LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 100

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100 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

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.
1-3); 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, 1.6: Art. VI, 2 b):
and

WHEREAS, “Open” Communion is not a loving or evan-
gelical pratice 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 further

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;
and be it finally

Resolved, That pastors exercise the necessary pastoral
counsel to those wishing to commune at their altar to effect a
God-pleasing, uniform practice of administering Holy Com-
munion.

St. Thomas Lutheran Church
Rocky River, Ohio

Richard Dorow, President
Kenneth Mayer, Secretary

To Define “Close Communion”

WHEREAS, We seek to be guided by the Word of God although
that Word does not necessarily address situations which
duplicate modern conditions; and

WHEREAS, Some of the traditional proof texts relate to
assumptions which are not necessarily valid today: and

WHEREAS, It is no longer true that differences in doctrine
and practice within our Synod represent the mere “casual
intrusion of error” or are less significant than differences
between different synods: and

WHEREAs, The policy of ‘Close Communion’ is intended as
obedience to Rom. 16:17 and as implementation of our “united
defense against schism, sectarianism, and heresy”: and

WHEREAS, The LCMS has not excommunicated those church
bodies with which altar fellowship has not been established:
and

WHEREAS, The confessional element in Holy Communion
according to 1 Cor. 10:14-21 refers to idolators, not to fellow-
Christians: and

WHEREAS, It is reasonable to assume that all Lutherans hold
that true worthiness consists in repentance, trust in the
forgiveness offered in the Sacrament, belief in the real pres-
ence, and commitment to the kingdom of Christ as represented
by active church membership; and

WHEREAS, It is also reasonable to assume that all Lutheran
clergy are aware of the doctrinal differences that exist between
Lutheran synods so that repentance for them must include
disassociation from an erring church body; therefore be it

Resolved, That our official policy regarding “Close Com-
munion” be as follows:

1. We do not admit to our altars those clergy who identify
with synods with which we are not in fellowship;

2. We do admit all penitent sinners who are active members
of any Lutheran congregation and promptly notify their home
congregation that they have communed with us;

3. We discourage our communicant members from commun-
ing at churches with which we are not in altar fellowship
because of the risk of compromising our understanding of the
truth: and

4. We encourage communicant members of LCMS to study
denominational differences to they can recognize the risks of
inter-Communion.

Hope Lutheran Church
San Leandro. Calif.
Caroline S. Uhlig, Secretary:

3-15
To Reject the CTCR Report: The Ministry

Introduction

The very first issue that engaged The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod in controversy was the doctrine of the church
and the ministry. The controversy was already raging when
the Synod was organized, and when it finally drew to a close,
the Missourians thought the matter was settled for all time.

But now, over 100 years later, the issue is with us again. The
questions addressed then are the same questions being ad-
dressed now: 1. What is the nature of the church? 2. What is the
nature of the office of the ministry? 3. What constitutes a divine
call? 4. What is the place of ordination in the order of things?

The fact that such a controversy presently exists may come
as a surprise to many. This is understandable since discussion
has been confined almost exclusively to councils of the Synod.
Furthermore, changes in the synodical Constitution, changes
that reflect a rejection of our fathers’ convictions in this matter,
have been made piecemeal over the years with little or no
dissent.

Recently, The Synod’s Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) issued a report entitled The Minis.
try. The opening paragraph of its introduction reveals that
although discussion has been restricted, concern over this
matter is widespread: “This report on ‘the ministry’ has been
prepared in response to questions and requests for guidance
from many areas of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod”
(p. 4).

It is with this report that the following resolution deals.

Preamble

Since comprehensive review of the CTCR report cannot be
undertaken here, it must suffice to point to one particular area
which we believe should cause the membership of Synod deep
concern.

It will be helpful to summarize the Scriptural doctrine of the
church and ministry as understood by the Lutheran confessors
and by the LCMS from its earliest days until very recently.

1. The church is the sum total of all those who truly believe
that for Christ's sake their sins have been freely and completely
forgiven (John 11:52; 10:16; Ap VII-VIII 20; Walther, Church
and Ministry, Ministry Th. I; “Brief Statement” [BS], 24).

2. Only God knows who the members of this church are
since only God can look into a man’s heart and thus know who
truly believes. It is to this ‘‘invisible”’ church that Christ has
given the keys of the kingdom of heaven—Office of the Keys
(John 20:21-23; Treatise 24; Walther, Th. III, IV: BS, 30).

3. Although this church is invisible “as to its essence,” yet