One Congregation's Hymnal Is Another's Blasphemy

Religion News Service

An African-American hymnal published a year ago after collaboration by liberal and conservative Lutheran bodies continues to be a source of contention even as it is welcomed by congregations across the country.

Sales of "This Far by Faith," a volume featuring 301 hymns and a variety of liturgical worship settings, have exceeded the expectations of the publishing house that's distributing it.

But the president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has harshly criticized aspects of the songbook, which is serving as a supplement to hymnals traditionally used by churches in both his denomination and the more liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

In a report completed in January but only recently made public, Missouri Synod President A.L. Barry questioned whether some of the hymns in "This Far by Faith" appropriately uphold biblical teaching and whether certain liturgies -- including a baptismal rite with the option of using African kente cloth -- are suitable for church use.

While noting that it contains features that will be a "blessing" to Lutheran Christians, he said he had "doctrinal, and not simply cultural" concerns about the hymnal.

At an April 7-9 meeting of the Missouri Synod's Board for Black Ministry Services, representatives of the hymnal's joint steering committee decided to send an official response to Barry.

"The board did not try to go into the particulars of the issues because the book is out," said the Rev. Bryant Clancy Jr., executive director of the board. "We think the argument for or against -- really the time for that has passed."

Two of the hymns included in the burgundy, hardcover volume to which Barry objects are the much-beloved 19th century "Blessed Assurance" and the newer "Fill My Cup, Lord," which are located in the section of songs for Holy Communion. Barry criticizes their inclusion because they do not focus on his church's belief that the real presence of Jesus is in the elements of the sacrament.

"Some of the hymns in this section were clearly not written with the Lord's Supper in mind," wrote Barry in his eight-page report. "In this day and age where churches are watering down this clear biblical teaching, the Lutheran Church must be very forthright in boldly proclaiming the truth that we have struggled so long to uphold."

Clancy said dozens of hymns that did not pass Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod review were deleted before the volume was published. For example, he said, "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" didn't make the cut.

"That has decision theology," explained Clancy. "It's not something that we have decided to do but what God has caused us to do."

He said other hymns were deleted because they may not have fully focused on the work of Jesus.

"The burden of the Lutheran hymn is to tell the whole salvation story, so hymns that did not do that had a very hard time with doctrinal review," Clancy said.

As for the hymns that remained, Clancy said there is a list of Scripture references for each one at the back of the hymnal. There also is an explanation at the front of the volume that the communal use of "I" -- in hymns such as "I Want Jesus to Walk With Me" -- is understood as "we" among African-Americans even though those "outside the culture" might think it sounds individualistic.

Continued on page 2: »