LCMS. Commission on Worship Records

In 1929 the Missouri Synod resolved to instruct the president to appoint a standing committee of five on hymnology and liturgics. They were to confer with the other synods of the Lutheran Synodical Conference on preparation of a joint hymnal (Proceedings, 1929, pages 131–33). This cooperative venture was furthered in 1932 when other Synodical Conference members appointed representatives to the committee. The Missouri Synod urged that, if possible, the committee complete its work by 1938, which, however, could not be done. The new hymnal was finally issued in 1941 as The Lutheran Hymnal. It was resolved that the publication of the old hymnal be discontinued (Proceedings, 1941, pages 326–30). Mention was made that in the 1941 report of the General Literature Board one of the duties of the Committee on Hymnology was to consider books of devotion and prayer and similar matters (Ibid., page 269).

In 1944 the committee was at work on a new liturgy and agenda. Offerings and revisions were to be submitted to the pastors for criticism before publication (Proceedings, 1944, page 286). In 1947 the Liturgical Society of St. James requested that a separate committee on liturgics be established. This request was declined, since the committee was considered temporary and its tasks were drawing to a close (Proceedings, 1947, pages 569–76). The dissolution of the committee, however, did not materialize.

In 1950 and again in 1953 the committee’s request for the publication of a pocket-sized edition of The Lutheran Hymnal was declined. In 1956 it was suggested that the Small Catechism and a harmony of the Passion Story be added to the hymnal at its next revision. In fact, voices expressed the desire that a revision would soon be undertaken (Proceedings, 1956, pages 610–11). The committee received Handbook status in 1956. Extensive revisions and additions were made in 1959.

The Committee on Hymnology and Liturgics represented the synod in the Synodical Conference (Reports and Memorials, 1959, page 558). A new hymnal was in preparation for 1969–1971. It was also suggested that the office of executive director of worship be established and that the name of the committee be changed to Commission on Worship, Liturgics and Hymnology. Only the latter was adopted (Proceedings, 1959, pages 279–82).

In 1962 the commission formed three sub-committees (later called “committees”) to deal separately with work on hymn texts, liturgical texts and music.

The LCMS at its 1965 convention (Resolution 13-01) had directed the Commission on Worship, Liturgics and Hymnology to work toward a common Lutheran service book and hymnal in cooperation with other Lutheran bodies. In 1966 an Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship (ILCW) was organized to work toward this common worship resource, and the LCMS commission took part in the work of the ILCW.

Six of the seven members of the commission resigned in November 1977 because of the synod’s decision not to endorse the Lutheran Book of Worship produced by the ILCW. New members were appointed to the commission and met for the first time on 29–30 August 1978.