LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 161

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 161

share our confession of Christ and our conviction of what He freely
offers us in the Eucharist’’; and

WHEREAS, This District in convention also accepted the docu-
ment “A Declaration of Eucharistic Understanding and Practice’’
as a valid understanding of Communion practice, and hopes to use
it to challenge the existing close(d) Communion practice of the
LCMS (first resolved of resolution); and

WHEREAS, This document refuses to acknowledge that the
Sacrament should be understood as a testimony to the unity of faith
(as stated in the explanation to the Small Catechism, question 305,
point C), or that only those should commune at LCMS tables who
accept the full truth of Holy Scripture and have consented to this
truth by their oaths of membership and/or confirmation (except for
extreme cases of pastoral necessity which are by their very nature
rare); and

Wuertas, Unity in the articles of faith is a biblical directive
(Matt. 7:15; 1 Cor. 1:10; Rom. 16:17; Phil. 2:2; 3:16); and

WHEREAS, Offering the Sacrament to those who belong to con-
fessions of faith which reject the real presence runs the risk of plac-
ing their souls in danger of damnation (1 Cor. 11:29); and

WHEREAS, The Praesidium of the LCMS has recognized the
danger inherent in the view of the Lord's Supper espoused in this
document, and in a public statement made about this document in
August of 1996 stated: “We regret the fact that some members of
our synodical family have persisted in the advocacy of an erro-
neous position in regard to close(d) Communion. Sadly, they have
done this in spite of the fraternal, pastoral, and faithful admonition
of our Synod's president, and of our Synod’s District Presidents’’;
and

WHEREAS, Such public statements which openly contradict the
stated doctrine and practice of the LCMS are destructive to the
unity of the church, cause further schism, and lead the weak and
undiscerning into error; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention publicly reject this
practice of offering the Sacrament on a regular basis to those who
belong to different confessions of faith, on the grounds that it is not
consistent with the LCMS concept of close(d) Communion; and be
it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention call upon the Florida-
Georgia District to rescind its resolution which allows for the reg-
ular communing of those from different denominations; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention enjoin those in posi-
tions of ecclesiastical supervision to take the necessary steps to call
to repentance those who are practicing this method of Communion
and, if necessary (that is, if they will not cease the practice and re-
pent), take the corresponding following steps to remove them from
synodical membership; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod in convention commend the synodical
President and Vice-Presidents for their defense of the biblical prac-
tice of close(d) Communion and encourage them to continue to
provide strong leadership in the pursuit of right doctrine and prac-
tice in the future.

lowa District East Board of Directors; Our Saviour.
Evansville, IN

3-24

To Reject and Condemn Resolution
of Florida-Georgia District

Wuereas, A Communion policy entitled “A Declaration of Eu-
charistic Understanding and Practice” has been passed by the
Florida-Georgia District at their 1997 convention; and

WHEREAS, This document has been sent to numerous churches
and Districts, where LCMS members were invited to sign this res-
olution indicating their support: and

WHEREAS, This stated policy allows for the regular Communion
of non-LCMS members who are “baptized Christians,” claims our

church need not deny the Sacrament to people due to denomina-
tional differences, and makes the only requirements for receiving
the Sacrament an acknowledgement of the Real Presence and per-
sonal repentance; and

WHEREAS, Numerous churches throughout our Synod operate
under such a Communion policy either expressly stated or in prac-
tice; and

WHEREAS, This practice is not consistent with our Synod’s
stated close(d) Communion practice of communing only members
of the LCMS in good standing or members of those churches who
are in fellowship with us, except for “rare” cases of special pastoral
care and emergency; and

WHEREAS, This policy does cause offense throughout the
church, and clearly offends against Scripture, the Confessions, and
our historic practice; and

WHEREAS, It is the duty of the church to promote sound doc-
trine by calling the erring to repentance and disciplining those who
will not turn from error: therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention publicly renounce such
Communion policies that offer the Sacrament regularly to those not
in fellowship with us: and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage the Presi-
dent to use the power granted him by our Constitution and Bylaws
to correct the offense of such open Communion practices. He
should call on the Florida-Georgia District President to discipline
those and possibly remove from membership those in his District
who persist in their open advocacy of a position contrary to the
Synod’s position; and be it further

Resolved, That the President of Synod have the authority to re-
move any District President who does not discipline any pastor
who does not practice close(d) Communion.

Mount Hope
Casper, WY

3-25

To Reaffirm Policy and Practice
of Close(d) Communion

WHEREAS, The Northwest District of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod resolved to submit an overture to the 1998 con-
vention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod requesting that
the current policy regarding Communion practice be reevaluated
(by a task force appointed by the synodical President, to consist of
clergy and laity representing divergent views on this issue) and a
policy be developed which reflects a more pastoral approach, and

WHEREAS, The overture leading to the above resolution clearly
advocated declaring full fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America; and

WHEREAS, The ELCA has declared full fellowship with the
United Church of Christ, the Reformed Church of America, and
the Presbyterian Church (USA); and

WHEREAS, The ELCA is also working toward full fellowship
with the Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic Church; and

WHEREAS, These church bodies do not have a biblical under-
standing and practice of Holy Communion; and

WHEREAS, The ELCA has demonstrated its unwillingness to
recognize and repent of sin by electing as its first vice-president a
member of Lutherans Concerned, an organization of Lutheran les-
bians and homosexuals and their supporters; and

Wuereas, A church body that declares full fellowship with an-
other is in fellowship with all those that the other church body is in
fellowship with; and

WHEREAS. Present Missouri Synod policy allows for “sensitive
pastoral care needs to be exercised” (Res. 3-08, 1995); and

WHEREAS. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has repeat-
edly reaffirmed in convention a sound biblical policy and practice
(Resolution 3-08, 1995); therefore be it