To Celebrate Progress and To Encourage Increasing Faithfulness in Offering Every Sunday Communion

Official Workbook overture source text

4-41 
To Celebrate Progress and to Encourage 
Increasing Faithfulness in Offering  
Every Sunday Communion 
WHEREAS, In convention, t he Synod passed 1995 Resolution 2-
08A, “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 
W
HEREAS, 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 C ommunion, 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; He b. 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) a nd 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 
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.