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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 315

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

LIFE TOGETHER
was historically appointed in its entirety by the President of the
Synod.
Such a Commission on Worship is clearly desirable: to coordinate,
guide, and instruct the Synod by efforts that faithfully carry forward
the Lutheran heritage of worship in the present day; to assure broad
input and knowledgeable expertise from the Synod’s membership
in matters of worship and future hymnal projects; to coordinate the
aims of the Synod, the President of the Synod, and Concordia
Publishing House; to pursue what is excellent in each new
generation so that the church’s song would neither become novel
nor stagnant; and to do so faithfully and cost-effectively.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod reinstate a Commission on Worship as
a separate commission; and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.9.1 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.9 Commissions
3.9.1
The commissions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod are the following:
1. Commission on Constitutional Matters
2. Commission on Doctrinal Review
3. Commission on Handbook
4. Commission on Theology and Church Relations
5. Commission on Worship

And be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.9.6 be added as follows:
Commission on Worship
3.9.6
The Commission on Worship exists to provide guidance
and materials in matters of worship to the members of the Synod to
assist them in their responsibility to make exclusive use of
doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms in church and
school (Constitution Art. VI 4) and in their objective to strive for
uniformity in church practice and appreciate responsible practices
and customs in harmony with the Synod’s common profession of
faith (Constitution Art. III 7)
3.9.6.1
The Commission on Worship shall consist of 7 voting
members including ordained and commissioned ministers and
laypersons:
1. One ordained minister who is a parish pastor
2. One commissioned minister who is a Director of Parish Music
or parish teacher
3. One layperson
4. One additional ordained minister
5. One additional musician who is either a commissioned
minister or a layperson
6. Two additional members
The commission may solicit the assistance of other persons who are
well qualified to render valuable and necessary service to the church
through the commission. Such persons may serve as advisory
members.
3.9.6.2
The members of the Commission on Worship shall be
selected as follows:
(a) The parish pastor, the Director of Parish music or parish
teacher, and the layperson shall be elected by a convention of the
Synod.
(b) The additional ordained minister, additional musician, and
two additional members shall be appointed by the President of
the Synod after consultation with the Council of Presidents.

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3.9.6.3
The elected members of the Commission on Worship shall
be elected to six-year terms and will be eligible to serve a maximum
of three elected terms. The appointed members of the Commission
on Worship shall serve six-year terms and have no limit as to the
number of sequential terms served.
3.9.6.4
The Commission on Worship may create an executive
director position and fill it in accordance with the Bylaws of the
Synod and the human resources policies of corporate Synod.
(a) The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the
commission.
(1) The initial appointment of the executive director shall be
by the President of the Synod after consultation with the Board
of Directors of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
(2) In the event of a vacancy, the commission and the
President of the Synod shall act expeditiously to fill the
vacancy. This commission shall present a list of at least three
but no more than five candidates to the President. The
President, after consultation with the Board of Directors of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, will then appoint the
executive director from the list of candidates provided by the
commission.
(3) The commission shall conduct an annual review of its
executive director and, before the expiration of five years,
conduct a comprehensive review.
(4) At the conclusion of each five-year period, the
appointment shall terminate unless the commission takes
specific action to continue the person in the office, each
subsequent term not to exceed five years.
(b) Any interim executive director appointment by the
commission shall follow a process similar to the initial
appointment of the executive director.
(1) Such interim appointee must be approved by the President
of the Synod in consultation with the commission and may not
serve more than 18 months.
(2) Such interim appointee shall be ineligible to serve on a
permanent basis, excepting the process of filling a vacancy in
3.9.6.4 (a)(2) being followed, with the interim appointee
having been included on the commission’s list.
(c) The executive director of the commission shall normally
attend all meetings of the commission except when his own
position is being considered.
(d) The commission may create and fill other staff positions in
accordance with the human resources policies of corporate Synod
adopted pursuant to Bylaw 1.5.5. Such staff may attend meetings
of the commission upon request of the commission.
3.9.6.5
The commission shall embrace, recognize, and pursue
opportunities to provide guidance, resources, and events which
deepen understanding, participation, and excellence in the
preparation and conduct of Lutheran worship.
(a) It shall consult with the practical theology and the music
departments of Synod colleges, universities, and seminaries to
assist them to establish and affirm principles and practices in
liturgy, church music, and church art which best express the true
confessional theology of worship in Word and Sacrament of the
Lutheran Church.
(b) It shall support the growth of congregations’ and church
workers’ discernment in selecting worship resources that edify
the church.
(c) It shall facilitate the development, adoption, and revision of
agenda and hymnbooks to be adopted as official agenda and
hymnbooks of the Synod.
(1) All agenda and hymnbooks that are to be accepted as
official agenda and hymnbooks of the Synod shall be given
such status only by a convention of the Synod.

2026 Convention Workbook