Sure enough, LutherPunk, Chris and Christopher have all weighed in on Pr. Pfatteicher’s article trashing the ELW’s renditions of the Daily Office. (And it looks like Christopher may be offering a series on it…)
I want to lift up in particular Chris’s point in which he cited Augsburg Confession Art. 7: not only is the particular use of liturgy not specified in the Confessions, it is also true to say that the Office has not historically been a major part of Lutheran piety.
Chris is quite right to note this. I have observed this before and, indeed, it is one of the several reasons why I left the Lutheran Church.
And it’s part of the heart of my dissertation proposal. I’ll get you a copy once it’s approved, hopefully at Doc Council in November or December.
I haven’t had a chance to flesh this out yet…I will soon. I like the take on the offices he proposes, but I have to question if it really even freakin’ matters.