Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 360

2026 Convention Workbook
325LIFE 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, 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. 4-42 
To Encourage Unequivocal Affirmation of First 
Communion Prior to Confirmation as God-
Pleasing 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-c onfirmed yet communicant children who 
regularly and faithfully commune at their home congregations; and 
WHEREAS, The majority of our m ember 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 ha s 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