LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 159

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 159

Resolved, That Dr. Barry and the Praesidium be commended for
their defense of the biblical practice of close(d) Communion and
encourage them to continue to provide strong leadership in the pur-
suit of right doctrine and practice.

St. John
Hubbard, IA

To Commend Practice of Holy Communion
* to God’s Care and Blessing

WHEREAS, Holy Communion is to be a joyful participation in
and a thanksgiving for God’s gift of forgiveness of sins for all who
are “worthy and well prepared”; and

WHEREAS, Luther states in the Small Catechism that “he is truly

worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, ‘Given and _

m9,

shed for you for the remission of sins’”; and
WHEREAS, The Scriptures teach that the Sacrament is for all
a. who know Jesus Christ as their Savior;

b. who recognize that the body and blood of Christ are truly pres-
ent in the bread and wine;

c. who are able to examine themselves and who repent of their
sins; and

d. who look to God’s Holy Spirit for help in living the Christian
life; and

WHEREAS, Individual congregations and pastors are better
equipped to implement this scriptural practice of administering
Holy Communion in their local congregation and community of
faith; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention encourage our congregations prayerfully to commend their
practice of Holy Communion (close Communion) to God’s care
and blessing; and be it further

Resolved, That each congregation determine its own practice
and procedure for faithfully following the guidance of the Holy

Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions in administering the Eu-

charist.
Zion
Chanute, KS

3-17

To Accept “Close” and “Closed” Communion
as Synonymous Terms

WHEREAS, There are elements within our synodical fellowship
who differentiate in defining “close” as opposed to “closed” Com-
munion in a way that makes the terms mutually exclusive; and

WHEREAS, The CTCR study entitled, Theology and Practice of
the Lord's Supper (1983) explains:

While the term “closed Communion” has a longer history
(cf. W. Elert, Ch. 7) and is regarded by some as theologically
more proper than “close Communion.” the latter term, which
has been used in more recent history by writers in The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, may also properly be employed as a
way of saying that confessional agreement must precede the fel-
lowship of Christians at the Lord’s Table. Whatever term is
used, it is clear that the LCMS’ official practice is consistent
with the historic practice of the church, which has regarded
unity of doctrine as a prerequisite for admission to the sacra-
ment (cf. 1967 Res. 2-19); and
WHEREAS, Both “close” and “closed’”” Communion seek to pre-
vent a profession of confessional unity in faith where there is, in
fact, disunity and disagreement; therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention adopt the understanding of “close” and “closed” Commu-
nion as synonymous terms; and be it further

Resolved, That this understanding be used in future studies and
dialog regarding the historic and faithful practice of “close(d) Com-
munion” within the member churches of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod, which includes pastoral discretion to the nature of
admittance to a congregation’s Communion; and be it finally

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod actively
seek new terminology to describe the traditional “close(d)” com-
munion practice to avoid continued confusion among the members
of Synod.

Family of Faith
Houston, TX

3-18

To Encourage Responsible Distribution
of Holy Sacrament

Wuereas, The Holy Sacrament is the Lord’s and not our Sup-
per, meaning that we must abide by His command that it be cele-
brated in remembrance of Him; and

WHEREAS, Previous synodical conventions have passed resolu-
tions encouraging admission to the Sacrament only to such as are
united with us in unqualified agreement with the doctrine our
churches teach (to which doctrine members of our churches give
assent in expressing at their confirmation agreement with all that
is taught in Luther’s Small Catechism); and

WHEREAS, This agreement is regularly expressed by communi-
cant membership in churches of our or sister synods; and

WHEREAS, Concerns continue to be raised over churches and
members of Synod who continue to express disagreement with
these convictions; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention reaffirm our stance, continuing to restrict our altars to such
as are in confessional fellowship with The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod.

Rock Island Circuit Forum
Central Illinois District

To Maintain Confessional Integrity
in Practice of Close(d) Communion

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod resolved in
1995 to reaffirm the practice of close(d) Communion and to give a
fraternal reminder to any members of the Synod who advocate a
different practice of Holy Communion (1995 Res. 3-08); and

WHEREAS, Concerns about Communion practices continue to be
expressed among the members of the LCMS; therefore be it

Resolved, That the President of the LCMS, District Presidents,
Circuit Counselors, and other officials give high priority, in their
work of encouragement and supervision, to the maintenance of
confessional integrity in the practice of close(d) Communion.

Faculty
Concordia Seminary
St. Louis, MO

3-20

To Maintain Practice of Close(d) Communion

WHEREAS, Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions teach that
communicants should come to the Lord’s Table with a proper
knowledge of what God gives in the Sacrament, and with a penitent
heart which trusts Christ’s Word (1 Cor. 11:27-30; Small Cate-
chism VI; Large Catechism V); and

WHEREAS, Fellowship at the Lord’s Table is a confession of a
common faith (Rom. 16:17; Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 1:10; 1 Cor. 10:17;
FC SD VII); and