LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 152

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5. THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
Resolved, That the LCMS affirm the inerrancy, inspiration,
clarity, and authority of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19–21);
and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS with deep sorrow and regret
declare that it can no longer recognize altar and pulpit
fellowship with the JLC; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS acknowledges and deeply regrets
its own shortcomings and failures in not giving adequate
attention to these theological concerns, especially early on in
its relationship with the JLC; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS herewith commit itself open and
eager to pursuing further doctrinal discussions with the JLC
should the JLC at any time be open to such discussions, in the
hope that by God’s grace our church bodies might once again
attain complete agreement in doctrine and practice and once
again enjoy the gift of God-given and God-pleasing altar and
pulpit fellowship.
Action: Adopted as amended (4)

It was moved and adopted by consent to add to the first whereas
the words “nor carry out the public functions of” and the two
scripture references, as well as to add the first resolve. It was
moved but declined to strike from the third resolve the words
“especially early on in its relationship with the JLC.” The
resolution was adopted as amended [Yes: 944; No: 55].
Committee Chairman Saunders offered prayer.

To Affirm In-Person Communion
RESOLUTION 5-08A
Overtures 5-11–20 (CW, 293–300)
WHEREAS, In the wake of the pandemic, congregations
throughout the Synod sought to provide spiritual care to their
congregations when public health measures prohibited
gathering for corporate worship services; and
WHEREAS, The Lord Jesus, with words and actions spoken
and carried out by Him in the direct and physical presence of
His disciples, instituted Holy Communion as a communal
meal through which His body and blood are distributed under
the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and
salvation (Matt. 26:26–28); and
WHEREAS, In speaking of the Lord’s Supper, Holy Scripture
does not endorse a spiritual or virtual fellowship, but rather a
physical, communal gathering as the apostle Paul describes
when he writes to the church in Corinth, “So then, my
brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one
another—if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that
when you come together it will not be for your judgment” (1
Cor. 11:33–34a); and
WHEREAS, The Epistle to the Hebrews states, “And let us
consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but

152 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION

encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day
drawing near” (Heb. 10:24–25); and
WHEREAS, The Augsburg Confession describes the
administration of the Lord’s Supper in the context of a
physically gathered assembly (Augsburg Confession [AC] VII
1; XXIV 36–39); and
WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations and the systematic theology departments of both
seminaries issued opinions that unequivocally and
unanimously argued against the practice of online or virtual
Communion and affirmed the administration of Holy
Communion in person by the pastor; and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions (Formula of
Concord [FC] Solid Declaration [SD] VII) indicate that the
proper use of the Sacrament includes a unified consecration,
distribution, and reception, none of which are to be severed
from the other:
However, this blessing, or the recitation of the
words of Christ’s institution alone, does not
make a Sacrament if the entire action of the
Lord’s Supper, as it was instituted by Christ, is
not kept. (For example, it is not kept when the
consecrated bread is not distributed, received,
and partaken of, but is enclosed, sacrificed, or
carried about.) Christ’s command “This do”
must be observed unseparated and inviolate.
(This embraces the entire action or
administration in this Sacrament. In an
assembly of Christians, bread and wine are
taken, consecrated, distributed, received, eaten,
drunk, and the Lord’s death is shown forth at the
same time.) St. Paul also places before our eyes
this entire action of the breaking of bread or of
distribution and reception (1 Cor. 10:16).
yet the practice of online or virtual Communion would
interject a spatial, temporal, and technological gap between
the consecration and the distribution and reception; and
WHEREAS, The pastoral office is responsible for oversight
of the administration of the Sacrament in accordance with the
keys conferred upon the pastor by virtue of his call (AC XIV;
Walther’s Theses on the Ministry V and VII); and
WHEREAS, The Sacrament of the Altar has been
established by our Lord according to His Words of Institution,
commanding literally “This keep on doing” (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor.
11:24–25), which indicates that this use of the Sacrament
should be kept according to His institution, and that “nothing
is a sacrament without the appointed use” as set forth by
those same Words of Institution (FC SD VII 73) and these texts
(and all related) require serious study by the church; and
WHEREAS, No theological justification for the novel
practice of online or virtual Communion has existed within
the Synod or in the Lutheran tradition nor has been advanced
in the circles advocating for it on the basis of the principally
relevant texts (sedes doctrinae) of Holy Scripture or of the
Lutheran Confessions; and

Resolutions