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:6 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 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 1 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 close(d) 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 close(d) communion, as noted above, are faithful to Scripture and the Confessions; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS continue "[t]o 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
Resolved, That in the matter of guidance for communion cards and statements and continued faithful and loving pastoral practice, the LCMS commend for study and discussion the CTCR report Guidelines for Congregational, District, and Synodical Communion Statements (2014); and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS encourage the CTCR to complete its work on a study document on intinction for use by the Council of Presidents as it discusses this issue.