Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 46
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 46

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

er ______

46 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

a. such an executive would act on behalf of the Participating
church bodies, but would actually be responsible to none of them
directly except for his Personal membership in one of them:

b. the proposed position is open-ended, having no terminus
as quem:

c. such an executive office would add a cost of some $12,000

o that already being supplied by the Synod for ILCW work
(nearly doubling the costs).

For these reasons, the Synod again declined to approve this
part of the restructuring proposal. The ILCW has not yet put the
balance of the restructuring into effect pending further con-
sideration of ways to overcome these objections. One change
has been effected, however, Previously operations in which all
churches shared on equal representational basis were paid by
the individual churches—only when unequal representation
existed were these expenses paid from the common treasury.
Now all expenses are paid from the common treasury ~ with
expectation of effecting economies which were not possible
under the previous Operating program.

Calendar Reform

In order to achieve greater agreement among Lutherans in
North America and with Christians generally, several changes
have been Proposed for the structure of the church year. These
are briefly set forth in the overture which accompanies this
report.

Lectionary Reform

There is generally a movement among Christians of the
western church to undertake reforms in the official lectionary
provided for reading and preaching in their churches. Lutherans
in North America became involved in this endeavor in 1968
at the invitation of the LWF. Intensive work under the leader-
ship of the ILCW has produced a revision of the historic (1-year)
lectionary and a greatly expanded (3-year) lectionary. Further
information is contained in the overture which accompanies
this report.

ILCW Publications

In 1969 the ILCW issued a small collection of sacred songs for
various occasions. 1971 saw the publication of the eucharistic

(and rationale for the Same), prayers, and psalmody for the
church year. Two additional services are rapidly approaching
completion—baptism and funeral. Work has begun on the
preparation of orders for ordination and installation and related
rites.

evaluation? At present, the commission is providing sample copy
of each ILCW publication to the chairman of the District Com-
mittee on Worship. That is all the budget will permit.

Other Publications

Under the aegis of the commission on worship offices of
LCMS, ALC, and LCA, a publication known as Church Music

The last convention of the Synod said that Worshipgram
should continue to be published by the commission and to be
sent to the clergy and the church musicians of the Synod. The
resolution also said that it should appear at least twice yearly —

ICET Texts

Various liturgical texts used in common by Christians have
received proposed new English wording during the past 4 years.
This work resulted directly from the activities of the ILCW. It

English-speaking world and is known as ICET (International
Consultation on English Texts). In 1974, ICET plans to review
the reception which these texts have been accorded, and see
what, if any, changes need to be made. Accordingly, Lutherans
in North America are urged to file their reactions for submis-
sion to ICET. These should be submitted to the office of the

Seminary Conference

In the interest of stimulating greater Spiritual life develop-
ment on the campuses of the various Lutheran seminaries in
North America, the commissions on worship (in cooperation
with the boards of theological education) of LCMS, ALC, and

groups. Worship materials Prepared by the ILCW were intro-
duced and used during the conference.

Several recommendations were forthcoming from the
conference. i

and to recognize the place of the arts. drama. music. etc.. as inte-
gral to the theological and liturgical life of the church.

In this connection one of the groups, with telling insight,
recommended:

a. that a program of Spiritual development become a part of
the seminary curriculum insuring that it is a consideration
for ordination;

b. that students be encouraged to take up daily devotional
Bible study and prayer at their own initiative:

ce. that basic liturgical courses be reevaluated, that the
availability of upper division courses be enlarged, and that
courses on prayer be offered:

d. that faculty and students together take an active part in
seminary spiritual life.

All expressed a sense of feeling that similar conferences should
be held in the future to make certain that these insights are not
allowed to become lost.

Workshops/Institutes

Ten years ago, the three commissions on worship and the
LSWMA jointly sponsored institutes in worship leadership for
the musicians in various areas of the country. Completion of