Official Workbook PDF page source text

2026 Convention Workbook

317LIFE TOGETHER

Ov. 4-27

To Require Use of Synod-Approved Agendas and Hymnbooks at Concordia University System Chapels, Lutheran Summer Camps, and Youth Gathering

WHEREAS, Constitution Article VI 4 requires as a condition of membership in the Synod, “e xclusive use of doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms in church and school”; and

WHEREAS, The Synod makes available for use by our churches and schools hymnbooks whose doctrinal purity has been established to the satisfaction of all concerned; and

WHEREAS, Corporate worship assemblies occurring under the official auspices or promotion of Synod entities by nature fall under the category of “church” and are therefore constitutionally bound to the use of “doctrinally pure … hymnbooks”; and

WHEREAS, Chapel services at Concordia University System (CUS) schools, Lutheran summer camps, and the Youth Gathering are included in the category of corporate worship assemblies occurring under the official auspices or promotion of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, CUS chapel services, Lutheran summer camps, and the Youth Gathering do not exclusively use worship materials taken from sources published under the authority and doctrinal approval of the Synod; doctrinal purity of other materials is used is therefore in doubt; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention instruct all persons and groups responsible for planning the corporate worship assembles listed above henceforth to draw all worship materials strictly from hymnals and other worship resources published under the authority of the Synod.

Circuit 5 (Mitchell)

South Dakota District

Ov. 4-28

To Recommend Review of Worship Practices

WHEREAS, The Synod continues to decline in numbers with congregations closing or declining in attendance in many congregations, resulting in fewer guests and opportunities for outreach/evangelism; and

WHEREAS, Many once growing and viable congregations are now struggling from lack of willing and active members to carry out ministry goals in every area of parish life; and

WHEREAS, There are many opportunities to adapt worship services without compromising sound doctrine while being more visitor friendly and inclusive of those in changing/multicultural neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, The “dyed in the wool” Lutherans who have attended from infant Baptism to later decades may be reluctant to change decades old habits to allow for our worship services to be modified to accommodate new ideas and procedures; and

WHEREAS, The Great Commission commands us to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19) and Paul says, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1 Cor. 9:22); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod conduct a study to determine if current worship practices are serving ourselves and not considering the needs of the unchurched; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations make it a priority to determine the worship style that the people in their neighborhoods would like to hear and see in church services, without compromising doctrine , and implement some of those changes to attract and minister to those who join them for church services; and be it further

Resolved, That in the preparation of the weekly sermon , the pastor present three to four easily understood key points for listeners to live by during the week in hopes the energized members, inactive members, and visitors will return to receive Word and Sacrament ministry; and be it finally

Resolved, That congregation members, young and old, support the pastor and ministry in the congregation by inviting their neighbors and friends, the unchurched and delinquent.

Faith Hot Springs Village, AR

Ov. 4-29

To Properly Examine New Worship Practices within the Synod

WHEREAS, With regard to the Lord’s Supper, when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament, He said, “Take and eat;

this is my body … Drink from [the cup] all of you. This is My blood of the covenant …” (Matt. 26:26– 28 NIV); and

WHEREAS, St. Paul writes, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor. 11:26 NIV); and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures therefore declare that we eat and drink the body and blood of the Lord in Holy Communion and do not speak of adoring either the host or the cup; and

WHEREAS, At the time of the Reformation until this day the Roman Catholic Church has practiced the adoration of the host and cup when bells are rung during the Words of Institution; and

WHEREAS, Luther affirmed the adoration of Christ as present in the Sacrament as distinguished from the Roman practice of the adoration of the host in his 1523 paper entitled “The Adoration of the Sacrament” (Luther’s Works, 36:269–305); and

WHEREAS, By the 1530s the adoration of the host was no longer practiced in Lutheran churches. It is not in any of the early church orders, including those of Luther; and

WHEREAS, It is stated in Luther’s Table Talk, under the heading “Elevation of the Host Abolished in Wittenberg, No. 5589, Spring, 1543”:

Thereupon somebody asked, “Are there other reasons than adoration [of the host] for abolishing elevation?” He answered, “I know no other.” The former suggested, “Doctor, in places where the gospel has not been preached so long one might tolerate this patiently and not abolish elevation, especially where the people are not yet established in their faith.” The doctor replied, “Yes, it’s of little consequence to us. We don’t care if it’s abolished or not, provided the abuse — that is, the adoration— is not there. Some churches have seen that we have dropped the elevation [in Wittenberg] and have imitated us. We are pleased with that.” ( Luther’s Works 54:462, emphasis added);

and

WHEREAS, The Formula of Concord specifically rejects and condemns the adoration in Article VII, which states, “On the other