LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 163

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(3) “That, while situations exist in which the service of
women in leadership positions in the congregation is desirable or even necessary, men be encouraged to continue
to exercise leadership in their congregations even as they
are encouraged to exercise their God-given leadership in a
God-pleasing manner in their homes”;
and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS, in convention, ask the CTCR, in consultation with the seminary faculties, to continue and complete (by
the end of the triennium) a biblical, confessional, and historical
study of the concept of the order of creation, examining its relevance to various questions about the service of men and women in
the church and society today and also taking into account continued disagreements and discussion in the Synod about the service of
women in certain lay positions and offices of leadership (e.g., congregational chairman or vice-chairman).
Action: Adopted (6)
(Res. 5-14 was introduced by the committee after it made a
change in the second-last resolve by replacing the word “endorsed”
with “commended.” During debate, the committee accepted a
friendly amendment to add the parenthetical phrase “(i.e., Office
of the Public Ministry)” at the end of the second-last resolve’s paragraph (1). A motion also was introduced to remove paragraph (2) of
the second-last resolve as printed on pages 384 of Monday’s issue
of Today’s Business. After discussion of the proposed amendment,
a motion to end debate was carried [Yes: 708; No: 291] and the
amendment failed [Yes: 358; No: 642]. Upon returning to discussion of the resolution, a motion to end debate was carried and Res.
5-14 was adopted as changed [Yes: 683; No: 329].)

To Address Questions
re the Sacrament of the Altar
RESOLUTION 5-15
Overtures 5-10–16, 5-18–20 (CW, pp. 346–351)
Whereas, The Scriptures teach that the Lord Jesus gave His
disciples His body to eat and His blood to drink under the bread
and wine (Matt. 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:15–20; 1 Cor.
11:23–26); and
Whereas, In the Sacrament of the Altar, there is both a “vertical” and “horizontal” dimension, since we receive in the bread and
wine Christ’s bodily presence and the forgiveness of sins He has
won (vertical dimension) all the while partaking of one bread and
cup together corporately in a way that affirms our unity with our
fellow communicants (horizontal dimension; see Paul’s concerns
about the Church’s Communion practices in 1 Cor. 10 and 11); and
Whereas, The Lutheran Confessions emphasize (1) that the
true body and blood of Christ are truly (substantially) present, distributed, and received in the Church’s Communion (AC X; Ap X;
SA III VI 1-4; SC Sacrament of the Altar 1; LC 5 1-19; FC SD VII 44);
(2) that as we all receive one bread, we are therefore one body (Ap
“5. Theology and Church Relations”

X 3); (3) that the Lord’s Supper conveys the forgiveness of sins (SC
Sacrament of the Altar 6; LC 5 20-32; AC XXIV 7); (4) that all who
commune receive the body and blood of Christ; (5) that only those
who receive it in faith receive its forgiveness while those who do not
receive it in faith do so to their spiritual harm (FC Ep and SD VII);
and (6) that the Lord’s Supper strengthens faith (Ap IV 210); and
Whereas, The right practice of the Lord’s Supper flows from
such scriptural and confessional teaching; and
Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS)
firmly holds these biblical and confessional teachings and has
endorsed them numerous times not only through biblical and confessional subscription, but also in other formal ways, such as by
adopting the Brief Statement (§ 21) and numerous convention resolutions regarding Communion practice (1983 Res. 3-12; 1986 Res.
3-08; 1989 Res. 3-10; 1995 Res. 3-08; 1998 Res. 3-05; 1998 Res. 3-16
B; 2001 Res. 3-16); and
Whereas, Questions and concerns continue to be raised about
the Synod’s practice of closed Communion; and
Whereas, Questions and concerns have been raised about the
propriety and practice of communing infants and very young children; and
Whereas, Questions and concerns have been raised about the
propriety and practice of intinction; and
Whereas, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations
(CTCR) has also addressed the doctrine and practice of the Lord’s
Supper, both in general terms and by addressing specific questions,
in numerous reports and opinions, such as Theology and Practice
of the Lord’s Supper (1983); A Model Communion Card Statement
(1993); Response to “Concerns of the South Wisconsin District Circuits 18 and 19 Regarding Infant Communion” (1997); Admission
to the Lord’s Supper: Basics of Biblical and Confessional Teaching
(1999); Knowing What We Seek and Why We Come: Questions and
Answers Concerning the Communing of Infants and Young Children
(2014); Guidelines for Congregational, District, and Synodical Communion Statements (2014); therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS reaffirm that its statements and resolutions with regard to closed Communion, as noted above (see
fifth whereas paragraph), are faithful to Scripture and the Confessions; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS continue “To Encourage Proper Oversight in Administration of [the] Lord’s Supper by Visitation from
Ecclesiastical Supervisors” (2013 Res. 4-10); and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS affirm that participation in the Lord’s
Supper by infants and very young children (as well as adults!)
should be postponed until they are baptized and instructed, so
that they may properly examine themselves and “know what they
seek and why they come” (Large Catechism V 2); and be it further
Resolved, That in the matter of infant and toddler Communion,
the LCMS commend for study and guidance the CTCR report
Knowing What We Seek and Why We Come: Questions and Answers
Concerning the Communing of Infants and Young Children (2014);
and be it further

U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

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