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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 350

2026 Convention Workbook
315LIFE 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. 
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 consultatio n 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.