Lutheran Communion Question

[Fauken]

When I was considering Lutheranism, I attended an LCMS church in my area. I knew the LCMS practices closed communion, but at this church, everyone signed a piece of paper stating they believed in the Real Presence and this allowed them to take Communion. I’ve never heard of this practice before, in any church for that matter. Is it licit?

 

[JonNC]

When I was considering Lutheranism, I attended an LCMS church in my area. I knew the LCMS practices closed communion, but at this church, everyone signed a piece of paper stating they believed in the Real Presence and this allowed them to take Communion. I’ve never heard of this practice before, in any church for that matter. Is it licit?

I’ve not experienced that. I do know that it used to be typical to sign a card announcing your plan to receive. That was so an accurate number of hosts would be consecrated, avoiding a large number of reliquae . I also remember my first visit to an LCMS parish. We requested to be welcomed at communion, and was granted after a few questions about our beliefs. Just my experience.

Jon

 

[Fauken]

I’ve not experienced that. I do know that it used to be typical to sign a card announcing your plan to receive. That was so an accurate number of hosts would be consecrated, avoiding a large number of reliquae . I also remember my first visit to an LCMS parish. We requested to be welcomed at communion, and was granted after a few questions about our beliefs. Just my experience.

Jon

Counting for hosts I could understand, but I, an unbaptized questioning Christian (at the time), could have signed it and received communion. It did not sound in line with what I expected. They didn’t question my beliefs or even my knowledge; they just wanted that slip.

 

[Rhubarb]

I was confirmed in the LCMS. They required communicants to be confirmed in the church before they would allow communion, and we always had cards in the pews to write our names, where we were confirmed, and who confirmed us.

 

[spedteacherita]

I was confirmed in the LCMS. They required communicants to be confirmed in the church before they would allow communion, and we always had cards in the pews to write our names, where we were confirmed, and who confirmed us.

The church I currently belong to has a statement in the bulletin that states if you’re a baptized Christian and believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the elements then you may take communion. This is the first time that I’ve seen that in an LCMS church!

 

[Reuben_J]

When I was considering Lutheranism, I attended an LCMS church in my area. I knew the LCMS practices closed communion, but at this church, everyone signed a piece of paper stating they believed in the Real Presence and this allowed them to take Communion. I’ve never heard of this practice before, in any church for that matter. Is it licit?

From a Catholic POV this is very strange and therefore not done. What is the point? Either the teaching is Real Presence or not. Maybe this is an idea of the parish concerned and not the whole Lutheran (LCMS) church.

Edit: It is possible that some Catholic parishes may resort to that if the problem of unbelieving of Real Presence become so widespread.

 

[steido01]

When I was considering Lutheranism, I attended an LCMS church in my area. I knew the LCMS practices closed communion, but at this church, everyone signed a piece of paper stating they believed in the Real Presence and this allowed them to take Communion. I’ve never heard of this practice before, in any church for that matter. Is it licit?

This is unusual, and without more context I couldn’t say what the purpose was. As Jon noted, is it common for members to fill out cards stating their intention to receive (both to give proper reverence to the Body and Blood by not consecrating more than necessary, and to give the pastor/elders a quick moment to make sure no non-Christian, excommunicate, or unrepentant person approached the rail).

Now, LCMS pastors may excercise pastoral discretion in administering the Sacrament. So if a non-Lutheran Christian is near death and requests the Sacrament, or attends a funeral with family, or is unable to find his own church, the pastor may give it - provided, of course, the individual is baptized and believes in the Real Presence. Perhaps this is what happened?

 

[steido01]

Counting for hosts I could understand, but I, an unbaptized questioning Christian (at the time), could have signed it and received communion. It did not sound in line with what I expected. They didn’t question my beliefs or even my knowledge; they just wanted that slip.

I do not mean to cast doubt on your story, but perhaps you misunderstood? The LCMS does not permit non-baptized persons to commune under any circumstances.

It seems like the cards you encountered unfortunately assume a visitor understands what is going on and rely on self-determination as to whether they are eligible to commune. All well and good for a catechized Lutheran who is trying to discern whether they need private Absolution first, but not for a non-Christian visitor. If thats the case, this particular congregation did not do a good enough job of explaining that to you. I’m so sorry.

 

[Peter_J]

Counting for hosts I could understand, but I, an unbaptized questioning Christian (at the time), could have signed it and received communion.

I wasn’t there but it sounds to me like they weren’t trying to plug every possible loophole that anyone could use.

I’ve been at Roman Catholic masses where the priest announces that only Catholics should receive communion (this happens sometimes at funeral masses for example) but without adding “who are not divorced and remarried, not in a state of mortal sin, and have fasted for at least one hour”.

 

[steido01]

I wasn’t there but it sounds to me like they weren’t trying to plug every possible loophole that anyone could use.

I’ve been at Roman Catholic masses where the priest announces that only Catholics should receive communion (this happens sometimes at funeral masses for example) but without adding “who are not divorced and remarried, not in a state of mortal sin, and have fasted for at least one hour”.

That’s what I was trying to say. I needed the newest Forum Master to help out.

 

[twf]

When I attended my parents’ Lutheran parish, the pastor indicated that any baptized Christian who believed in the real presence could receive. As a Catholic I did not, but I am pretty sure he wouldn’t have refused me.

 

[steido01]

When I attended my parents’ Lutheran parish, the pastor indicated that any baptized Christian who believed in the real presence could receive. As a Catholic I did not, but I am pretty sure he wouldn’t have refused me.

What sort of Lutheran are your parents?

 

[spedteacherita]

I’ve not experienced that. I do know that it used to be typical to sign a card announcing your plan to receive. That was so an accurate number of hosts would be consecrated, avoiding a large number of reliquae . I also remember my first visit to an LCMS parish. We requested to be welcomed at communion, and was granted after a few questions about our beliefs. Just my experience.

Jon

When I first joined the LCMS and we were on vacation, we were supposed to bring the bulletin(s) back from where we had attended and/or communed and give it to the pastor or church office.

Rita

 

[twf]

What sort of Lutheran are your parents?

Lutheran Church Canada, which says it is a confessional church. Looking around the website, it looks like the LCC started as a Canadian branch of the LCMS. My parents were evangelical (my dad more from a Mennonite background and my mom more Baptist) and raised me evangelical…I became Catholic a decade ago, and they have gradually become more “high church” in their views and got involved in a Lutheran parish last year.

 

[steido01]

Lutheran Church Canada, which says it is a confessional church. Looking around the website, it looks like the LCC started as a Canadian branch of the LCMS. My parents were evangelical (my dad more from a Mennonite background and my mom more Baptist) and raised me evangelical…I became Catholic a decade ago, and they have gradually become more “high church” in their views and got involved in a Lutheran parish last year.

Yep. It’s only separate for tax/culture reasons; they share full communion. Again, I wouldn’t be able to tell more without context. But my other responses apply here too. LCMS and LCC are the same.