LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 164

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164 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

that these steps need not be taken, and that we may walk in unity in
doctrine and practice.

Faith
Isabella, MO

3-32

To Reject Error in Interpretation of “Body”

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions are held to be and taught
by us to be in complete harmony with the Holy Scriptures; and

WHEREAS. The proper Lutheran interpretation of the word body
in | Corinthians I] is “the Lord’s Body” i-e., [“The bread which
we break is the distributed body of Christ, or the common body of
Christ distributed among those who receive the broken bread” (FC
SD VII}: therefore be it

Resolved, That we reject any notion of bodv in | Corinthians 11
meaning “church or body of believers” in the contexts of Christ
being incarnate and truly present in the Lord’s Supper.

St. James
Scottsbluff, NE

3-33
To Forbid Vicars’ Celebration of Lord’s Supper

WHEREAS, The church confesses, “It is taught among us that no-
body should preach publicly in the church or administer the sacra-
ments unless he is regularly called” (AC XIV): and

WuerEAs., The church confesses, “Our teachers assert that ac-
cording to the Gospel the power of keys or the power of bishops is
a power and command of God to preach the Gospel, to forgive and
retain sins, and to administer and distribute the sacraments” (AC
XXVIII 5); and

WHEREAS. Vicars are neither called nor ordained, but are stu-
dents preparing to serve in the ministry: and

WHEREAS. Any person who assumes the work of the ministry
without call or ordination invades another man’s office; and

WHEREAS, The practice of Jay celebration of the Lord’s Supper
is a Violation of both the doctrine and historic practice of the Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church, and. indeed, of the doctrine and practice
of the church catholic; and

WHEREAS, Forcing vicars to celebrate the Lord’s Supper has
been a tremendous burden on the consciences of many such men;
therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod reject
such lay celebrations of the Lord’s Supper; and be it further

Resolved. That the seminaries lend their full support to vicars
rejecting such practice: and be it finally

Resolved, That pastors and/or congregations which insist that a
vicar celebrate the Lord’s Supper be ineligible to receive another
vicar for a period of five years.

Our Redeemer, Forsyth, IL; Bethany, Fort Wayne, IN

3-34

To Affirm Use of Wine in Sacrament of the Altar

WHEREAS, In the institution of the Sacrament of the Altar the
Lord Jesus Christ gave His body and blood for us to eat and drink
under the form of bread and wine (Matt. 26:26—29; Mark 14:22-25;
Luke 22:15-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; cf. AC X); and

WHEREAS, In accordance with Christ's institution the Lutheran
Confessions define the Sacrament of the Altar to be “the true body
and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ in, with, and under the bread
and wine which we Christians are commanded by Christ’s Word
to eat and drink” (LC V 8: cf. AC X; Apology X); and

WHEREAS, The blessings and benefits proffered in the Sacra-
ment of the Altar are not given and received apart from the ele-
ments used by Christ in His institution of this most venerable sacra-

ment, as Christ said of the bread, “Take eat, this is My body which
is given for you” and of the wine, “This is My blood of the new
covenant which is shed for you for the remission of sins” (Matt.
26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; also in the Lutheran Confessions
AC X; LC V 21-22; FC SD VII 43-53); therefore be it

Resolved, That the congregations of the LCMS use bread and
wine in the administration of the Sacrament of the Altar; and be it
further

Resolved, That pastors, who are stewards of the mysteries of
God (1 Cor. 4:1) and are entrusted with the pastoral care of souls.
remain faithful in their practice of Christ’s institution of the Sacra-
ment of the Altar through the use of bread and wine; and be it fi-
nally

Resolved, That in cases where pastoral concern arises concern-
ing the reception of wine by certain persons, the institution of
Christ not be overthrown, but that the pastor stress the Gospel’s
power and total effectiveness in the individual’s life and patiently
seek a practical solution which is faithful to the Word of Christ and
sensitive to the desire to partake in the Supper of the Lord, such as
dilution of the blood of Christ in water, or refraining from the cup.

Zion, Fort Wayne, IN; Our Redeemer, Forsyth, IL:
Bethany, Fort Wayne, IN; St. John, Topeka, KS

3-35

To Reject Use of Grape Juice
and Non-Alcoholic Wine in Lord’s Supper

WHEREAS, Scattered reports of divergent Communion practices
in various congregations of the Missouri Synod indicate the use of
grape juice or “non-alcoholic wine” in the Sacrament; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions refer 87 times to the ex-
clusive use of bread and wine for the Sacrament; and

WrerEAS, Any change in the use of these divinely mandated el-
ements is a variance from Jesus’ own institution of the Sacrament,
and

Wuereas, The Augsburg Confession reminds us that “the
church is the assembly of saints in which the Gospel is taught
purely and the sacraments are administered rightly” (AC VII), and

WHEREAS, Such change will serve to burden consciences with
doubt, in place of the supreme comfort and consolation the Sacra-
ment means to give them; and

WHEREAS, In the Apology to the Augsburg Confession (AP
XXIII 45) the practice of abstaining from the use of wine in the
Lord’s Supper was condemned; and

WHEREAS, The use of non-alcoholic wine in the Sacrament in-
troduces an element of doubt as to whether we are following the
Lord’s command; therefore be it

Resolved, That the congregations of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod affirm the practice of using only the two elements
instituted by our Lord in the Sacrament, namely bread and wine:
and be it further

Resolved, That we reject any use of grape juice, non-alcoholic
wine, or any other substance; and be it finally

Resolved, That pastors be reminded and encouraged to counsel
in an evangelical manner those who have difficulty receiving the
wine.

Concordia
South Haven, MN

3-36

To Examine Guidelines for Consistent Practice
in Worship and Close(d) Communion
in Ministry to Armed Forces

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church has established the Ministry to
the Armed Forces as a means of extending the Gospel of Jesus
Christ to the men, women, and families of those who protect and