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Resolution 4-06A

To Amend Bylaws to Reinstate Commission on Worship

Current verified published text from Today's Business, Issue 2B. Proposed business, not final Synod action unless adopted.

Current published version

Resolution 4-06A

Today's Business, Issue 2B
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Printed pp. 288-291
Proposed business unless official action indicates otherwise

Supersedes the immediately prior published version of Resolution 4-06.

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Official Action Source

Convention Minutes, Opening Worship and Sessions 1 and 2

Saturday-Sunday, July 18-19, 2026

Use these published minutes for the controlling record of actions, votes, elections, and parliamentary dispositions. Today's Business remains the source for exact published proposal wording.

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Version History

Current published version

Today's Business, Issue 2B. pp. 288-291. Revised published proposal.

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Official Resolution Source Text

Resolution: 4-06A

Canonical number: 4-06

Committee: Life Together

Source: Today's Business, Issue 2B

Printed pages: pp. 288-291

PDF pages: 36-39

Version: revised, current-published-proposal

Source reference: Issue 2B, pp. 288-291

Line numbers follow Today's Business, Issue 2B, with numbering reset on each printed page, so delegates can compare this page with the official PDF.

Page 288

  1. To Amend Bylaws to Reinstate Commission on Worship
  2. RESOLUTION 4-06A
  3. Overtures 4-23–31, 40–42, 46 (CW, 314–19, 324–27)
  4. Preamble
  5. The Word of God and the Sacraments are the means by which God has promised to deal with us (SA III VIII 10). It is
  6. by these means that justifying faith is obtained (AC V). In order to obtain this faith, the ministry of purely teaching the
  7. Gospel and rightly administering the Sacraments was established and continues in the church, serving as the marks of
  8. the true Christian Church and its unity (AC V; VII).
  9. The public teaching of God’s Word and administration of the Sacraments in Christian congregations is commonly
  10. referred to as “worship.” Such worship is an essential and necessary public activity for every Christian congregation. In
  11. faithful public worship the following common purposes of the members of the Synod (congregations and individual
  12. ministers) are enacted: to “conserve and promote the unity of the true faith” (Const. Art. III 1), to strengthen one another
  13. “in giving bold witness by word and deed to the love and work of God” (Const. Art. III 2), to educate and nourish
  14. Christians of all ages (Const. Art. III 5), and to recognize, promote, express, conserve, and defend confessional unity in
  15. the true faith (Const. Art. III 6). “Worship” necessarily encompasses a variety of faithful church practices and customs.
  16. Holy Scripture does not require precise uniformity in these. Neither is the true unity of the Church to be found by outward
  17. uniformity (AC VII 2). Nevertheless, the Synod from inception has consistently affirmed that a recognizable uniformity
  18. of order and church practice is desirable and worthy of pursuit (Const. Art. III 7).
  19. In fact, the Synod has found this pursuit of recognizable uniformity and faithfulness of such importance that it has
  20. conditioned membership in the Synod concerning the prayers and rites, songs and hymns used in worship. The Synod
  21. requires (based on the confessional basis of Const. Art. II) that its members “exclusive[ly] use … doctrinally pure
  22. agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms in church and school” (Const. Art. VI 4).
  23. Furthermore, we have the clear teaching of Holy Scripture regarding being united by God’s Word in worship. For
  24. example, Scripture teaches that we are to “let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly, teaching and admonishing one
  25. another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in [our] hearts to God” (Col.
  26. 3:16). The unity we have in God’s Word (John 17:20–21; Eph. 4:11–13) finds expression in our worship.
  27. To assist its members in these things, the Synod adopts official hymnbooks and agenda and gives attention to the conduct
  28. of rites, preaching, administration of the Sacraments, and music by her members (e.g., 2016 Res. 4-04A, “To Appeal to
  29. the LCMS Congregations, Workers, and Institutions within Christian Freedom for Love’s Sake to Retain a Common
  30. Order of Service for the Lord’s Supper”). Recognizing the vital importance of worship, the Synod maintained a
  31. Commission on Worship from the 1930s until 1981, although it was first acknowledged in Synod Bylaws in 1960. After
  32. a brief hiatus, the Commission on Worship was reinstated in 1983 and continued until the Synod’s restructuring in 2010.
  33. The Commission on Worship was historically appointed in its entirety by the President of the Synod.
  34. Such a Commission on Worship is clearly desirable: to coordinate, guide, and instruct the Synod by efforts that faithfully
  35. carry forward the Lutheran heritage of worship in the present day; to assure broad input and knowledgeable expertise
  36. from the Synod’s membership in matters of worship and future hymnal projects; to coordinate the aims of the Synod,
  37. the President of the Synod, and Concordia Publishing House; to pursue what is excellent in each new generation so that
  38. the church’s song would neither become novel nor stagnant; and to do so faithfully and cost-effectively.
  39. WHEREAS, Worship in Word and Sacrament is a mark of the church and as such is a “vital function of the church
  40. and as such its importance must be strongly emphasized” (1983 Res. 5- 06, “To Reinstate Commission on Worship”);
  41. and
  42. WHEREAS, The Constitution of Synod, reflecting this emphasis, directs congregations of Synod “to strive for
  43. uniformity in church practice,” to “develop an appreciation of a variety of responsible practices and customs which are
  44. in harmony with [the Synod’s] common profession of faith” (Const. Art. III), and to make “exclusive use of doctrinally
  45. pure agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms in church and school” (Const. Art. VI 4); and
  46. WHEREAS, The Synod was served regularly by a Commission on Worship prior to 2010 to assist it in meeting such
  47. objectives and conditions for membership, and faithfully in the interim by the LCMS Office of National Mission’s
  48. Worship Ministry area; and

Page 289

  1. WHEREAS, With the elimination of the Commission on Worship in 2010, there now exist no bylaw guidelines
  2. or processes for the production and adoption of agendas, hymnbooks, supplements, or other worship resources for
  3. use by the members of Synod; therefore be it
  4. Resolved, That the Synod reinstate a Commission on Worship as a separate commission; and be it further
  5. Resolved, That Bylaw 3.9.1 be amended as follows:
  6. PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
  7. 3.9 Commissions
  8. 3.9.1 The commissions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod are the following:
  9. 1. Commission on Constitutional Matters
  10. 2. Commission on Doctrinal Review
  11. 3. Commission on Handbook
  12. 4. Commission on Theology and Church Relations
  13. 5. Commission on Worship
  14. and be it further
  15. Resolved, That Bylaw 3.9.6 be added as follows:
  16. PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
  17. Commission on Worship
  18. 3.9.6 The Commission on Worship exists to provide guidance and materials in matters of worship to the
  19. members of the Synod to assist them in their responsibility to make exclusive use of doctrinally pure
  20. agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms in church and school (Const. Art. VI 4) and in their objective to strive
  21. for uniformity in church practice and appreciate a variety of responsible practices and customs in harmony
  22. with the Synod’s common profession of faith (Const. Art. III 7).
  23. 3.9.6.1 The Commission on Worship shall consist of seven voting members including ordained and commissioned
  24. ministers and laypersons:
  25. 1. One ordained minister who is a parish pastor
  26. 2. One commissioned minister who is a director of parish music or parish teacher
  27. 3. One layperson
  28. 4. One additional ordained minister
  29. 5. One additional musician who is either a commissioned minister or a layperson
  30. 6. Two additional members
  31. 3.9.6.2 The commission may solicit the assistance of additional persons who are well qualified to render valuable
  32. and necessary service to the church through the commission. Such persons may serve in an advisory
  33. capacity.
  34. 3.9.6.3 The members of the Commission on Worship shall be selected as follows:
  35. (a) The parish pastor, the Director of Parish music or parish teacher, and the layperson shall be elected
  36. by a convention of the Synod.
  37. (b) The additional ordained minister, additional musician, and two additional members shall be
  38. appointed by the President of the Synod in consultation with the Council of Presidents.
  39. (c) Vacancies that occur in the positions that were filled by the President shall be again filled by the
  40. President in consultation with the Council of Presidents.
  41. (d) In the case of vacancies that occur in positions that were filled by election of a national convention
  42. of the Synod, the appointing body shall be the Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
  43. Synod, which shall follow the nominating procedures for filling vacancies in board and commission
  44. positions elected by the Synod as outlined in the Bylaws of Synod.
  45. 3.9.6.4 The Commission on Worship may create an executive director position and fill it in accordance with the
  46. Bylaws of the Synod and the human resources policies of corporate Synod.
  47. (a) The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the commission.
  48. (1) Upon the formation of the Commission on Worship, the appointment of the executive director
  49. shall be made by the President of the Synod. Thereafter, the slate of candidates for the initial

