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The following are excerpts of reviews and reader comments regarding The Struggle to Reclaim the Liturgy in the Lutheran Church: Adiaphora in Historical, Theological and Practical Perspective. By James Alan Waddell. Preface by Robert A. Kolb. Lewiston, NY: Mellen, 2005. Cloth. xvii + 415 pages. $129.95.
To purchase this book at a substantial discount—$36.95 + $3.05 shipping & handling—send an email to worshipconcord@yahoo.com.
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Pre-publication reviews+ + +
Read what others have written about it.http://www.lutheranforum.org/book-reviews/Waddell/
• “[Rev. Waddell's] observations and arguments arise out of vast and careful study of the texts and the interpretation of the texts . . . that frame the debate. His views come from the inside out, for he is testing . . . presuppositions that he once held. The basis of his testing arises out of the pastoral concern that typifies the Lutheran confession of the faith, a pastoral concern that he has now practiced for almost fifteen years. . . . Waddell recognizes the concerns that lie behind positions on all sides. The clarity of his thought and style . . . should help all of us to re-examine our own thinking, and that can only aid in turning dispute into the conversation that seeks God-pleasing solutions. Thus this book makes a sorely-needed contribution.” — From the Preface by Robert A. Kolb, Mission Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and Co-editor of the Kolb-Wengert edition of the Book of Concord
• “Rev. Waddell has written a formidable critique of liturgical theology as this has impacted views about worship in the Lutheran Church . . . . he has weighed in on a contentious issue in an impressive way and this book is sure to provoke much debate.” — Frank C. Senn, Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Evanston, Illinois and Former President of the North American Academy of Liturgy
• “This is a densely argued book which provides a distinctly Lutheran Liturgical Theology based on Lutheran Reformation principles and documents, over against a specifically Roman Catholic (Kavanagh) or Orthodox (Schmemann) or self-consciously Ecumenical (Lathrop) approach to Liturgical Theology. This book is a major contribution to the wider debate on Liturgical Theology, and would be useful to scholars in this field, and to wider ecclesial debate.” — Bryan D. Spinks, Professor of Liturgical Studies, Yale Institute of Sacred Music
• “The Struggle to Reclaim the Liturgy in the Lutheran Church . . . offers a roadmap for peace in our worship wars. Waddell points us back to the Lutheran Confessions so we talk together from a common point of reference and break through the polarization. The method and the structure of Waddell’s argument are elegant in their simplicity. . . . The result is a rather striking set of claims that point toward a way forward in our current debates. . . . Yet it is precisely because Waddell sides with the Lutheran Confessions rather than either faction in today’s debate that his book is of lasting value. The spade work he has done in the Confessions and the tertiary authorities is astounding, and the hermeneutic of liturgy that he constructs on the basis of the confessional texts opens the way for rich insights into the relationship between form and Gospel in Lutheran worship services. . . . The book repays careful reading, and it offers a roadmap for peace in the worship wars.” — The Rev. Dr. David W. Loy, 24 November 2008, Lutheran Forum.
• “I greatly appreciated your book, [and] have heartily encouraged others to read it. . . . it moves the conversation on worship forward in a sound, scholarly, healthy and balanced way.” — The Rev. Dr. Joel Lehenbauer, Executive Director of the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relationshttp://www.csl.edu/Img/Publications/WebCJJuly08.pdf
• “Waddell successfully enunciates a Lutheran theology of worship devoid of legalism and license. . . . Waddell’s analytical critique captures the wonder of being a Lutheran, liturgically speaking; freedom for inculturated worship in the midst of the liturgical heritage’s treasures. As he proves, ‘there is not . . . a catholicity of the [liturgical] form.’ Lutherans neither make liturgical forms necessary nor espouse an anti-biblical, anti-creedal license in contemporary, cultural expressions. That makes this book necessary reading for transcending the traditional-contemporary worship divide.” — The Rev. Dr. Kent J. Burreson, Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology, Assistant Dean of the Chapel, Concordia Seminary / reviewed in CONCORDIA JOURNAL 34.3 (July 2008): 237-39;
• “This is an important book for our time and context. . . . a book of immense importance for our discussion of worship and church unity. It deserves to be widely read and discussed.” — The Rev. Dr. Steen Olsen, Former President of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand / reviewed in Lutheran Theological Journal 41.3 (December 2007): 183-85
• “If you don’t like to think and would rather not have your personal assumptions challenged, don’t read this book. But, if you think the Lutheran discussion about worship has stagnated into name calling, and talking past one another, buy and read this book. You won’t agree with everything, but you will benefit from the experience. . . . Waddell accomplishes his goal of carrying on the discussion. This is a work by a Lutheran for Lutherans. . . . Buy or borrow this book. Read it. Discuss it. Agree and/or disagree with [it]. Use it to find some way to engage those you have considered ‘on the other side’ of the worship debate.” — The Rev. Paul J. Cain Jr / reviewed in Wyoming District LCMS – Liturgy, Hymnody & Pulpit, Quarterly Book Reviews 1.2 (Eastertide 2007): 36-38
• “The author makes a strong case for his argument that much Lutheran liturgical scholarship today is not properly grounded in, or even distorts and contradicts, the confessional norms of the Lutheran church. He provides solid evidence from the sources for his critique. . . . Waddell’s analysis is a welcome critique of some unsound scholarship and divisive rhetoric.” — The Rev. Dr. John A. Maxfield, Pastor, Saint Francis, Minnesota / reviewed in Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly 80.2 (Summer 2007): 133-36
• “I was most pleased with the scholarly and theologically balanced approach you took in your book. . . . The theological integrity that you demonstrate is much needed throughout the LCMS. . . . Thank you for writing this excellent book.” — The Rev. Dale Sattgast, President of the South Dakota District, LCMS
• “Thank God you have taken this task up. It’s so important for our future.” — LCMS Pastor in Indiana
• “Our church is getting caught up (again) in this issue and any resource which helps us to discuss, instead of merely cuss, our way through would be greatly appreciated.” — LCMS Pastor in Kansas
• “This is an excellent book. It is well written and it makes an excellent case from the Confessions and Scripture, as well as Tradition, for the variety of worship formats. I found the book to be a good read and well presented.” — LCMS Pastor on the ALPB discussion board
• “I devoured your book (with a cup of Starbucks coffee at my side). I am so pleased that you wrote this book as it needed to be written by someone. Since I am a supporter of using the historic liturgy I too am saddened that people I admire and respect have attempted to defend that liturgy with a wrong approach/method. In my opinion our whole church is frustrated that there simply seems to be no way to get a handle on the issues that divide us in the LCMS. I will encourage others to buy and read your book.” — LCMS Pastor in Washington
• “I hope that others receive it as a positive entree towards a more positive discussion of what has been sadly termed ‘worship wars’ in our Synod. Many churches are incorporating non-traditional forms without any real guidance or direction from our leadership. I long for some guidance and assistance in that effort!” — LCMS Pastor in Oregon
• “First, let me say thank you for the courage to venture into such dangerous waters. Like the no-man’s-land between armies, everyone’s artillery is trained on that space.” — LCMS Pastor in Michigan
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