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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 348

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

348

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

Resolved, That the President of the Synod counsel the district
presidents toward faithfulness in our official Communion practice
and to exercise discipline against errant practice when appropriate
and necessary.
Zion
Chippewa Falls, WI
5-13

To Direct District Presidents to Review
Communion Statements and Practice
Whereas, The official position of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod regarding admission to Holy Communion is: “That
pastors and congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
except in situations of emergency and in special cases of pastoral care,
commune individuals of only those Lutheran synods now in fellowship with us” (1967 Res. 2-19); and
Whereas, The position of the LCMS regarding admission to
Holy Communion is biblical (1 Cor. 10:22; 11:26−29), taught by
our Lutheran Confessions (AC XXIV) and affirmed by the Synod in
convention (1969 Res. 3-16 “To Refrain from Selective Fellowship”;
1986 Res. 3-08 “To Maintain Practice of Close Communion”; 1995
Res. 3-08 “To Reaffirm the Practice of Close(d) Communion”; 2007
Res. 3-09 “To Address Administration of the Lord’s Supper”); and
Whereas, The principles of Communion fellowship necessitate
that statements and/or questions prepared for the purpose of selfexamination and admission to the altar include a clear presentation
that visitors to LCMS congregations may be permitted to commune
only if they are members of another LCMS congregation or a member of a congregation of those Lutheran synods which are now in
fellowship with us; and
Whereas, LCMS President Matthew Harrison has reported to
the Synod, through the April 2015 Reporter Supplement, that he has
seen a variety of Communion statements across the LCMS that do not
always reflect the scriptural and confessional position of the LCMS;
and
Whereas, President Harrison requested the CTCR to provide
guidance on formulating congregational Communion statements that
reflect the scriptural and confessional position of the LCMS; and
Whereas, The guidelines prepared by the CTCR were mailed to
all LCMS congregations and also printed in the April 2015 Reporter
Supplement; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention commend President
Harrison for his diligence and desire to “maintain the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3); and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod express its appreciation for the work of
the CTCR in preparing “Guidelines for Congregational, District, and
Synod Communion Statements”; and be it further
Resolved, That the pastors and congregations of the Synod
be encouraged to use the CTCR guidelines to reexamine their
Communion statements and make whatever changes may be necessary in order that all Communion statements of LCMS congregations
properly reflect the scriptural and confessional position of the LCMS;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod direct each district president to review
the Communion statements and practice of admission to the altar of
all congregations under his ecclesiastical supervision; and be it further
Resolved, That each district president admonish pastors and congregations under his ecclesiastical supervision where the practice is
2016 Convention Workbook

not in keeping with the teaching of Scripture and the official position
of the LCMS; and be it further
Resolved, That each district president complete this review and
report his findings to the President of the Synod within two years of
the conclusion of this convention.
Lafayette Circuit
Indiana District
5-14

To Reaffirm 1947 Convention Resolution
re Intinction
Whereas, The practice of intinction has been creeping back into
use in various places in the Synod (and at one district convention in
2015); and
Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod at its 1947
convention passed the following resolution:
ACTION The following report of Committee 7 regarding this matter (Memorial 619 a) was adopted: Having considered Matt. 26:26−28;
Mark 14: 22−24; Luke 22:19, 20 (chap. 22:17, 18 of the Passover);
1 Cor. 10:16, 17, 21; and 1 Cor. 11:23−26, your Committee finds nothing stated which would forbid the use of the individual Communion cup.
And we hold that the manner and mode of distributing the bread, be it
by breaking or by distributing in the form of a host, and the mode and
manner of distributing the wine, be it in one or two or more cups, do not
belong to the essence of the Sacrament. We definitely reject intinction,
because while distributing the bread, the Savior said, “Take, eat!” Matt.
26:26; Mark 14:22, and while giving the wine, He said, “Drink ye all of
it!” Matt. 26:27; Mark 14:23 [emphasis added]. Intinction would be a
direct violation of the words of institution.

and
Whereas, The Augsburg Confession states, “ ‘Drink of it, all of
you’ (Matthew 26:27) Christ has clearly commanded that all should
drink from the cup” (AC XXII 1–2; emphasis added); and
Whereas, The Augsburg Confession states, “It is clear that any
custom introduced against God’s commandments is not to be allowed,
as Church law bears witness” (AC XXII 9) ; and
Whereas, The Apology of the Augsburg Confession asks, “Why
is Christ’s ordinance changed, especially when He Himself calls it
His testament?” (Ap XXII 2); and
Whereas, The Apology of The Augsburg Confession states, “He
had delivered the use of both kinds, as the text, 1 Corinthians 11,
clearly shows. He says ‘do this’ (11:24), first about His body; afterword Paul repeats the same words about the cup ‹Christ’s blood›”
(Ap XXII 3); and
Whereas, The Apology of The Augsburg Confession states,
“They also bring up the danger of spilling (the wine) and certain
similar things. These are not serious enough to change Christ’s ordinance” (Ap XXII 14); and
Whereas, “The Church does not allow itself to change Christ’s
ordinances into unimportant matters” (Ap XXII 15); therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS instruct and inform its congregations to
refrain from using intinction in the Sacrament of the Altar.
St. James, Bothell, WA; Lutheran Church of the Atonement,
Burien, WA