+++
• “Pastor Waddell brings keen insight, rich pastoral experience, and extensive theological research to this seminar. He has a firm grasp of the biblical and confessional principles guiding the conduct of public worship in the past, and he addresses these principles to the current situation with theological and pastoral sensitivity and wisdom. Lay people and professional church workers of all kinds, particularly pastors, will profit greatly from this seminar. Participation in Looking Forward in Harmony will reap significant rewards for those who attend and for the members of their congregations.” — Rev. Dr. Robert Kolb, Mission Professor of Systematic Theology, Concordia Seminary
The following are comments made by past participants of the Worship Seminar.
• “The topic is timely and applicable. You worked hard to show both views.” — Participant, North & East Region Pastors Conference, Michigan District, LCMS
• “This presentation was very complete, very well-done. The PowerPoint slides were very helpful. The information was excellent.” — Participant, North & East Region Pastors Conference, Michigan District, LCMS
• “Your presentation was informative, practical, and thought-provoking as you encouraged us to continue the conversation on worship styles and liturgy.” — Participant, North & East Region Pastors Conference, Michigan District, LCMS
• “I appreciated that you urged us not to be judgmental, but to assume the best as we talk to and about those with whom we may disagree on worship.” — Participant, North & East Region Pastors Conference, Michigan District, LCMS
• “Very irenic.” — Participant, North & East Region Pastors Conference, Michigan District, LCMS
• “Your presentation is information-packed. You clearly have studied the material well and thoroughly. The topic is filled with tension and potentially flammable. I also appreciated the way you initiated the conversation with concrete questions and encouraged us to pursue the conversation in our circuits.” — Participant, North & East Region Pastors Conference, Michigan District, LCMS
• “It was refreshing and encouraging to hear your presentation. Keep up the good work. Our church needs to hear what you have to say.” — Participant, North & East Region Pastors Conference, Michigan District, LCMS
• “I appreciated the emphasis on maintaining a basic structure for worship, while being open to various styles and differences within that order according to local customs and traditions.” — Participant, North & East Region Pastors Conference, Michigan District, LCMS
• “I enjoyed the presentation a great deal and feel it is very appropriate for our church today.” — Participant, North & East Region Pastors Conference, Michigan District, LCMS
• “Your presentation at our Pastors Conference for the South Dakota District was outstanding. I was overwhelmed with positive feedback. I think your presentation began a change of ‘climate’ among the pastors in the District with regard to worship. I thank and praise God for that!” — Rev. Chris Boehnke, Pastor, South Dakota District, LCMS
• “Our speaker, Rev. James Waddell, gave us much to think about. His topic was insightful. He has done an extensive amount of research and much of it very enlightening, indeed the basis for good discussion. He has sparked a good conversation and thought process. One of the things I appreciated about the presentation was the evaluation tool for music. It critiques contemporary forms using good critical analysis. The test of a good tool such as this is its application across the board. This tool works well to analyze not just contemporary forms, but traditional forms as well. The evaluation tool was well received by those in attendance. I will be processing the presentation for quite some time to come.” — Participant, South Dakota District Pastors Conference
• “Very helpful, especially the evaluation tool for hymns & contemporary worship.” — Participant, North Dakota District Pastors Conference
• “I applaud your work. We definitely need to be in discussion together and not bashing each other. We need to trust our brothers in the ministry and our sister congregations. We definitely should be concerned about those who take the middle position. Thank you for a very uplifting and useful presentation.” — Participant, North Dakota District Pastors Conference
• “Pastor Waddell challenged us to face our assumptions about worship.” — Participant, North Dakota District Pastors Conference
• “Thank you for this. Your presentation is a parable. It tells a very detailed story about our experiences with worship, and how we need to consider more than just our own personal opinions.” — Participant, California-Nevada-Hawaii District Pastors Conference
• “As pastors we have discussed this at length in my circuit. The careful examination and quotation of the Lutheran Confessions, and the background of lex orandi lex credendi was most helpful.” — Participant, California-Nevada-Hawaii District Pastors Conference
• “At first I thought we were in for nothing more than a ‘rehashing’ of things we had been through since liturgical renewal (including contemporary worship developments) blessed the church. I have been involved in this since the late ’60s or very early ’70s. But you provided a foundation of history and theology which I had not heard or considered before. This further confirmed my conviction that our approach to worship must be a matter of ‘both and,’ not one of ‘either or.’ While we must continue to bring a certain amount of discernment to the worship scene, we must also bring a growing sense of appreciation for all the various worship expressions the Holy Spirit has prompted and promoted down through the years (in fact, down through the centuries). Again, thanks for provoking additional thought and consideration.” — Participant, California-Nevada-Hawaii District Pastors Conference
• “This was the best researched, most clearly articulated presentation I have heard on this topic. Thank you & thank you again!!!” — Participant, California-Nevada-Hawaii District Pastors Conference
• “Thanks! Examining arguments behind lex orandi lex credendi was helpful. It was good to strip down the argument to its essentials, the essence of the church, the freedom of the Gospel (and the responsibility that it be proclaimed purely). I found the entire experience helpful.” — Participant, California-Nevada-Hawaii District Pastors Conference
• “Very detailed presentation. It really helped to solidify my understanding of a Lutheran position on worship.” — Participant, California-Nevada-Hawaii District Pastors Conference
• “I feel that Rev. Waddell did an amazing job of integrating Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions in discussing a very important topic.” — Participant, California-Nevada-Hawaii District Pastors Conference
• “Thank you for clarifying the issues. My ministry will be blessed by your study and presentation.” — Participant, California-Nevada-Hawaii District Pastors Conference
+ sdg +
WorshipConcord Seminar 