LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 141

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
WHEREAS, Two additional volumes of source materials
and historical introductions will appear in 2001 and 2002,
also in part authored by LCMS theologians; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage congregations to undertake a study of the ecumenical creeds,
Luther’s catechisms, and the Augsburg Confession as part
of their Bible Study program at some time during the next
triennium; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage pastors and other professional church workers in their respective conferences to undertake an in-depth study of one or
more of the confessional writings at some time during the
next triennium; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage Districts to undertake a study of the Lutheran Confessions as
a resource for the church today as part of one of their programs at District pastors conferences; and be it finally
Resolved, That all action taken in this resolution shall be
used to help carry out “The Great Commission” and shall
not in any way detract or distract from the primary mission
of God’s kingdom here on earth. We will remember 1-02!
Action: Adopted (10)
(The resolution was adopted without amendment [yes: 959;
no: 106]. The final resolve is added as required by Res. 1-02,
adopted by the convention at an earlier session.)

To Encourage Baptism of Infants
at Earliest Opportunity
RESOLUTION 3-12
Overture 3-134 (CW, p. 200)
WHEREAS, Our Lord has commanded Holy Baptism and
promises (Matt. 28:18–20; Acts 2:38–39; 1 Peter 3:21) in
this means of grace, forgiveness, life, and salvation; and
WHEREAS, We all are conceived and born sinful and so
are in need of forgiveness (Ps. 51:5; Eph. 2:3; see Rite of
Holy Baptism, Lutheran Worship, p. 199); and
WHEREAS, There is a tendency among some of our families to delay the Baptism of their infants; therefore be it
Resolved, That our Synod in convention encourage our
pastors and congregations to guide our families to have
their infants baptized at the earliest opportunity following
their birth; and be it further
Resolved, That all action taken in this resolution shall be
used to help carry out “The Great Commission” and shall not
in any way detract or distract from the primary mission of
God’s kingdom here on earth. We will remember 1-02!
Action: Adopted (10)
(The resolution was adopted without amendment [yes: 1,064;
no: 12]. The final resolve is added as required by Res. 1-02,
adopted by the convention in an earlier session.)

To Encourage Use of Only Wine
in Administration of Lord’s Supper
RESOLUTION 3-16
Overture 3-52 (CW, p. 172)
WHEREAS, A number of congregations in the Synod have
introduced grape juice for use in the Sacrament of the
Altar; and

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WHEREAS, The clear statements of our Confessions instruct us that “As the Words of Institution of Christ expressly state: while at the table during the Supper, he distributed natural bread and wine to his disciples” (FC SD
VII 64); and
WHEREAS, The use of an element other than wine is an
alien practice in the churches of the Augsburg Confession
and brings about doubt whether the Sacrament is offered
or not; and
WHEREAS, “Since Christ used and sanctified no other element for this Sacrament; since no place in Scripture which
treats of the Lord’s Supper mentions even a single other element; since it befits the true disciples of Christ to abide
by His ordinance and institution, John 8:31; since the
promise of Christ concerning the sacramental reception of
His body and blood is expressly dependent upon the bread
and wine; and finally, since bread and wine are the essential elements of the holy Lord’s Supper, it follows that
under no circumstances can or should one substitute elements, which might be comparable, in place of bread and
wine” (Johann Gerhard, A Comprehensive Explanation of
Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper [trans. Elmer M.
Hohle; Repristination Press, 2000], 228–29); and
WHEREAS, Both theological faculties of the LCMS have
offered opinions (Gutachten) (cf. Concordia Theological
Quarterly 45:1/2 [Jan./Apr., 1981], 77–80; Theological Observer 17:1 [Jan. 1991], 4–6) supporting the use of wine, or
reduced-alcohol wine, offering the clear teaching of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church with regard to this matter
from the Scriptures, the Confessions, and the teaching of
the church; and
WHEREAS, The Synod has spoken in 1998 Res. 3-16B “To
Affirm Use of Bread and Wine in the Sacrament of the
Altar”; therefore be it
Resolved, That the congregations be encouraged to use
only wine for the Sacrament; and be it further
Resolved, That the theological faculties of our seminaries
be commissioned to offer guidelines to pastors and congregations in meeting the needs of those who feel they cannot
drink wine; and be it finally
Resolved, That all action taken in this resolution shall be
used to help carry out “The Great Commission” and shall not
in any way detract or distract from the primary mission of
God’s kingdom here on earth. We will remember 1-02!
Action: Adopted as amended (11)
(This resolution was first discussed during session 10. The
fifth whereas as presented by the committee, WHEREAS, Both theological faculties of the LCMS have offered opinions (Gutachten)
to the contrary (cf. “Opinion of the Department of Systematic Theology: The Fruit of the Vine in the Sacrament of the Altar,” Concordia Theological Quarterly 45:1/2 [Jan./April., 1981], 77–80;
Department of Systematic Theology, Concordia Seminary, “Is
‘Non-Alcoholic Wine’ Really Wine?” (Theological Observer, Concordia Journal 17:1 [Jan. 1991], 4–6), offering the clear teaching of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church with regard to this matter from
the Scriptures, the Confessions, and the teachers of the church;
and, was amended by replacing it with the paragraph included
in the adopted resolution. A substitute resolution, To Encourage
Use of Fruit of Vine in Lord’s Supper, was considered by the delegates when this resolution was brought back by the committee
in session 11: WHEREAS, Any guidelines for celebrating the Lord’s
Supper must originate in God’s Word; and WHEREAS, The Constitution of the Synod, Article II, refers to “The Scriptures of the Old
and the New Testament as the written Word of God and the only

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