Closed/Close Communion

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MaryT777

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If you are in a Church that practices either of the above how does your Church let visitors know the Holy Communion Practice?

Just curious since I am Roman Catholic and we practice closed Communion.
 
Would love to hear about this,because I’v never heard of this…
 
MaryT777 said:
If you are in a Church that practices either of the above how does your Church let visitors know the Holy Communion Practice?

Just curious since I am Roman Catholic and we practice closed Communion.
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Several ways… We print a notice in the bulliten, we have a close communion pamphlet in the narthex, and the pastor personally visits all visitors prior to the Divine Service to discuss this.
 
This is not just a Catholic thing by far. My Baptist relatives would only have communion in their own congregation and not have communion in other Baptist congregations.

In the LCMS and Wisconsin Lutheran synods they even deny Holy Communion to other Lutherans not in the same synod.

I really like the LCMS and Jon, but I can’t figure this one out.
 
MaryT777 said:
If you are in a Church that practices either of the above how does your Church let visitors know the Holy Communion Practice?

Just curious since I am Roman Catholic and we practice closed Communion.
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There are notices in some places in the parish, usually where we expect guests to be looking for introduction material. Also, usually someone greets the newcomers, so they ask the question if they are Orthodox or not. If they are not, then they are reminded to remain at their spot during Communion. Finally, the priest knows everybody, so if a new face comes the priest will ask the person if they are Orthodox or not even during Communion.
 
Our Southern Baptist Church places a notice in the bulletin a couple weeks before, and it’s mentioned again in announcements as well.

On the day/evening of, before the service starts, our pastor outlines our rules for Communion. You must be baptized (immersion, Trinitarian formula), but not necessarily a member of our church. So it’s an ‘open’ communion.

It is taken very seriously by our congregation. While we don’t believe that it imparts any special graces, it is an ordinace instituted by Christ Himself, and so deserves the honor and dignity of that calling.

Other churches limit communion to their congregation only, it just depends on the church.
 
Jeff77 said:
Several ways… We print a notice in the bulliten, we have a close communion pamphlet in the narthex, and the pastor personally visits all visitors prior to the Divine Service to discuss this.
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Jeff:
That’s great the Pastor can do this for he can explain the theology behind it. I bet there are less misunderstandings then about why it’s done.
 
andrewstx said:
This is not just a Catholic thing by far. My Baptist relatives would only have communion in their own congregation and not have communion in other Baptist congregations.

In the LCMS and Wisconsin Lutheran synods they even deny Holy Communion to other Lutherans not in the same synod.

I really like the LCMS and Jon, but I can’t figure this one out.
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Actually the LCMS will commune other confessional Lutherans. It’s the WELS that won’t commune with us.
 
MaryT777 said:
If you are in a Church that practices either of the above how does your Church let visitors know the Holy Communion Practice?

Just curious since I am Roman Catholic and we practice closed Communion.
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I had never heard of this either.

I am wondering what constitutes an orthodox Catholic. I guess I am wondering if I would qualify if I happened into one of these congregations.

I understand that only Catholics should receive communion in a Catholic Church, in one way, that is what communion means, but excluding those not “orthodox” doesn’t seem very Catholic to me.

Can you give a fuller explanation?
 
MaryT777 said:
Jeff:
That’s great the Pastor can do this for he can explain the theology behind it. I bet there are less misunderstandings then about why it’s done.
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Yes…I remember when we first visited the church and he had the talk with me. 🙂
He said “Hi! Welcome to our church, we are so glad to have you. We at this church lovingly follow the practice of close communion. Are you familiar with it?” I had been raised in an LCMS parish, a traditional one, so I was indeed familiar. I was relieved also…I was afraid they had fallen away on this issue, as some LCMS pastors have. I view the true body and blood of our Lord to be so precious, it would be unthinkable to not instruct someone about the sacrament first, so that no one eats and drinks damnation unto themselves, without discerning the body and the blood. I do view the practice as loving.
 
Packerland said:
Actually the LCMS will commune other confessional Lutherans. It’s the WELS that won’t commune with us.
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And neither us with them, unfortunately. The LCMS requires that we be in pulpit and altar fellowship to commune with each other, and due to the WELS disagreement with us on female suffrage and prayer with others not of your synod, we broke ties. Some parishes are more lax than others, but the norm, I think, is the position I mentioned.
 
ConstantineTG said:
There are notices in some places in the parish, usually where we expect guests to be looking for introduction material. Also, usually someone greets the newcomers, so they ask the question if they are Orthodox or not. If they are not, then they are reminded to remain at their spot during Communion. Finally, the priest knows everybody, so if a new face comes the priest will ask the person if they are Orthodox or not even during Communion.
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In addition to this at my parish the Priest announces it immediately before Communion, inviting those who are not Orthodox to come get a blessing. Finally the liturgical books include a note on the page before the prayer before communion.
 
Nine_Two said:
In addition to this at my parish the Priest announces it immediately before Communion, inviting those who are not Orthodox to come get a blessing. Finally the liturgical books include a note on the page before the prayer before communion.
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You mean like the Roman Catholic blessing?
 
My LC-MS church clearly states in the bulletin:
GUESTS and HOLY COMMUNION…All communicants will have to been instructed in and confess the doctrines to which this congregation adheres as a member of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod LC-MS ]. Therefore; guests who - prior to the service - inform a pastor of the sister congregation of which they are communicant members, may be invited to commune. Guest who are not communicants of congregations in communion fellowship with the LC-MS are asked to remain in the pew during communion distribution. Thank you for honoring our convictions, if you are interested in classes to prepare you to receive communion at this altar, please request information from a pastor or call the church office.
 
Jeff77 said:
And neither us with them, unfortunately. The LCMS requires that we be in pulpit and altar fellowship to commune with each other, and due to the WELS disagreement with us on female suffrage and prayer with others not of your synod, we broke ties. Some parishes are more lax than others, but the norm, I think, is the position I mentioned.
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Our pastors have a problem with WELS position on the Office of the Ministry, and Receptionism.
 
hn160 said:
My LC-MS church clearly states in the bulletin:
GUESTS and HOLY COMMUNION…All communicants will have to been instructed in and confess the doctrines to which this congregation adheres as a member of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod LC-MS ]. Therefore; guests who - prior to the service - inform a pastor of the sister congregation of which they are communicant members, may be invited to commune. Guest who are not communicants of congregations in communion fellowship with the LC-MS are asked to remain in the pew during communion distribution. Thank you for honoring our convictions, if you are interested in classes to prepare you to receive communion at this altar, please request information from a pastor or call the church office.
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At my church (WELS) we usually have a similar statement in the bulletin, the pastor sometimes announces this, and the ushers know to remind guests. We do have shared communion with the ELS.
 
Jeff77 said:
And neither us with them, unfortunately. The LCMS requires that we be in pulpit and altar fellowship to commune with each other, and due to the WELS disagreement with us on female suffrage and prayer with others not of your synod, we broke ties. Some parishes are more lax than others, but the norm, I think, is the position I mentioned.
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I’ve never been in an LCMS church where a WELS member was turned away.
 
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