1

The use of the visual arts in worship affirms the following

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The material world which God the Father has created is good. He himself rejoices in it, and also desires people to share in his enjoyment of it.

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God’s Son has taken on a physical body to redeem our human bodies and recreate the whole material world in union with himself.

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The Holy Spirit works through visible physical means in the sacraments to renew and sanctify the whole person with the physical senses God has given.

2

The visual arts assist the proclamation of God’s word in worship

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They can communicate the gospel to people physically and imaginatively through sight and touch.

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They can remind God’s people that, just as God’s judgment on human sin affects the whole physical world (Rom 8:20), so God will include the physical world in the salvation of the human race (Rom 8:19–22).

3

The visual arts assist in the edification of God’s people in worship

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They can help people respond physically, emotionally, and intellectually to the gracious presence of the Triune God in worship (Rom 12:1).

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They can heal and sanctify the sense of sight to clarify the vision of God’s glory in the world, and the sense of touch to communicate God’s presence.

3

The visual arts assist in the celebration of God’s presence and purpose in worship

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They can create an appreciation of and desire for the superabundance of God’s grace which transcends all human needs, and also for the incomparable beauty of his presence which transcends the loveliness of his creation.

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They can enrich praise and enjoyment of the Triune God in worship. By their use the church acknowledges that it is called to praise God together with all God’s creatures (Ps 148), and that the whole material world finds its fulfilment in the universal praise of the Triune God (Rev 5:13).