A Statement Concerning the Hymnal, "This Far By Faith"

A Statement by President A. L. Barry
Regarding the Hymnal "This Far by Faith"

July 1, 1999
 

For several years now, there has been a strong desire on the part of our Black American brothers and sisters in Christ within the Synod for some new worship resources that would clearly reflect certain aspects of the Black American culture, and at the same time be faithful to the teachings of God's Word and the Lutheran Confessions. Various attempts were made to accomplish this goal, only to be frustrated by one delay after another. Finally, in 1993, a committee representing individuals from both the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod began work on this project.

As the various sections of this proposed new hymnal were prepared, they were submitted to Synod's doctrinal review process, something required by the Synod's by-laws. A team of five reviewers reviewed them, all of them experienced in Black Ministry, two of them Black Americans themselves. While portions of this new hymnal were seen as totally acceptable, there were several other aspects and sections of the hymnal that could not be approved. This information was shared with the committee working on this project, as well as with the staff of our Synod's Board for Black Ministry Services. Some of the doctrinal reviewers' comments were accepted, but others were not. Consequently, this hymnal was not doctrinally approved for use in the congregations of our Synod. In view of this situation, the joint hymnal committee decided to hand the entire project over to the ELCA and to Augsburg Fortress Publishing House.

I have now been asked as the President of Synod to comment on this situation. On the one hand, it would be totally impossible for the President of Synod to approve this hymnal for general use in our congregations since the doctrinal review process of our Synod has not approved it. In that connection, I must go on record to encourage all of our congregations to respect that aspect of the covenant that binds us together under Article VI of Synod's Constitution which indicates that members in our Synod are to make "exclusive use of doctrinally pure agenda, hymn books, and catechisms in church and school."

On the other hand, at the same time, I am fully aware of the fact that there are certain hymns and portions of this hymnal that could be used as viable resources by our pastors and people. But to use this hymnal as the basic hymnal in our congregations would be inappropriate in view of the decision reached by the doctrinal review process. Now I recognize that in saying all this there are many who will be unhappy with this decision. But I am firmly convinced that this is the correct counsel that I must give to the Synod in this connection.

I feel it is also important to note the work that Synod's Commission on Worship is currently doing. Being sensitive to the need for a more ethnically diverse hymnal, they have already included materials from a variety of ethnic traditions in their new Hymnal Supplement. I am told that they are also giving a very high priority to this need in the new synodical hymnal on which they are currently working.

Finally, may our Lord continue to bless us and our congregations as we regularly gather in worship with fellow believers to hear His Word, to receive His blessed Sacrament, and to unite our hearts and voices in prayer and hymns of praise to the one and only true God. To that end may God mightily bless!