wfn.org | Convention approves hymnal testing, moves Stewardship back to BDCS

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Board for Communication Services
1333 S. Kirkwood Road St. Louis, MO 63122-7295

61st Regular Convention St. Louis, Mo. July 14-20, 2001

July 18, 2001 #33

Contact: Bruce Kueck (314) 342-5715

Convention approves hymnal testing, moves Stewardship back to BDCS

ST. LOUIS Field testing of material for a new hymnal and moving the church 
body s stewardship department back to a Synod board were approved 
Wednesday, July 18, by delegates to the 61st Regular Convention of The 
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

One action calls for the LCMS Commission on Worship to develop materials 
for the hymnal and an agenda (a book containing orders of worship and other 
rites, primarily for pastors). It also directs the commission to make 
available at congregational, circuit and district levels the liturgical 
orders, all new hymns, a summary of changes to hymns in existing Synod 
hymnals, and rites for the new agenda.

In addition, the resolution calls for the worship commission to develop a 
process for considering the results of the field test, and then to provide 
the final version of the worship materials that it made available.

The 1998 convention action calling for the new hymnal adopted a schedule 
that would have the completed book presented to the Synod s 2007 convention.

The action regarding the Synod s stewardship department moves the 
department from the LCMS Foundation to the Board for District and 
Congregational Services. The LCMS Board of Directors last year moved the 
department from the congregational services board to the foundation as a 
budget-saving measure. Convention action calls for District and 
Congregational services and the Synod s Board of Directors to allow the 
extra funding for the stewardship department.

The Rev. Herbert Mueller, chairman of the floor committee presenting the 
resolution, explained that the committee made its recommendation rather 
than change Synod bylaws, which would have been necessary had the 
department remained with the Foundation.

Another resolution from the Congregational Services floor committee 
approved Wednesday encourages removal of clergy requirements for some Synod 
and district positions.

That resolution notes that between 1987 and 1995, the number of pastors in 
the Synod dropped from 5,544 to 5,215, while the number of pastors holding 
Synod and district positions increased from 247 to 422. During the same 
period, the number of vacant parishes in the Synod rose from 598 to 971.

The convention asked district and Synod boards to determine if more staff 
positions could be opened to lay people, and to determine if all their 
administrative positions are necessary.

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