Traditions and Mission: Discerning What Is Good

Drawing on his experience as a leading musician serving in many contexts and capacities in the LCMS for over 30 years, Magness offers 1) a survey of how the “worship wars” impacted liturgical and musical practice in the Missouri Synod and 2) an overview of current trends. Key to his observations are how different attitudes and approaches to tradition have both served and impeded the church’s worship, proclamation of the gospel, and calling all to faith. As congregations in the WELS move forward with a new hymnal, it is hoped that his perspectives may be useful to pastors, musicians, and lay leaders as they make worship decisions for their communities.

Bio | Phillip Magness

Phillip serves a dual call as cantor at Village Lutheran Church in Ladue, Mo., and LCMS missionary to francophone Africa. He also serves as the interim associate of Music Arts at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He previously held cantorates at congregations in Texas, Illinois, and Oklahoma. He chaired the introduction committee for the Lutheran Service Book, has served on district and synodical boards, and has led music for daily worship at three LCMS national conventions. He is a published composer, arranger, and author. His book, Church Music: For the Care of Souls, is published by Lexham Press. Eight of his pianistic hymn settings are in Christian Worship: Accompaniment for Hymns and music for seven psalms in Christian Worship: Psalter.