LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 162

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162 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention reaffirm its commitment to the policy and attending prac-
tice stated in Res. 3-08, 1995; and be it further

Resolved, That the practice of this policy be uniformly main-
tained throughout the Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod firmly decline attempts to change its
biblically sound policy.

Redeemer

Kimberly, ID

3-26

To Define Terms Used to Explain
Exceptions to Close(¢@) Communion

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church-—-Missouri Synod in conven-
tion in 1995 reaffirmed the doctrine and practice of close(d) Com-
munion; and

WHEREAS, Room was given for exceptions using the terms “sit-
uations of emergency” and “special cases of pastoral care”; and

WHEREAS, There has been great diversity in the understanding
and interpretation of these terms; and

WHEREAS, Some congregations interpret these exceptions in
such a way as to practice what is actually open Communion; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) to prepare a study doc-
ument defining the terms “situations of emergency” and “special
cases of pastoral care” as they relate to our doctrine and practice
of close(d) Communion; and be it further

Resolved, That this study be sent to the congregations of the
Synod at least 18 months prior to the next synodical convention;
and be it finally

Resolved, That a resolution defining these terms be presented
in the next synodical convention so that there will be a unified
definition of these terms and a unified practice of close(d) Com-
munion among the congregations of our Synod.

Zion
Tomball, TX

3-27

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

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has main-
tained and still maintains, in continuity with the ancient church, the
historic practice of closed or close Communion (see W. Elert, Eu-
charist and Church Fellowship in the First Four Centuries); and

WHEREAS, The Holy Supper expresses the participants’ deep
union, through Christ’s body and blood, with God and with each
other (1 Cor. 10:16—17); and

WHEREAS, Joint participation in the Supper of the Lord ex-
presses agreement in the apostolic faith and doctrine, including, of
course, the confession that the bread and wine in this Supper
are the actual body and blood of the Lord (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 10:
16-17); and

WHEREAS, The ancient church and the church of the Lutheran
Reformation saw the promiscuous observance of the Holy Supper
with members of churches which opposed the full apostolic truth of
the Gospel, in any article, as a desecration of this most holy Sacra-
ment (see Rom. 16:17; 1 Cor. 10:18; 11:26-29; Gal. 1:6—-9;
Heb.13:10); and

WuereEas, Advocates of “open Communion” often argue that
“denominational differences” are “manmade” and should not di-
vide communicants at the Lord’s altar; and

WHEREAS, Unlike details of “denomination” (name, designa-
tion) or organization, the solemn confession of the apostolic truth
against all counterfeits is divinely instituted and mandated in the

very foundation of the church (Matt. 10:32-33; 16:16-18; Gal.
1:6-9; Eph. 2:20; 4:5; 1 Tim. 4:16; 2 Tim. 4:2—-5; Titus 1:9-11;
2 John 10-11; Jude 3); and

WHEREAS, To receive the Sacrament at the altar of another con-
fession, or to give it to communicants of another confession, is to
deny or compromise one’s own confession; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod require
its President, District Presidents, Circuit Counselors, and other of-
ficials, to give high priority, in their work of encouragement and
supervision, to the maintenance of confessional integrity in the
practice of closed or close Communion.

Faculty
Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, IN

3-28

To Reaffirm Synod’s Practice of Close(d@) Communion

Wuereas, Reports of Missouri Synod congregations participat-
ing in altar fellowship with those who are not in doctrinal agree-
ment with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod continue to
trouble our church body; and

WHEREAS, Our Synod’s practice of close(d) Communion has
been under attack both from without and within The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, The practice of close(d) Communion is fundamental
to our Synod’s effort to make a clear and faithful confession of
Christ and His Gospel; and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures do not teach that Holy Communion
is necessary to salvation; rather that this is but one of the means of
grace which God has given for His church to use wisely; and

WHEREAS, The synodical Constitution (Art. III 1) recognizes the
mandate of St. Paul to mark those who cause divisions and offenses
contrary to the doctrine which we have learned and to avoid them
(Rom. 16:17); therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missoun Synod in con-
vention assembled reaffirm its practice of close(d) Communion,
and be it further

Resolved, That those who are not members of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod or of a church body with which the
Synod is in full doctrinal fellowship be prevented from receiving
Holy Communion from congregations of our Synod except in very
exceptional circumstances (clarification: “exceptional circum-
stances’’ shall be understood as terrors of conscience upon facing
death as a result of battle or medical treatments without benefit of
clergy of one’s own confession. It is also assumed that the com-
municant would accept the Real Presence of Christ’s body and
blood in the bread and wine as well as other fundamental doctrines
of the Christian faith, such as the Trinity, original sin, the deity of
Christ, the resurrection, etc.); and be it further

Resolved, That the implementation of this consistent practice
shall be a top priority of the District Presidents who are responsible
for the doctrinal and practical supervision of pastors and congre-
gations in the Districts; and be it further

Resolved, That the District Presidents report to the synodical
President semiannually on the measures they have taken to collec-
tively encourage proper Communion practices in their Districts;
and be it finally

Resolved, That the synodical President shall have the authority
to inquire concerning individual cases that may have come to his
attention and to direct corrective measures through the President of
that District, since the District President is the Synod’s representa-
tive in that locale.

Bethany
Fort Wayne, IN