April 14, 2005

CHICAGO – The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) recommended the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly commit the church to continue a plan to renew worship. A part of the plan includes the production of a new book of worship.

The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. The council met here April 9-11. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 8-14, in Orlando, Fla.

In 2000 the council set in motion a five-year process to renew worship in the ELCA. A report with recommendations is scheduled for presentation at the assembly this summer.

In a seven-point resolution, the council asked the 2005 Churchwide Assembly to urge congregations, pastors and other leaders to: + commit the ELCA to continue steps toward the renewal of worship + focus on the central importance of the "means of grace" + foster awareness on the "relationship of worship with formation of the faith" + strengthen the focus of mission in the worshipping assembly + acknowledge the widespread participation of Lutherans in the church's Renewing Worship project, including the development of provisional resources, attending worship events, testing and responding to proposals and engaging on issues related to worship + direct the ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop to complete the liturgical review of proposed content for a new book of worship in accordance with the church's established policy, work with all expressions of the church to further the development of worship resources and commit to ecumenical cooperation in the development of worship resources + encourage the 10,657 congregations of the ELCA to reflect on the church's gathering in Word and Sacrament and invite study together of "With the Whole Church" as a resource for deepening awareness of the significance of worship in the life of Lutherans

The council viewed a six-minute video that highlighted the diversity of Lutheran worship.

The "next generation" of resources for Renewing Worship involves the development and availability of a "whole family" of resources that has at its center a new primary book for worship, which will strive to bring unity while supporting variety and flexibility in worship.

In a separate action, the council approved a designation of $950,000 to support the introduction process of the new primary worship resource. The money is part of a $4.5 million designation plan – proposed by the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA – intended to strengthen the church's ministry commitments.

Information about the ELCA's Renewing Worship project is available at http://www.renewingworship.org/ on the Internet.

ELCA News Service