# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S194 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 184 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS tions of the SED, and District officers of the SED be encour- aged to practice responsible Christian fellowship at their respective levels; and be it finally Resolved, That congregations inform their circuit coun- selors of the discoveries they make in the practice of fellowship so that their experiences may be useful to the church at large. Southeastern District Ralph E. Wiechmann, Secretary Identical or similar: 3-76B to 3-76G Eastern District St. John’s, Howard, S. Dak. Grace, Niagara Falls, N.Y. Trinity, Niagara Falls, N.Y. Holy Ghost, Niagara Falls, N.Y. Brookfield, Brookfield, Wis. Richard Hoemann Howard Fish Daniel Otto Walter Martin Albert Bahr Harvey Lange 3-77A To Extend Use of Communion Guidelines to Parish Pastors WHEREAS, Former President John W. Behnken of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod signed a statement of agreement regarding the administration of the Lord’s Supper by military chaplains (Jan. 5, 1951); and WHEREAS, The essentials of this agreement remain operative today, as follows: The Lutheran chaplain shall administer Holy Communion in accordance with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. The practice of personal counseling and private confession is encour- aged.... However, there will be exceptional situations confronting the chaplain when he administers Communion. In such situations a Lutheran chaplain may administer the Sacrament to personnel who have been baptized: are able to examine themselves: are conscious of the need for repentance; hold the essence of the Christian faith including the doctrines of the real presence and of the Lord’s Supper as means of grace: and profess acceptance thereof. The chaplain will make known the prerequisites for participa- tion before celebrating the Sacrament. He may alert the congrega- tion to the prerequisites through a preparatory message, order of public confession. announcement in the bulletin, or some other effective means. Manual For Lutheran Chaplains in the Armed Forces, Division of Service to Military Personnel, Lutheran Council in the U\S.A.: and WHEREAS, These Communion guidelines have also been approved and utilized by Lutheran institutional chaplains; an WHEREAS, Campus pastors of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod have also been authorized to apply these guidelines as they “minister to the spiritual needs of those on the college and university campus” (Res. 2-07A, Anaheim convention, 1975 Proceedings, p. 81); and WHEREAS, These guidelines are in keeping with the teach- ings of the New Testament (Matt. 26:26-28; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-29 and sound Lutheran Eucharistic faith and practice; therefore be it Resolved, That authorization of the use of these Communion guidelines also be extended to parish pastors as a responsible approach to their ministry of Word and Sacrament. University Lutheran Church La Jolla, Calif. Richard Herbst, President Jerry David Albert, Vice-President John George Huber, Pastor Identical or similar: 3-77B and 3-77C Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, Calif. Trinity, Norfolk, Va. George Milner Waldo Scheid 3-78 To Encourage Uniform Practices in Celebrating Holy Communion WHEREAS, There has developed considerable laxity and disparity in Communion practices within many if not all of our Districts in recent years, which has created confusion, con- troversy, division, and discord; and WHEREAS, The historic position of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod in opposition to “open”? Communion is both Scriptural and confessional (1 Cor. 11:27-29; 10:16, 17; Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, X, 25; Small Catechism, Preface, paragraph 2); and WHEREAS, The practice of ‘‘“open’”” Communion is contrary to Scripture (1 Cor. 11:28; Rom. 16:17), the Large Catechism (V, 58~—60), and the Synod’s Constitution (Art. III, 1, 4; Art. VI, 2, b); and WHEREAS, “Open’’ Communion is not a loving or evangelical practice but rather a potentially soul-destroying act against unbelievers or erring, weak, uninstructed Christians (1 Cor. 11:29), as well as deliberate disobedience to the Word of God; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod reaffirm the historical practice of ‘‘close’’ Communion among congregations within our fellowship; and be it further Resolved, That where ‘open’ Communion is practiced, pastors and congregations so engaged be reminded of the Scriptural and confessional basis for ‘close’ Communion and encouraged to conform to the Word of God and the confessions; and be it finally Resolved, That where pastors or congregations refuse to conform to such Scriptural and confessional admonition, the President of the District direct Circuit Counselors to exercise the necessary pastoral counsel and discipline to effect a God- pleasing, uniform practice of administering Holy Communion. St. Thomas Lutheran Church Rocky River, Ohio Phillip Giessler, Pastor Donald Reiss, President 3-79 To Divide the Question of Pulpit and Altar Fellowship WHEREAS, Our Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has tra- ditionally proclaimed the principle ‘Lutheran altars for Luther- ans only”; and WHEREAS, Guests from other Lutheran congregations have been welcome to commune with us when they have registered personally with the local pastor before the service; and WHEREAS, The major problem with fellowship with other synods rests mainly in areas associated with pulpit fellowship: therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod separate the issue of fellowship into two parts: Pulpit Fellow- ship and Altar Fellowship; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod acknowledge officially, througha statement prepared by the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, that our Lutheran brothers and sisters of other synods are welcome to commune with us as guests; and be it finally Resolved, That our Synod continue to seek pulpit fellowship with all synods through the authority and guidance of Holy Scripture. Saint Paul Lutheran Church Millington, Mich. Thomas Schiefer, Secretary David Schoemaker, Pastor Robert Barker, Pastor