(85-7)               COMMUNION AS FELLOWSHIP RESOLUTION

The nature of Holy Communion and the question of who may partake of it are two issues which have caused serious doctrinal rifts between Christian denominations and within the Lutheran church.  This resolution reaffirms the desire of members of LSM-USA to share all aspects of their faith, especially the bong of fellowship in Holy Communion,

WHEREAS, on the night when he was betrayed, our Lord called his twelve disciples together for the Last Supper, instituting Holy Communion, and

WHEREAS, none of these men fully comprehended the events that were about to occur nor their theological significance, despite Christ’s many hours of teaching them, and

WHEREAS, Jesus knew that one of those present would betray him and the rest would flee from him during his time of trial and persecution, but

WHEREAS, our Lord himself chose these twelve, notwithstanding the doctrinal differences between them nor their failure to fully understand his teachings, and

WHEREAS, Jesus chose the Eucharistic table to unite the twelve in his presence and call them together as his church on earth in an act recognized as a sacrament, saying the words, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me,“ for the bread, and “Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the New Covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins,” for the wine,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT LSM-USA follows the lead of Christ in asserting that Holy Communion is an act of fellowship and unity within the church, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT LSM-USA proclaim that awesome mystery of this act recognize the limits of finite human intellect in interpreting it so that we seek to avoid divisions amongst ourselves, realizing that the act of gathering together in Holy Communion is more important that agreeing on its exact nature, and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT LSM-USA encourage the participation of all believers in the fellowship of Holy Communion.

SPONSORS:  Pat Russell, Boston University

                        T.J. Star, SUNY-Albany