Worship in the WELS: Changeless Principles

Abstract

Mark Braun’s 1990 essay, Worship in the WELS – Changeless Principles, presented at the Southeast Wisconsin District Convention, outlines five enduring principles of Christian worship within the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). Braun emphasizes that worship is a grateful response to the gospel, rooted in God’s grace rather than human merit. He explores worship’s sacramental nature, its balance between corporate and private expression, its belonging to the people, and its call for excellence in the arts. Drawing from Scripture, Lutheran confessions, church history, and liturgical tradition, Braun critiques both legalistic and populist distortions of worship. He urges thoughtful engagement with worship forms, artistic integrity, and theological depth, warning against trivialization and mediocrity. The essay affirms Lutheran worship as gospel-centered, historically grounded, and artistically rich, calling pastors and congregations to uphold these principles with reverence and creativity. —Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)