In reply to Rev. Neely Owen.

Pastor Owen, I think St. Paul meant what he said when he wrote to the Colossians, "Let no man judge you" with regard to human traditions. When a congregation is considering changing its traditions, it should strive to avoid offense. The problem I have is when other Christians look at congregations other than their own (sometimes by using the Internet) and basically accuse them of being "un-Lutheran" in how they worship. Again, changing traditions should not be termed "monkeying around." We can each agree or disagree about the wisdom of a particular tradition (or change to the same). What we should not do is point the finger of blame at our brothers and sisters. And who, in your opinion, should have authority to change worship services? Isn't it the congregation and its leaders...the ones who almost always do the actual "monkeying around" you decry?