Page 290

  1. appointment of the executive director shall be selected by the commission in consultation with
  2. and with the mutual concurrence of the President of the Synod.
  3. (2) In the event of a vacancy, the commission and the President of the Synod shall act
  4. expeditiously to fill the vacancy. This commission shall present its list of candidates to the
  5. President.
  6. (3) The commission shall conduct an annual review of its executive director and, before the
  7. expiration of five years, conduct a comprehensive review.
  8. (4) At the conclusion of each five -year period, the appointment shall terminate unless the
  9. commission takes specific action to continue the person in the office, each subsequent term not
  10. to exceed five years.
  11. (b) Any interim executive director appointment by the commission shall follow a process similar to
  12. the initial appointment of the executive director.
  13. (1) Such interim appointee must be approved by the President of the Synod in consultation with
  14. the commission and may not serve more than 18 months.
  15. (2) Such interim appointee shall be ineligible to serve on a permanent basis, excepting the process
  16. of filling a vacancy in Bylaw 3.9.6.4 (a)(2) being followed, with the interim appointee having
  17. been included on the commission’s list.
  18. (c) The executive director of the commission shall normally attend all meetings of the commission
  19. except when his own position is being considered.
  20. (d) The commission may create and fill other staff positions in accordance with the human resources
  21. policies of corporate Synod adopted pursuant to Bylaw 1.5.5. Such staff may attend meetings of the
  22. commission upon request of the commission.
  23. 3.9.6.5 The commission shall embrace, recognize, and pursue opportunities to provide guidance, resources, and
  24. events that deepen understanding, participation, and excellence in the preparation and conduct of Lutheran
  25. worship.
  26. (a) It shall consult with the practical theology and the music departments of Synod colleges,
  27. universities, and seminaries to assist them to establish and affirm principles and practices in liturgy,
  28. church music, and church art that best express the true confessional theology of worship in Word and
  29. Sacrament of the Lutheran church.
  30. (b) It shall support the growth of congregations’ and church workers’ discernment in selecting
  31. worship resources that edify the church.
  32. (c) It shall facilitate the development, adoption, and revision of agenda and hymnbooks to be adopted
  33. as official agenda and hymnbooks of the Synod.
  34. (1) All agenda and hymnbooks that are to be accepted as official agenda and hymnbooks of the
  35. Synod shall be given such status only by a convention of the Synod.
  36. (2) All such agenda and hymnbooks shall be considered by the convention only after a process
  37. of exposure and testing decided upon by the Synod in convention.
  38. (3) It shall represent the Synod in the preparation of agenda and hymnbooks in which the Synod
  39. may engage in cooperation with other synods.
  40. (4) Revisions to adopted official agenda and hymnbooks shall be made only by a convention of
  41. the Synod after requesting an evaluation and subsequent recommendations by the Commission
  42. on Worship.
  43. (d) It shall review and at its discretion exercise approval over all material related to corporate worship
  44. in liturgy and hymnody made available through the Synod’s various boards, mission offices, and
  45. commissions. The commission shall be available to review materials from recognized service
  46. organizations upon request.
  47. (e) It shall maintain regular coordination and consultation with Concordia Publishing House to
  48. provide guidance and alignment of its worship-related offerings.
  49. and be it further
  50. Resolved, That the 2026 Synod convention, upon adoption, would proceed with the filling of the elected positions
  51. on the newly constituted Commission on Worship, and, in order to achieve continuity through a plan of staggered terms,
  52. the constituting election shall elect the layperson to a half term of three years and the remaining elected members to a
  53. full six-year term; and be it finally

Page 291

  1. Resolved, That the following overtures, which request action for which responsibilities are herein designated
  2. to the Commission on Worship, be referred to that Commission upon its constitution for consideration and possible
  3. response: Ov. 4-24–31, 40–42, 46.
  4. The Chief Financial Officer and LCMS Accounting and Financial Services staff, in consultation with the Finance
  5. Committee, anticipate the annual cost to be $175,000, including regrading the LCMS Worship director position
  6. to executive director, travel for quarterly commission meetings, part-time chaplaincy/counseling support for the
  7. International Center previously handled by the LCMS Worship director, and misc. other costs (estimate required
  8. by Bylaw 3.1.7 [g]).

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