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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 325

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

LIFE TOGETHER
WHEREAS, Artists across the centuries depict the common,
historical, and regular practice of Christians using the chalice;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod encourage its congregations to offer
the chalice as an option when the Lord’s Supper is celebrated as we
strive to be more closely united with one another in doctrine and
practice.
North Dakota District
Ov. 4-41

To Celebrate Progress and to Encourage
Increasing Faithfulness in Offering
Every Sunday Communion
WHEREAS, In convention, the Synod passed 1995 Resolution 208A, “To Encourage Every Sunday Communion,” stating:
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in
convention encourage its pastors and congregation to study the
scriptural, confessional, and historical witness to every Sunday
communion with a view to recovering the opportunity for
receiving the Lord’s Supper each Lord’s Day;
and
WHEREAS, For three decades since the aforesaid passed 1995
Res. 2-08A, faithful pastors, congregations, and theologians within
the Synod have diligently studied, taught, and advocated for the
practice of offering the Lord’s Supper every Sunday with many
congregations increasing the frequency that Holy Communion is
offered; and
WHEREAS, The reception of the gifts of God offered to His
people in this Sacrament, including the forgiveness of our sins
(examples include but are not limited to Matt. 26:26–28; LC V 21–
22) and the strengthening of our faith to the blessing of both body
and soul (1 Cor. 11:28–30; LC V 23–24) is essential; and
WHEREAS, Every Sunday Communion, as advocated in 1995
Res. 2-08A, remains in full accord with the Word of God (Acts
2:42; 1 Cor. 11:20, 24–26, 33; Heb. 4:16) and our Lutheran
Confessions (AC XXIV 1, 34; Ap XXIV 1; SC Preface 21–22; LC
V 24); and
WHEREAS, A number of resources have been produced in these
past three decades to aid our pastors, congregations, and theologians
in their study, teaching, and advocacy for every Sunday
Communion, including such examples as various issues of The
Lutheran Witness magazine, The Lutheran Witness blogpost series
on the Lord’s Supper from late 2020 and early 2021
(witness.lcms.org/tag/series-our-lords-supper/), the Rev. Dr.
Kenneth W. Wieting’s The Blessings of Weekly Communion
(Concordia Publishing House [CPH], 2006) and Lutheranism 101:
The Lord’s Supper (CPH, 2012), and other resources from CPH and
other Synod sources; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Minnesota South District in convention
celebrate the progress that has been made regarding the offering of
every Sunday Communion in our Synod, giving thanks to God for
the faithful labors of those pastors, congregations, and theologians
who have worked to renew this practice among us; and be it further
Resolved, That the district in convention reaffirm its confession
that the Holy Communion is a precious treasure of the Church,
given by the Lord for our great good and as such something to be
offered and received regularly and often, in accordance with our

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Lord’s Institution, and encouraging all its pastors, congregations,
and theologians to continue prayerfully studying, teaching, and
consider offering every Sunday Communion where that is not yet
the regular practice; and be it further
Resolved, That the district president instruct circuit visitors as to
the benefits of weekly and frequent reception of the Lord’s Supper,
and that they instruct the pastors and the congregations on behalf of
the district president; and be it further
Resolved, That the district president provide a list of resources
for pastors and congregations to appreciate the benefits of frequent
reception of the Lord’s Supper; and be it finally
Resolved, That the district memorialize the Synod in convention
to encourage the Synod President to author a resource for district
presidents, pastors, and congregations to have a greater appreciation
for frequent reception of the Lord’s Supper.
Minnesota South District
Ov. 4-42

To Encourage Unequivocal Affirmation of First
Communion Prior to Confirmation as GodPleasing Practice and To Encourage Congregations
to Commune Visiting Communicant Children
WHEREAS, Many member congregations of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod receive children as communicants to the
Lord's Supper through the Rite of First Communion prior to
Confirmation (Lutheran Service Book [LSB] Agenda, 25–27), and,
therefore, have non-confirmed yet communicant children who
regularly and faithfully commune at their home congregations; and
WHEREAS, The majority of our member congregations do not
receive children as full communicant members until they have
completed Confirmation and have gone through the Rite of
Confirmation (LSB Agenda, 28–31); and
WHEREAS, Both the Rite of First Communion prior to
Confirmation as well as the Rite of Confirmation are countenanced
and legitimated by the Synod as evidenced by the use of and
presence of each rite in the LSB Agenda; and
WHEREAS, Both rites exist, not by divine command, but as
human ordinances, and thus neither has the status of a Sacrament
(Ap XIII 6); and
WHEREAS, Neither rite confers the status of worthy
communicant, which is determined not by a human ordinance, “but
that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these
words: ‘Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,’” (SC
VI; 1 Cor. 11:27–29); and
WHEREAS, Both rites fulfill the prescription of the Lutheran
Confessions that “people are admitted only if they first had an
opportunity to be examined and heard” (AC XXIV 6–7) and “the
sacrament is made available to those who wish to partake of it, after
they have been examined and absolved” (Ap XXIV 1); and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions do not require uniform
rites, ordinances, and ceremonies for the sake of the unity of faith
and the Church (AC VII 3; Ap XV 18), thus allowing disparate rites
to admit children to the Lord's Supper; and
WHEREAS, Refusal to commune such visiting children who have
been legitimately received to the Lord's Table through instruction,
examination, and absolution, which precedes the Rite of First
Communion prior to Confirmation, causes such little ones, whose
2026 Convention Workbook