LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 172

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172 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

than those of the LCMS. Sometimes these persons visit or return
to LCMS congregations and wish to receive the Sacrament; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm and celebrate the
fact that congregations have the God-given ability to determine for
themselves what practices are expedient for their ministries; and be
it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage pastors and congregations
who take issue with the practices of these congregations to refrain
from criticism of these pastors and congregations and instead seek
to enter into Bible study and conversation with their brothers and
sisters in the hope that a resolution of these questions will be forth-
coming.

Abiding Savior
Lake Forest, CA

3-50

To Encourage Each Congregation to Determine
Its Practice of Holy Communion

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
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
present 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 Chris-
tian life; and
Wuereas. 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.

Village
Bronxville, NY

3-51

To Return to Former Communion
Practice for Military Chaplains

Rationale

Members of the armed forces of our country benefit by the
blessings of God through the ministry of Lutheran chaplains. Be-
cause of frequent orders to locations anywhere in the world, mem-
bers of the LCMS serving in the military frequently benefit from
the ministry of ELCA chaplains, just as ELCA members serving in
the military frequently benefit from the ministry of LCMS chap-
lains. In order to provide for continued education and professional
concerns, there are annual Lutheran Chaplains’ Conferences for all
Lutheran chaplains serving all branches of the armed forces. It is a
wonderful time for Lutheran chaplains who serve the army, navy,
air force, and marines to encourage one another’s ministry and to
gather for worship and prayer. For many years at these conferences
the Lord’s Supper was celebrated so that all the Lutheran chaplains

2001 Convention Workbook

could commune together. More recently and currently the leaders
of our denomination have insisted that there be separate LCMS and
ELCA celebrations of the Eucharist at these pan-Lutheran Chap-
lains’ Conferences. The strange result is that while LCMS synodi-
cal policy for LCMS military chaplains is to provide a ministry of
Word and Sacraments for all Lutherans, current LCMS practice is
to make provision for separate celebrations of the Eucharist so that
LCMS chaplains themselves do not participate as celebrants or re-
cipients with ELCA chaplains. LCMS and ELCA chaplains at these
conferences study Scripture together, worship and pray together,
take turns in sharing leadership and resource personnel to lead
these conferences—they just don’t commune together as a matter
of LCMS policy. Many chaplains in both the LCMS and the ELCA
desire to have the opportunity to return to the earlier practice of
communing together to find encouragement and strength that
comes from the Lord of the church at His holy meal.

Resolved, That the LCMS gathered in convention express its
thanks to our military chaplains for their dedicated service to our
Lord as they serve people in the armed forces; and be it further

Resolved, That our Armed Forces Commission and synodical
officials be commended for providing opportunities for continued
education and support for chaplains with annual regional Lutheran
Chaplains’ Conferences; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct LCMS partici-
pants who plan and provide for future annual regional Lutheran
Chaplains’ Conferences to return to the previous, long-standing
practice of having LCMS chaplains themselves be involved in rec-
iprocal ministry of Word and Sacrament with other Lutherans, so
that LCMS and ELCA chaplains at conferences gather round Word
and Sacrament just as LCMS and ELCA military people benefit
from a shared ministry in other circumstances and military loca-
tions.

Resurrection
Coronado, CA

3-52

To Encourage Use of Only Wine
in Administration of Lord’s Supper

Wuereas, A number of congregations in the Synod have intro-
duced grape juice for use in the Sacrament of the Altar; and

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

Wrereas, “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 institu-
tion, John 8:31; since the promise of Christ concerning the sacra-
mental 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 Ger-
hard, 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) to the contrary (cf. “Opinion of the Depart-
ment of Systematic Theology: The Fruit of the Vine in the Sacra-
ment of the Altar,” Concordia Theological Quarterly 45:1/2
[Jan./Apr., 1981], 77-80; Department of Systematic Theology,
Concordia Seminary, “Is ‘Non-Alcoholic Wine’ Really Wine?”
(Theological Observer) Concordia Journal \7:1 [Jan. 1991], 4-6),
offering the clear teaching of the Evangelical Lutheran Church with