our relationship with God (through faith and with us. But is a special meal that Closed Communion: repentance), there is another dimension to Holy demonstrates and demands complete unity. This What We Believe and Practice Communion. Besides repentance (examining is why we wait until children have been taught oneself and recognizing one's own sin), there is the Christian faith and confirmed to offer them the outward unity expressed. God said through communion. Unlike the preached Word of God, St. Paul in I Corinthians 10:16-17: “Is not the cup the Lord's body and blood can also harm one of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a who does not recognize what he receives. participation in the ? And is not the “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the bread that we break a participation in the body of cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are guilty of sinning against the body and blood of many, are one body, for we all partake of the one the Lord. A man ought to examine himself loaf.” When we eat this sacred meal together we before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. are forgiven, but we also express the unity of faith For anyone who eats and drinks without that we possess together. Because we do not have recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks Our church, along with those churches in line complete unity (in teaching) with all other judgment on himself” (I Corinthians 11:27-29). with historic , practices closed churches, it would not be appropriate or honest to Out of love we closely guard this precious gift communion. This means that not everyone allow someone belonging to another church to for the sake of others. may come to our for communion. Only commune at our altar. We go by the outward those who are members of our church, teaching of a church and the membership of How about those who are Lutheran? Why can't members of the Lutheran Church—Missouri people—we are not judging individuals by having all Lutherans commune here? At one time, Synod, or of a church we are in full altar closed communion. years ago, those of some other Lutheran synods fellowship with, are welcome at our altar to could commune at an LC–MS church. But the receive the Lord's Supper. This is not just our Church membership shows our loyalty. It should Lord's Supper is about beliefs, for we who are of practice, but an ancient, biblical practice. match our faith. It is the outward badge that one loaf partake of one body. Those with the shows which teaching a person believes. For name “Lutheran” do not all believe the same. Closed communion is not about people of other example, if I wear a University of Texas shirt into churches. We are not saying that we are better a bar full of Nebraska fans, they should think I am Indeed, the biggest Lutheran synod, the Christians or others are not worthy. Closed rooting for the Texas football team and not Evangelical Lutheran Church in America communion says that we are truly in agreement Nebraska. If I really am rooting for Nebraska, I (ELCA), believes radically differently than we in all teachings with those with whom we would be giving a false impression by wearing do in the Missouri Synod. The most obvious commune. It is about fellowship between the Texas shirt. The shirt is like one's church difference is that they mistreat God's Word. The churches—not a person's feeling or faith. membership. It is an easy way to tell where our Bible does not permit women to be pastors, for Traditionally, Holy Communion has been loyalties lie—because we cannot see into the men are to lead God's flock on earth (I considered the highest form of fellowship—a heart to find out what people really believe. Corinthians 14:34-35; I Timothy 2:11-14). Also, public confession or testimony that we are Closed communion says that only people with our the Bible condemns the homosexual lifestyle as united in every article of Christ's . Our beliefs (the same shirt or membership) should sinful (Romans 1:26-27; Leviticus 18:22). But practice of closed communion says that we commune with us. the ELCA has women and practicing take this visible confession very seriously. homosexuals as pastors—contrary to God's We do not say that those belonging to other Word. This is against God's will and this is not The Lord's Supper is Jesus' body and blood churches are not Christian or saved. We welcome what we believe in the LC–MS. given for the forgiveness of sins. In addition to all people to hear the preached word and worship The ELCA has also officially declared full with by membership. An individual person or not change. But churches and their teachings fellowship with the Episcopal Church, the church may not believe everything their church sometimes do vary, just as a person might Presbyterian Church (USA), the Reformed body does, yet they are still connected by their change churches. Therefore, our lines of Church in America, the United Church of membership. If they do not believe like that, then fellowship re-align. Right now we are in Christ, and the United Methodist Church. they should not belong. Membership, by fellowship with only one other Lutheran church They have glossed over many doctrinal definition, says that agreement does exist. So, a in the U.S., the American Association of differences and do not sincerely hold the member of the LC–MS should not automatically Lutheran Churches. However, we are in biblical teachings. Most of those churches the commune at a church he feels comfortable at or fellowship with many churches around the ELCA is in fellowship with do not believe that where he feels like there is fellowship. Likewise, world, including the Lutheran Church of people receive Christ's body and blood at the a member of another church should not commune Canada, and several churches in each of these altar—the bread and wine (if they use them) at our church, without flying the same flag regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin are just symbols to them. Also, in 1999 the (membership) as us. America. True fellowship and unity is a ELCA came to an agreement with the Roman wonderful to reverently celebrate in on how we are saved— Fellowship is declared officially between church Holy Communion. To preserve this true meaning the disagreements of the , bodies, not between individual Christians or closeness we practice closed communion. in the 1600's, no longer matter. churches. It is like the person wearing the wrong shirt. We are happy if they seem to be in We are not exclusive in the LC–MS. We These are serious differences. And even small agreement with us, but they are still wearing the welcome everyone who is not opposed to differences in biblical teaching prevent wrong shirt (belong to the wrong church)—the godly teaching. But before Holy churches from joining in fellowship together. one that supports beliefs that we don't agree with. Communion is offered, we need to make “Anyone who runs ahead and does not We have closed communion because we take the sure that one's personal beliefs are in order continue in the teaching of Christ does not differences between churches earnestly---no point and one's outward membership is the way have God; whoever continues in the teaching of God's Word is to be taken lightly or has both the Father and the Son. If anyone compromised on. we do that. All are welcome to Holy comes to you and does not bring this teaching, Communion, but not without complete do not take him into your house or welcome We are linked to our church by our membership. agreement on all Christian teachings. him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his We do not commune people on the basis of Therefore, anyone outside of the LC–MS wicked work” II John 1:9-11. Because personal beliefs, because there is no way to tell wishing to commune with us is welcome to doctrinal differences do exist, it would be how a certain individual believes—we cannot see receive instruction in order to join our inappropriate for an LC–MS member and an into the heart. We go by the outward flag one church. We do this to follow God's will in ELCA member to commune together—in an waves—their church membership. By allowing love and to preserve the unity which is ELCA or an LC–MS church. Both churches someone who waves a different flag expressed in the Lord's Holy Supper. Thank cannot be right—we cannot be on both sides of (membership) to commune with us, we are saying you for honoring our wishes and respecting these issues. Our beliefs are that important, that we agree with the whole church body that is our beliefs. For further explanation please and so is our public confession at the Lord's flying that flag. Because communion shows talk to the pastor. altar. Communion at a church which does not complete unity in all teachings, we cannot allow believe as we do gives a false impression: that those belonging to churches which we are not in Author: we are in full agreement---when we're not. fellowship with to commune here. It would be a Pastor Philip Hale St. Paul Lutheran Church false and misleading unity at the Lord's altar. PO Box 306 Fellowship is not about an individual church. Bancroft NE 68004 It is about who we are officially connected The truth of God's Word and our teaching does [email protected]