PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS - Elmer Towns

liturgical churches have historically been more likely to become actively involved in trying to
change an issue than members of other church types.
Because the focus of the Liturgical Church is ministry, it is important to understand the
nature of ministry. Ministry may be defined as the communication of the gospel to people at a
point of need. Someone has simplified this definition claiming ministry is "finding a need and
meeting it . . . finding a hurt and healing it." As important as biblical truth and doctrine is, God
never intended it to be an end in itself. Rather, theology is the foundation of our ministry as we
apply biblical truth to specific needs in the lives of others. Only then can a significant and lasting
change be effected in the lives of others.
EXPECTATIONS AND ROLES IN THE LITURGICAL CHURCH?
The term most often used to describe the pastor of a Liturgical Church is "minister." This
reflects the primary ministry function of the pastor of this church as a servant of the people. In a
Liturgical Church, the minister is viewed as the one who is available to assist congregational
members with baptisms, confirmations, weddings, funerals, pastoral counselling, hospital
visitation, nursing home services, and a host of similar functions. His service to the church is not
limited to adult members. In many Liturgical Churches, he is also involved in the church youth
ministry and prepares a weekly children's sermon as part of the morning service. The minister is
indeed "all things to all people."
Those who attend Liturgical Churches have different expectations than those who choose
to attend other church types. They are looking for practical ministry opportunities. Although
they may sometimes complain they are always doing something with the church, they also find a
sense of personal fulfilment in their "church work." Church work in many Liturgical Churches
involves a host of traditional charitable activities including collecting for food banks, clothing
depots, missionary gift packs and Christmas toy and food baskets. Christians in Liturgical
Churches are often eager to express their faith in acts of practical service to others.
Christians who attend Liturgical Church services also expect church to "feel like church."
When Elizabeth I ascended the throne of England, she faced a unique dilemma. She had been
raised in a Roman Catholic faith tradition and had come to appreciate the richness of that
worship style, but the position of the Catholic church concerning her father's divorce meant she
could not be queen if England remained Catholic. Also, there was a growing Protestant
movement in England, but when she attended Protestant services she did not feel like she had
really been in church. In an attempt to harmonize this tension and bring religious unity to her
country, the queen proposed what has become known as "the Elizabethan solution" and created
the Anglican Church. This new English church would retain the liturgy of the Catholic church
but adopt the doctrine of the Protestants. England adopted the Protestant cause without
abandoning the rich tradition of worship which had developed over fifteen hundred years.
THE BONDING AGENT OF THE LITURGICAL CHURCH?
One of the reasons these six worship styles have emerged today is practice of gift
colonization. Liturgical Churches tend to emerge and become strong when the spiritual gift of
serving is strong. Serving is discerning and meeting the spiritual and physical needs of