# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S579
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 579

that misinterpretations of the. lodge paragraphs in the Handbook
have led to laxity of practice in this area of the church’s respon-
sibility; and ;

Wuereas, Other members of our Synod state that the general
body of our church ought not to legislate in this matter; and

Wuereas, Synod, for these reasons, in 1953 resolved that revi-
sions be made of par. 14.03f and g, in particular; therefore be it

Resolved, (a) That we reaffirm our position on the question
of lodges as clearly described in 14.03 of the Handbook; and be it
further

Resolved, (b) That par. 14.03 f be amended to read as follows:

“It is, and shall be, the practice of the congregations of Synod
not to administer Holy Communion to members of such lodges, nor
to admit such persons to communicant membership, since Holy
Communion expresses an exclusive spiritual relationship of the
communicant to his Lord and to his brethren. (Matthew 10:32;
1 Cor. 10:16, 17; and 1 Cor. 11:25)”; and be it further

Resolved, (c) That par. 14.03 g, which now reads:

“A conscientious pastor. may in cases which present unusual
features, rendering their classification difficult, administer Holy
Communion to a person who is still outwardly connected with such
a lodge. But in such a case the pastor shall earnestly beware of
procrastinating and giving offense, and to this end he shall freely
and conscientiously consult with his church council and congre-
gation, his brethren in the ministry, and with the officials of Synod,
as the case may be.” ,
be revised to read as follows:

“A pastor will sometimes encounter exceptional cases in which
he is called upon to administer Holy Communion to a person who
is still outwardly connected with such a lodge.

“Such exceptional cases, however, are normally limited to
those instances in which the individual involved has renounced,
to his pastor and/or the church council, the unchristian or anti-
Christian teaching of the lodge of which he is a member. In such
cases the pastor shall consult with his brethren in the ministry
or with officials of Synod, as the case may require.

“Furthermore, in such exceptional cases the pastor should
earnestly beware of procrastination and of giving offense, both
to the members of the congregation and to brethren in general.

“Finally, the pastor should put forth continuous effort to bring
the individual to an early decision in this matter so that he may
be fully’ won for Christ, and become or remain a communicant
member of the congregation as the case may be”; and be it finally

Resolved, (d) That on the basis of these considerations the
suggestion of Memorial 620 be declined.

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