Lutheran Church–missouri Synod

In the Missouri Synod, the public liturgy is viewed as the life of the church of Jesus Christ. Consequently, the liturgy is the proclamation of the gospel and the mission of the church. The liturgy is also an important means for pastoral care, and is a lifelong vehicle for Christian formation through the Word of God. A contemporary portrait of liturgical life in the Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod must be painted in a kaleidoscope of colors. Having survived an intense theological struggle over the authority of the Scriptures in the 1960s and 1970s, the Missouri Synod retains its strong commitment to doctrinal unity. Yet, from its founding in 1847, this commitment has been coupled with freedom in matters of practice. Consequently, while the visitor to Missouri Synod churches finds uniformity in doctrine from one congregation to another, the visitor also encounters a wide diversity in the way public worship is conducted. This diversity has become increasingly noticeable in recent decad…