{"id":1201,"date":"2010-03-04T09:50:17","date_gmt":"2010-03-04T14:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/?p=1201"},"modified":"2010-12-17T20:56:57","modified_gmt":"2010-12-18T02:56:57","slug":"a-new-elca-worship-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/index.php\/2010\/03\/04\/a-new-elca-worship-book\/","title":{"rendered":"A New ELCA Worship ‘Book’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW),<\/em> published in 2006, is the new primary worship resource for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), also serving the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.<\/p>\n

The first thing you notice is that that word \u201cbook\u201d is missing. It\u2019s a new day.\u00a0A church\u2019s worship treasury is no longer contained only in a book. Yet, there is a new book. And the book continues to be valued by many.<\/p>\n

The second thing you notice, as you explore the resources about Evangelical Lutheran Worship<\/em> and its introduction, is that the words \u201ccomprehensive\u201d and \u201cexhaustive,\u201d which were prominent in previous generations, have been replaced with \u201ccore\u201d and \u201cprimary.\u201d No longer is one collection of texts and music expected to serve all worshiping communities in all contexts at all times.<\/p>\n

A little history<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The story of Lutherans in North America is a one of immigration and merger. Lutherans came to this continent in waves of immigration from different parts of Germany and Scandinavia, settling in many parts of North America. Each group brought their own pieties, structures, and worship practices. Over the past few centuries, these small church bodies have gradually merged in various configurations. Most recently \u2013 1988 \u2013 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was formed from three predecessor churches, resulting in the largest Lutheran church in North America.<\/p>\n

An interesting thing about this pattern of immigration and merger is that most of the formal mergers were preceded by cooperative work on common worship materials. For example, the ELCA was formed in 1988 following the 1978 publication of Lutheran Book of Worship<\/em> (LBW)<\/em>. The American Lutheran Church was formed in 1960 and the Lutheran Church in America was formed in 1962. The Service Book and Hymnal<\/em> had just been published in 1958. Similar patterns of working toward worshiping together leading to structural merger can be traced throughout Lutheran history on this continent.<\/p>\n

ELCA Liturgical Review Policy<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

ELW <\/em>was the first major project of its kind since the formation of the ELCA. Therefore, it was the first significant test of this church\u2019s Liturgical Review Policy which guides such work. The policy requires transparency and extensive participation. Both of these criteria were evident in the development of ELW.<\/em><\/p>\n

The policy states that \u201cthe three general criteria for judging material for public worship and liturgical use shall be fidelity to the Word of God, consistency with the Lutheran confessions, and respect for the nature of the liturgical assembly as the gathering of God\u2019s people.\u201d After extensive detail about how the process may unfold, the policy concludes with stated Degrees of Endorsement:<\/p>\n

A.\u00a0Interim
\n1. Provisional
\n2. Proposed
\n3. Other
\nB.\u00a0Market-specific
\n1. Available
\n2. Recommended
\nC.\u00a0Encouraged
\n1.\u00a0Commended
\nD.\u00a0Authorized
\nE.\u00a0Other endorsements<\/p>\n

What\u2019s interesting is that ELW <\/em>(and LBW <\/em>before it) does not carry the \u201cAuthorized\u201d status. That designation is reserved for the rites for making pastors and bishops, which carry with them requirements from our full communion agreement with the Episcopal Church. This church\u2019s primary worship resource (at this time, ELW<\/em>; although LBW<\/em> still maintains the same designation) is \u201cCommended\u201d for use.<\/p>\n

Lutherans maintain a high value for \u201cevangelical freedom,\u201d making it nearly impossible to require many specifics in regard to worship practice. This is both a blessing and a challenge, and no two Lutherans would agree which is which.<\/p>\n

Development of <\/em>ELW<\/strong><\/p>\n

Work on the new primary worship resource (to become ELW)<\/em> began officially in 2000.\u00a0 However, a great deal was already happening during the 1990s that influenced the project, including:<\/p>\n