LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 297

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
WHEREAS, Some congregations considered turning to online
Communion as a way to continue celebrating Holy Communion in
the absence of in-person worship gatherings; and
WHEREAS, In speaking of Christian worship, Holy Scripture does
not endorse a spiritual or virtual fellowship, but rather a physical,
communal gathering as the apostle Paul describes when he writes
to the church in Corinth, “So then, my brothers, when you come
together to eat, wait for one another—if anyone is hungry, let him
eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for your
judgment” (1 Cor. 11:33–34a); and
WHEREAS, The Epistle to the Hebrews states, “And let us
consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not
neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging
one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near”
(Heb. 10:24–25); and
WHEREAS, The Augsburg Confession describes the
administration of the Lord’s Supper in the context of a physically
gathered assembly (Augsburg Confession [AC] VII 1; XXIV 36–
39); and
WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations
(CTCR) responded by unanimously endorsing the opinion
“Communion and Covid-19” (CC19), which warned against the
practice of online Communion, in part by referencing an earlier
2006 CTCR opinion on DVD consecration, which reads,
“Whenever the actual words and actions of the celebrant in
consecrating the elements are intentionally separated (by time,
distance, or technological means) from the distribution and
reception, no assurance can be given that our Lord’s instructions are
being heeded and that the body and blood of Christ are actually
being given and received for the forgiveness of sins and the
strengthening of faith” (LCMS CTCR, Communion and Covid-19
[adopted 2020], 2); and
WHEREAS, Some LCMS pastors and congregations nevertheless
persisted in publicly arguing for and practicing online Communion,
prompting a further response from the CTCR in an addendum to
CC19 entitled, “One little word can fell him,” which affirmed and
expanded upon the original position against online Communion;
and
WHEREAS, The CTCR’s acknowledgment in the addendum to
CC19 states that “It is indeed true that the CTCR opinion in this
matter is not binding” (LCMS CTCR, “One little word can fell him”
[2020], 12) leaves open the possibility that pastors and
congregations of the LCMS may continue to practice online
Communion despite the admonition to cease due to the harm it may
cause; and
WHEREAS, The practice of online Communion has, at the very
least, the potential to sow discord among the brethren and doubt
concerning whether such observance of Holy Communion is
pleasing to God and in accordance with His Word; therefore be it
Resolved, That the CTCR be commended for its sound, scriptural
guidance on the issue of online Communion; and be it further
Resolved, That the Iowa East District memorialize the Synod to
instruct our pastors and congregations on the basis of Holy
Scripture’s exhortation to gather in person to celebrate the Lord’s
Supper and on the basis of the examples of the Augsburg
Confession Articles VII and XXIV, to refrain from the practice of
online Communion, ensuring that those pastors and congregations
who continue to practice online Communion after due fraternal

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admonition be subject to appropriate ecclesiastical counsel and
instruction; and be it finally
Resolved, That those who are hindered for a time from bodily
participation in Holy Communion be encouraged to content
themselves with the exercise of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. “As
great as the hardship is when we cannot receive Christ’s body and
blood, the hardship ought not be ‘resolved’ in ways that promise an
uncertain ‘sacrament’ without the absolute assurance that Christ
intends. It is better humbly and repentantly to ask the Lord for the
regular administration of the Sacrament of the Altar to be restored
to us, together with an end to the ‘deadly pestilence’ that is killing
thousands of souls who are precious to God, their Creator (see Ps.
91; Jonah 4:11)” (CC19, 3–4).
Iowa East District
Ov. 5-18

To Reject Internet Communion
as Contrary to Word of God
WHEREAS, During the COVID-19 pandemic, congregations of
our Synod started a novel practice: “online” or “virtual”
Communion, which is unknown to the Scriptures and had heretofore
not been practiced in the Synod; and
WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations
(CTCR) and the systematic theology departments of both
seminaries issued opinions that unequivocally and unanimously
argued against the practice of online or virtual Communion, and the
Council of Presidents has passed a motion for all members of Synod
to “refrain from the practice of online Communion”; and
WHEREAS, the CTCR affirmed its 2006 opinion on DVD
consecration and applied its rationale to online or virtual
Communion, putting forward the arguments—among others—that
this practice:
• severs the consecration of the Sacrament through the Words
of Institution from the distribution and reception of the
Sacrament;
• potentially and unnecessarily sows doubt in the minds of
communicants as to whether the elements received are in fact
the Sacrament of Christ’s body and blood;
• vitiates the instrumental role of pastoral care in the
administration of the Sacrament through the lack of pastoral
oversight, preparation of communicants, and admission to
the table;
• detracts from the corporate assembly of God’s people around
the Lord’s Supper as an expression of the common
confession of Christ and unity in the faith;
and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions (Formula of Concord [FC]
Solid Declaration [SD] VII) indicate that the proper use of the
Sacrament includes a unified consecration, distribution, and
reception, none of which are to be severed from the other, yet the
practice of online or virtual Communion would interject a spatial,
temporal, and technological gap between the consecration and the
distribution and reception; and
WHEREAS, The Sacrament of the Altar serves to strengthen faith
against all doubts (Augsburg Confession [AC] XIII) and is “given
for a daily pasture and sustenance, that faith may refresh and
strengthen itself so as not to fall back in such a battle, but become
2023 Convention Workbook