Statement of Policy and Procedures for Review of
 Liturgical Material Prepared by ELCA Churchwide Units

The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, on April 15, 1991, voted: "To receive as information the 'Statement of Policy and Procedures for Review of Liturgical Material Prepared by Churchwide Units' with the understanding that the statement is for immediate implementation."

I. INTRODUCTION

For the well-being of members of this church and for responsible development and administration of material prepared by churchwide units for public worship, the following statement of policy and procedures was developed. It shall guide the process for review of liturgical material prepared by churchwide units of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The primary way in which our Lutheran understanding of the Christian faith and life is communicated is through public worship of this church as well as through public worship in synodical and churchwide gatherings.

Worship touches the lives of church members more frequently than any other contact that they have with congregations. It involves both corporate and evangelical aspects. Both nurture and outreach occur through worship. In worship, members gather for the proclamation of the Word, give expression to the faith, and celebrate the sacramental mysteries. Furthermore, visitors to a congregation perceive that the worship they share in that place exemplifies and proclaims the faith and teachings of this whole church.

II. STANDARDS AND CRITERIA

These standards and criteria shall guide the development of material for public worship and corporate liturgical gatherings.

III. MATERIALS SUBJECT TO LITURGICAL REVIEW

1. Published materials widely distributed by churchwide units or this church's publishing house.
2. Materials prepared for single, significant events, such as the Churchwide Assembly, large workshops, and special events and gatherings.
3. Materials emerging from joint projects, either pan-Lutheran or ecumenical.
4. Resources prepared by ELCA units or other entities that are recommended for ELCA congregational use.

All materials intended for use in worship, shall be reviewed regardless of the title or categorization of the material. Some materials that are not identified for use in worship, but relate to liturgical matters may be subject to review. In general, material may be subject to review in light of its:

1. Content, purpose, or function

1. Components of worship, such as public services, litanies, prayers, responsive readings, and special rites.
2. Planning tools, such as lectionary helps, "how to" guides, and recommendations for special emphases in public worship.
3. Conceptual material, such as, booklets, pamphlets, or other materials that explore theories and practices of worship and suggest experimental options and practices.

2. Use

1. Specific occasions, such as orders for the Churchwide Assembly, other churchwide gatherings, or liturgical material recommended for synod assemblies. 
2. Special occasions, such as particular events in the life of a congregation or other events for which resources are prepared and generally distributed.
3. New and alternative liturgical forms for the main service of congregations.

IV. LITURGICAL REVIEW PROCESS

1. Identification of Material to be Reviewed  

All staff members of the ELCA churchwide offices, Women of the ELCA, Augsburg Fortress, and other ELCA-related organizations have a responsibility to be alert for materials which may be subject to the liturgical review process.

Primary responsibility for identifying materials for liturgical review shall be carried by the staff person responsible for its development or recommendation. In another, the need for liturgical review may also be identified by:

1. ELCA churchwide worship staff.
2. Members of all resource planning groups, including but not limited to the Worship Resource Planning Group.
3. Persons preparing materials for production, including the Chicago office of Augsburg Fortress.
4. Staff members planning worship at events such as the Churchwide Assembly or a gathering or convention.

Note: Reviews for non-worship or liturgical concerns also may be appropriate. Other specialized reviews do not substitute for the liturgical review.

1. Coordination of the review process

The coordination of the liturgical review process shall be (a) by the ELCA worship staff for materials developed, distributed, or recommended by the ELCA or Women of the ELCA, or (b) by Augsburg Fortress staff for resources to be published by the publishing house.

The review coordinator will:

1. Identify, contact, and, as appropriate, provide reviewers with an orientation to the review process. 
2. Perform initial internal review to determine extent of the review process; upon request, initiate further review (see paragraph 3 below).
3. Distribute manuscript copies of the material to be reviewed.
4. Distribute and collect review forms and provide appropriate review criteria.
5. Transmit review results to the staff person responsible for developing the resource, and report results to the Worship Resource Planning Group.

2. Timing of the review

Adequate review of manuscript copies of proposed liturgical material will inevitably require additional time in the development process and should be considered when establishing when materials will be available. Materials may be delayed until the review in complete.

The review coordinator should initiate the review in a timely manner, monitor the movement of the material through the process, and promptly report results to the staff person responsible for the development of the material. The developer of the material should alert the review coordinator to any special needs and may be called upon the facilitate the review process.

3. Reviewers

1. Internal

Reviewers by staff members of the ELCA, Women of the ELCA, Augsburg Fortress, and other ELCA-related organization will be subject to an initial worship review by the ELCA churchwide staff as they are identified for review. Some resources may require no further review.

