LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 173

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 173

regard to this matter from the Scriptures, the Confessions, and the
teachers of the church; 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 be commissioned to
offer guidelines on how the congregations might meet the needs of
those who cannot drink wine.

Concordia Seminary
St. Louis, MO

3-53

To Encourage Congregations to Offer
the Sacrament Every Sunday

WHEREAS, Ap XXIV I states that the Mass (the blessed Sacra-
ment of the Altar), is religiously kept and defended by our churches
and that it is “celebrated every Sunday”; and

WHEREAS, The words of our Lord Jesus Christ urge our recep-
tion on a regular basis (“Do this to remember Me™): and

WHEREAS, The apostle Paul terms the celebration of the blessed
Sacrament the proclamation of the Gospel (1 Cor. 11:26); and

WHEREAS, Martin Luther, in his The Adoration of the Sacra-
ment (1523), says of the blessed Sacrament, “this Sacrament is the
Gospel” (AE 36:289): and

WHEREAS, We receive in the blessed Sacrament “a great trea-
sure through and in which we obtain the forgiveness of sins” (LC V
22); and

WHEREAS, The true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ “is
appropriately called the food of the soul since it nourishes and
strengthens the new man” (LC V 23): and

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention (1998) passed a resolution
encouraging the member congregations to offer the blessed Sacra-
ment every Sunday for these reasons; and

WHEREAS, Many congregations of our Synod have yet to im-
plement this God-pleasing resolution for the blessing of their com-
municants and for the proclamation of the Holy Gospel in their
midst; and

Wuereas, Our Lord Jesus Christ did not institute this Sacra-
ment “to be treated merely as a spectacle, but commanded His
Christians to eat and drink and thereby remember Him™ (LC V 42):
therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-

vention strongly and evangelically implore those congregations of

the Synod which have yet to offer the blessed Sacrament on a
weekly basis to do so, lest they deprive any communicant of life
(LC V 60) and despise the gifts of Christ: and be it further

Resolved, The District Presidents evangelically implore the con-
gregations of their Districts to implement this evangelical practice;
and be it finally

Resolved, That this not be viewed as compulsion, but, as Dr.
Luther writes: “All we are doing is to urge you to do what you
ought to do, not for our sake but for your own” (LC V 52).

Immanuel
Terre Haute, IN

3-54

To Again Commend Weekly Celebration
of Lord’s Supper
WHEREAS, The 1995 convention of the Synod resolved to com-
mend the weekly availability of the Lord’s Supper in the congre-
gations of the Synod; and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions state that it is our practice

to celebrate the Lord’s Supper each Lord’s Day and on festival
days (AC XXIV; Ap. XXIV): and

Wuereas, The celebration of the Lord’s Supper is key to the
evangelistic proclamation of the church (since those who partake
proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes); therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Churech—Missouri Synod in con-
vention again commend the weekly celebration of the Lord’s Sup-
per to its congregations; and be it further

Resolved, That the pastors and congregations of the Synod be
encouraged by our synodical President, District Presidents, and
seminaries to study the scriptural. historic, and confessional wit-
ness to weekly celebration of Holy Communion; and be tt finally

Resolved, That the Commission on Worship and the seminaries
of the Synod be directed to produce supporting materials for this
purpose in their respective publications.

Circuit 2 Forum
Ohio District

3-55

To Reaffirm Doctrine of Office of Holy Ministry

WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ has granted to His church the
gift of the office of the holy ministry John 20:21—23; Eph. 4:11):
and

WHEREAS, Christ has declared to those who have been placed
into this office by Him, “He who hears you hears Me” (Luke
10:16): and

WHEREAS, Our Lutheran Confessions make it abundantly clear
that those who have been placed into this office stand in the stead
and by the command of Christ, so that it is Christ Himself who,
through the office, pronounces absolution to His people, baptizes
them, distributes His body and blood to them in the Holy Supper,
and preaches to and teaches them through the voice of the called
minister (SC V 27; AC V; XIV: XXV; Ap XIII 12; VII 28: XXIV
18; XII 39-41; AC XXVIII 8-9; Ap XXVIII 19); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm the doctrine on the office of
the holy ministry: and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm the Confessions’ position
that, according to ecclesiastical order and its functions, “no one
should publicly teach in the church or administer the Sacraments
unless he be regularly called” (AC XIV). In upholding this posi-
tion, we guard against confusing the uniqueness of this office and
its functions with the identity and responsibilities of the priesthood
of all believers: and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod through her District Presidents, Dis-
trict Vice Presidents, and Circuit Counselors assist the congrega-
tions of the Synod in upholding this doctrine of Christ, and be it fi-
nally

Resolved, That the Synod promote and instruct her congrega-
tions, educational institutions, and agencies in this essential, con-
fessional doctrine concerning the office of the holy ministry.

St. Paul, Decatur, IN: Prince of Peace, Hartford City, IN

3-56

To Reaffirm Historic Position on Church and Ministry

WuerREAS, Holy Scripture makes a clear distinction between the
universal Christian church consisting of all believers scattered
throughout the world (Matt. 16:18) and individual congregations
of believers in a specific area (Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. [:2); and

WHEREAS, Christ has given the full power of the Keys with all
the functions thereof solely to believers gathered around Word and
Sacrament in local congregations (1 Cor. 3:21-22; Matt. 16:13-19;
Matt. 18:17—20: John 20:22-—23): and

Wuereas, The church instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ and
described in the New Testament consists solely of local congrega-
lions, and no other grouping of Christians such as a synod or de-
nomination has been divinely instituted; and

WuerEAS, No one but Christ has the right and authority to es-
tablish doctrines (Matt. 28:18-20): and

2001 Convention Workbook