Religion: Christian Dancing

David danced before the ark, but that was not "social dancing." Social dancing has long been viewed by many Christians as dangerous to spiritual health if not actually sinful. The Missouri Synod Lutherans, for instance, disapprove of what a special committee of their ministers defined as "the embrace of members of the opposite sexes who are not married to each other.'' But, meeting in Milwaukee last week, the Concordia College conference, attended by 50 ministers of the Missouri synod (membership: 2,150,230), tentatively opened the door to the "party. "In the literature of our synod with respect to the question of the dance," said the committee in a resolution before the conference, "we found quotations of theologians and conferences as far back as Chrysostom and the Council of Laodicea [ probably 4th century] with constant and consistent warnings against the dangers [of dancing]." But through the years there has also been a minority report. The committee conclusion: If, after consideration, a Lutheran group finds social dancing "in accord with its objectives and to the best Christian interests of its members ... it may permit the same under careful supervision and guidance, always striving toward the goal that whatsoever we do in word or deed we do all to the glory of God and in the name of the Lord Jesus."