LCMS communion for Catholic

[Reuben_J]

Again, I am not LCMS however as I understand they do claim apostolic succession, unlike other Protestant denominations.

I think she was saying from the Catholic view.

What she said was correct. Catholics should not in participate in a Protestant services but can come as observers. And becaue of that there is very little reason to be there. Well, it is understandable if one must accompany family members whio are Lutherans or during weddings or funerals. Still, they should not participate in the service by receiving Communion.

 

[GKC]

I have recently experienced this at an Episcopal Eucharist which was actually a memorial service. From all appearances, it was an open communion, however, anyone not confirmed as Anglican were expected (on their honor and understanding) to refuse the bread and cup and simply get a blessing by crossing their arms.

More traditional in the motley world of Anglicanism is “confirmed by a bishop validly consecrated, in apostolic succession”. More prevalent is open communion.

Receiving a blessing is also not uncommon for anyone, confirmed, choosing to not receive communion.

 

[Contarini]

I have recently experienced this at an Episcopal Eucharist which was actually a memorial service. From all appearances, it was an open communion, however, anyone not confirmed as Anglican were expected (on their honor and understanding) to refuse the bread and cup and simply get a blessing by crossing their arms.

What is your reason for thinking this? That would be extraordinarily weird, it seems to me, and I wonder if you misunderstood something. The official stance of the Episcopal Church is that all baptized Christians who regularly receive communion in another church may receive the Eucharist in the Episcopal Church. In practice, the “regularly receive communion in another church” is typically ignored or assumed. The more liberal churches welcome all even if unbaptized, though this is contrary to the official stance. My Anglo-Catholic priest back in NC used to add belief in the Real Presence as a criterion, though he did so without the authority of the denomination behind him.

Both the Church of England and (I believe) the Episcopal Church used to insist on confirmation as a criterion (confirmation by a bishop in the historic succession, not Anglican confirmation specifically, so it wouldn’t exclude Catholics or Orthodox), but that has been dropped. I suppose some very conservative priests might retain the confirmation criterion here and there, but I would have thought that all those guys had left TEC by now (as the Anglo-Catholic priest I mentioned above has done).

On LCMS, I visited a congregation years ago that allowed people to receive if they believed in the Real Presence. So that would include Catholics.

And one final note: someone referred to consubstantiation. Lutherans generally do not call their position consubstantiation. And I don’t think many Lutherans would view transubstantiation as a reason to deny someone communion.

 

[JonNC]

=Buddyroe;14844626]On my visits to LCMS services, the priest would always discretely question any visitor with the question in mind of should they be offered the Lord’s Supper. Qualifying visitors would receive, as it were, a permission slip to go to the communion rail.

This is the way I was first permitted to receive in the LCMS, coming out of the ELCA. Evidence, again, that the LCMS practices “close” communion.

The technical problem with Roman Catholics is the fine distinction between consubstantiation and transubstantiation.

You mean between transustantiation ans Sacramental Union, since no confessional Lutheran would dare teach or confess consubstantiation.

The functional issue is, of course, the Protestant/Roman divide. It is a major point that continues to distress the desired peace of Our Lord’s Supper. (FYI I have always belonged to open communion congregations, but I do understand why that does not work with Roman Catholic and LCMS situations.

More precisely the Roman Catholic / Lutheran divide, but yes.

Jon

 

[JonNC]

=Contarini;14845176]

On LCMS, I visited a congregation years ago that allowed people to receive if they believed in the Real Presence. So that would include Catholics.

Again, that was my experience as someone coming to the LCMS, and while there for 16 years.

And one final note: someone referred to consubstantiation. Lutherans generally do not call their position consubstantiation. And I don’t think many Lutherans would view transubstantiation as a reason to deny someone communion.

My experience is the questioning would not go beyond belief in the real presence ( and are you Baptized, etc.).

Jon