1. Materials developed by the ELCA churchwide organization, Women of the ELCA, and other ELCA-related organizations will be subject to an initial worship review by the ELCA churchwide staff as they are identified for review. Some resources may require no further review.

In reviewing material developed by worship staff of the ELCA churchwide organization, the person developing the material may also be the review coordinator; however, in all such cases, the internal review process must go beyond that individual, and initial internal review must be done by someone else.

Additional internal review will be done by the Worship Resource Planning Group and by other staff with specialized program responsibilities.

2. Materials published by Augsburg Fortress will be subject to an initial liturgical review by the Augsburg Fortress staff according to departmental procedures. Once identified, the staff person responsible for the development of the material presents the material to the Worship Resource Planning Group for review through a member of that resource planning group.

2. External

A review by persons who are not staff members of the ELCA churchwide organization or publishing house will be considered an external worship review. Names of persons available for the pool of external reviewers shall be suggested by the Worship Resource Planning Group and shall include persons with expertise in the following areas:

1. The content of the material (systematic, biblical, and/or liturgical theology). One copy of the manuscript is sent to a theological professor (or professors) at an ELCA college or seminary or to a pastor with an advanced degree in theology. 

2. The medium (grammar, literary style, music, and/or artistic expression). One copy of the manuscript is sent to a person with particular expertise related to the nature of the publication.

3. The users, including leaders of specialized ministries (campers, military, hospital, geriatric, ethnic, gender, culture) and of traditional ministries (parish pastor and synodical bishop), as well as worshipers (including those with special needs).

3. Other 

Under special circumstances, additional review may be required.

1. Bishop of this church, or secretary acting on behalf of the bishop
2. Individuals or panels appointed by the bishop to review particular material
3. Church Council/Churchwide Assembly

4. Extent of Review

Initially the level of review will be determined by the review coordinator. The following factors will be considered:

1. The amount of material
   Example: A brief prayer vs. a lengthy prayer with many petitions.
2. The intended use
   Example: One-time worship materials for a workshop vs. model for a series of workshops
   Example: Culture-specific worship materials.
3. The intended audience
   Example: Retail and trade audience vs. material designed for ELCA use only

All materials will receive an internal review and, in addition, may also receive external and other reviews.

Ordinarily, the internal and external reviews will be done simultaneously. If, however, materials were initially designated to have only an internal review, the review coordinator, an internal reviewer, of members of the Worship Resource Planning Group may identify the need for an request a subsequent additional review.

All Augsburg Fortress materials will receive both an internal and external review.

1. To the developer of the material: Once all review forms have been returned, the review coordinator will transmit the original copies of the forms and any marked manuscript pages to the staff member responsible for development of the materials.
   
2. To the Worship Resource Planning Group: In keeping with its assigned duties, the Worship Resource Planning Group will receive verbal reports from review coordinators as a regular item of business during meetings.

1. Editing material in keeping with reviewer comments and recommendations.
2. Additional review
3. Redesign/rewriting of the manuscript; review process beings again with the new or substantially revised material.

V. DEGREE OF ENDORSEMENT

Differing degrees of endorsement and status may result from the liturgical review process. 

1. PROVISIONAL--Resources prepared for provisional use that have undergone liturgical review and are distributed for testing and responses from congregations and other entities employing them.
   
2. PROPOSED--Resources that have emerged from provisional use and are now proposed for more formal, ongoing purposes in the life of this church.
   
3. OTHER POSSIBILITIES--Some resources may be prepared and restricted for "limited use," with specific limits placed on time or location of its interim uses.

1. AVAILABLE--Includes both retail and traded materials that have undergone liturgical review but carry no official endorsement of this church or entities related to it.
   
2. RECOMMENDED--Includes all retail materials that have undergone liturgical review and are recommended by a specific unit, with the concurrence of the bishop of this church, for use by congregations and synods.

COMMENDED--Resources that have extensive liturgical review and are now commended, normally the Churchwide Assembly, for general use in this church, such as Lutheran Book of Worship. Ordinarily such resources have been prepared as the appropriate form to use, such as the Rite of Ordination, and have been deemed to be in accordance with the governing documents of this church, upon recommendation by the appropriate unit, review by the Conference of Bishops, and approval by the Church Council.

AUTHORIZED--Resources that have emerged from ecumenical consultations and the process of this church and liturgical review, and which are also authorized by the Church Council or the Churchwide Assembly.

1. Proper or official--Resources are not normally designated as having "proper" or "official" status.
   
2. Other--Resources deemed as meeting only minimum requirements for public use. Other resources may be judged as proscribed through action of the Church Council.