Book (2010 Convention Workbook, p. 46);
therefore be it
Resolved, That “for the sake of love and tranquility” (AC XXVIII
55), we encourage that all divine services conducted during official
gatherings of the Synod or its districts use an order of service from
or outlined by Lutheran Service Book.
Lutheran Church of Our Savior
Cupertino, CA
3-37

To Encourage Harmony in Worship
Whereas, The Scriptures say that in Christian worship “all things
should be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40); and
Whereas, The Scriptures say, “‘All things are lawful,’ but not all
things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up”
(1 Cor. 10:23); and
Whereas, The Formula of Concord states that the Church “in
every time and place has the right, power, and authority to change,
reduce, or expand [church] practices according to circumstances in
an orderly and appropriate manner, without frivolity or offense, as
seems most useful, beneficial, and best for good order, Christian discipline, evangelical decorum, and the building up of the church” (FC
SD X 9); and
Whereas, The Augsburg Confession states that “it is lawful for
bishops or pastors to establish ordinances so that things are done in
the church in an orderly fashion. … It is fitting for the churches to
comply with such ordinances for the sake of love and tranquility”
(AC XXVIII 54–55); and
Whereas, The LCMS Constitution states that one of the “conditions for acquiring and holding membership in the Synod” is
“exclusive use of doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms in church and school” (Art. VI); and
Whereas, Controversy has raged in the church for some time
concerning pastors and congregations who write their own orders
for public worship or draw them from sources other than those mentioned in the Synod’s Constitution; therefore be it
2013 Convention Workbook

Resolved, That the Minnesota North District in convention hereby
solemnly encourage public worship services exclusively according to
the rites and services of the Synod’s three hymnbooks/agenda (The
Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship, and Lutheran Service Book) as
well as the supplemental hymnbooks/agenda prepared by the Synod’s
Commission on Worship (Worship 1969; Hymnal Supplement 1998;
All God’s People Sing!); and be it finally
Resolved, That services offered at conferences and conventions
of the Minnesota North District utilize Lutheran Service Book (our
current approved hymnal) for both liturgy and hymns.
Wadena Circuit Forum, Minnesota North District;
Grace, Paris, TX; Wadena Circuit Forum,
MNN District; Rocky Mountain District
3-38

To Petition for Inclusion of Church Year Collects
in Lutheran Service Book
Whereas, Professor Carl Schalk in “A Brief History of LCMS
Hymnals (before LSB)” notes the importance of evangelical Lutheran
hymn books to our forefathers, writing that “the German Lutherans
brought with them the hymnals of their homelands. Hymnals ... could
be found among the immigrants’ treasured possessions”; and
Whereas, Lutheran hymn books also serve as a Lutheran’s private prayer books; for example, the Preface to The Lutheran Hymnal
states, “THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL is intended for use in church,
school, and home”; and “It is our sincere prayer that these treasures
may be cherished by God’s people wherever the English tongue is
used in public or private worship”; and
Whereas, The three English hymnals prior to Lutheran Service
Book (the Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book [1931], The Lutheran
Hymnal [1941], and Lutheran Worship [1982]) each contained the
collects for the Church Year, but Lutheran Service Book does not; and
Whereas, The inclusion of the collects for the Church Year would
both encourage the use of Lutheran Service Book in private devotions
and connect the church’s regular Divine Service to those daily devotions; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention petition Concordia
Publishing House and LCMS Worship to conduct a survey of the
Synod to gauge interest in revising Lutheran Service Book to include
the Church Year collects; and be it further
Resolved, That should the survey demonstrate a Synod interest
in this revision, Concordia Publishing House and LCMS Worship
collaborate on a revision of Lutheran Service Book that includes the
Church Year collects, to be offered as soon as feasible.
Zion
Fort Wayne, IN
3-39

To Continue to Use Synod-Approved Hymnals,
Agendas, and Appropriate Diverse Resources
in Worship
Whereas, Art. VI 4 of the Constitution of the LCMS states that a
condition of membership in the LCMS is “exclusive use of doctrinally
pure agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms in church and school”; and
Whereas, Art. III 7 of the Constitution states that an objective
of the LCMS is to “encourage congregations to strive for uniformity
in church practice, but also to develop an appreciation of a variety