An Exciting Announcement

Gottesdienst has the reputation of being inflexible in matters of liturgy, with the editors marching in rigid lockstep like Prussian soldiers with pointy helmets. In fact, there are lively debates and disagreements among our editors, and lately we have been reconsidering our stance on liturgical practice.

Recently, someone showed us Article Ten from the Formula of Concord, and it has had many of us scratching our heads. We don’t know how we could have missed this in the past. Therefore, we are changing our slogan to “Leitourgiae adiaphora est.” We have come to the conclusion that liturgy is in fact adiaphora, and this opens up exciting new ways to share the Gospel.

Starting with the next issue, we will have a new column on incorporating contemporary worship into the life of the parish. We are looking for more diverse editors and bloggers to plumb the depths of non-liturgical worship. And best of all, Lead Pastors Fritz (Eckart), Ben (Ball), and Dave (Petersen) will be shooting a new video: “The Form of the Contemporary Service.” (“Have you seen the video?”) as to how to conduct a Divine Service with full praise band. Lead Pastor Rick (Stuckwisch) will serve as our new Editor of Rock and Roll Services.

We are going to be making changes to the services beginning at our next conference, offering both wine and grape juice in disposable individual cups. We will be trying out new casual attire for leading worship. We will be conducting our readings with lay readers trained in dramatic oration. And you will notice changes in our preaching as well.

And wait until you see the band!

We have already been approached by several districts asking us to present at upcoming conferences, and several of the editors are being considered for plum district positions as Mission and Ministry Facilitators.

Look, the Christian life is all about change. After all, repentance is change, and we are changing at Gottesdienst. Change is good all the time, and all the time change is good. We are grateful to have finally learned from our brothers in the ministry who have been “contemporvent” all along.

This has been brewing among our editors for some time, but we have chosen to make this grand announcement on this date, Maundy Thursday, 2021 for a reason.