LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 194

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194

Theology and Church Relations

4-64

To Carry Out Former Synod Resolutions re Use
of Bread and Grape Wine in the Lord’s Supper
Whereas, The Southeastern District officials supervised the celebration of the Lord’s Supper at the Southeastern District’s convention
in 2012; and
Whereas, According to Bylaw 4.1.1, “The Synod is not merely
an advisory body in relation to a district, but establishes districts in
order more effectively to achieve its objectives and carry on its activities,” and Bylaw 4.1.1.1, “A district is the Synod itself performing
the functions of the Synod. Resolutions of the Synod are binding
upon the districts”; and
Whereas, According to Constitution Art. XII 9, “Furthermore,
the district presidents shall a. See to it that all resolutions of the Synod
which concern the districts are made known to the districts and are
carried out by them”; and
Whereas, The Synod has spoken on the use of grape juice in the
Lord’s Supper in 1998 Res. 3-16:
Whereas, A number of congregations in the Synod have introduced
grape juice for use in the Sacrament of the Altar; and
Whereas, The clear statement 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 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./April 1981], 77–80 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 in this resolution 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)

And
Whereas, The Synod at the same 1998 convention also adopted
Res. 3-16B “To Affirm Use of Bread and Wine in the 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

2013 Convention Workbook

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 Christ in 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 Sacrament
of the Altar are not given and received apart from the elements used by
Christ in the institution of this most venerable sacrament, as Christ said
of the bread, “Take, eat, this is My body which is given for you” and
of the cup, “This is My blood of the new covenant which shed for you
for the remission of sins” (Matt.26:38; 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 continue to 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 Sacrament of the
Altar through the use of bread and wine “in order not to introduce an element of uncertainty into the sacrament” (Christian Dogmatics, Pieper,
Vol. III, p. 354); and be it finally
Resolved, That in cases where pastoral concern arises concerning
the reception of bread and 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.

Therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod President instruct all the district presidents to enforce this resolution and remind them of their primary
responsibility to ensure that these scripturally faithful resolutions be
observed in all of their districts’ congregations and at all of their district-sponsored events where the Lord’s Supper is observed.
Salem Lutheran Church
Taylorsville, NC
4-65

To Enforce 1989 Res. 3-10 re Use of Women
to Serve Holy Communion
Whereas, The Southeastern District at its 2012 convention had
women distributing the Lord’s Supper; and
Whereas, According to Bylaw 4.1.1, “The Synod is not merely
an advisory body in relation to a district, but establishes districts in
order more effectively to achieve its objectives and carry on its activities,” and Bylaw 4.1.1.1, “A district is the Synod itself performing
the functions of the Synod. Resolutions of the Synod are binding
upon the districts”; and
Whereas, According to Constitution, Art. XII 9, “Furthermore,
the district presidents shall a. See to it that all resolutions of the Synod
which concern the districts are made known to the districts and are
carried out by them”; and
Whereas, The use of women serving the Lord’s Supper, especially at a district convention, has caused a great offense; and
Whereas, The Synod has spoken on the practice of having women
serve Holy Communion (1989 Res. 3-10 “To Address Practice of
Women Serving Holy Communion”: