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What is “Renewing Worship”?
“Renewing Worship” (RW) is the process by which the ELCA is producing new worship materials. Officially, RW is a response to …emerging changes in the life of the church and the world. RW includes a series of provisional resources intended to provide worship leaders with a range of …materials… These resources are offered to assist the renewal of corporate worship in a variety of settings, especially among Lutheran churches, in anticipation of the next generation of primary worship resources,” (Principles for Worship, p. iv).
What is the timeline?
The consultation phase began in 2001. In 2002 Principles for Worship was published.
Since then several more books of trial-use worship materials have been published: Holy Baptism & Related Rites; Life Passages: Marriage, Healing, Funeral; New Hymns & Songs; RW Songbook; Holy Communion & Related Rites; Daily Prayer and The Church’s Year: Propers and Seasonal Rites.
The ELCA has held regional and synodical conferences to introduce the project and solicit feedback. The ELCA also sought congregations to test these provisional worship resources in fall 2004.
The “Resource Proposal Group” in November 2004 made a report and proposal to the ELCA Church Council. In April 2005 the Church Council received the final report and voted to recommend adoption of the recommendations at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly. The proposed contents for the new book of worship have been made public. (online at www.renewingworship.org)
How does this affect me and my congregation?
This project is working to develop worship materials to replace the LBW (“green book”). The project is aimed at reshaping the way that Lutherans worship. This is NOT just about publishing a new hymnal with a new selection of hymns; it is about new liturgies and worship practices that may or may not reflect our reformation heritage.
What official action will be taken on this?
The 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will not vote on the specific contents of the new book of worship but will receive a report and will be asked to affirm a series of ‘steps toward renewal.’ The Churchwide Assembly is one avenue of input in the ELCA’s liturgical review process.
Do I have any opportunity to respond or influence this?
Yes! The website (under Participate”) has instructions on how to give feedback on the materials. Each printed volume also has a response form.
Talk with your delegates to the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly! Make them aware that this is an important issue and should not be forgotten amidst other issues.
What should I do before I give feedback to the ELCA?
Inform yourself! Review Luther’s Small Catechism; think about how it shapes our view of what God is doing in Word and Sacrament. Review relevant parts of the Lutheran Confessions, for example, the Augsburg Confession and the Apology, Article 15 “Human Traditions in the Church.” Ask yourself whether the RW materials are in fact consistent with how Lutherans understand worship. Review the statement on worship by the Theological Advisory Board (TAB) of WordAlone (www.wordalone.org/resources/worship/
christian_evangelical_worship.htm).
Why is the WordAlone TAB concerned about this?
The TAB is concerned the materials neglect or obscure what is essential for worship from a confessional Lutheran perspective. The TAB is a group of Lutheran theologians who teach in five countries; we believe Lutheran insights must shape Lutheran worship.
Why does all this matter?
We do not want the hope and consolation of the Gospel to be lost! A focus on human activity in worship turns us from God to ourselves. First and foremost: God is doing something for us in Word and Sacrament! Our prayer, praise, and thanksgiving come only as a response to what God is doing.
“This is how God wants to become known and worshiped, namely, that we receive blessings from him, and indeed that we receive them on account of his mercy and not on account of our merits. This is the richest consolation in all afflictions, which the opponents destroy when they trivialize and disparage faith and only teach people to deal with God through works and merits.” (Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV, 60).
Mary Jane Haemig is Associate Professor of Church History at Luther Seminary
and Director of the Thrivent Reformation Research Program. She is also a member of the WordAlone Board
