To Reject Practice of Internet Communion

WHEREAS, The Sacrament of the Altar is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ himself, for us Christians to eat and to drink (Small Catechism VI); and

WHEREAS, The Holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples and said: ‘Take, eat;this is my body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way also He took the cup, after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: ‘Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ (Matthew 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–24; Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–25)” (Lutheran Service Book, Divine Service, Setting One, 162); and

WHEREAS, During the COVID-19 lockdowns beginning in March 2020, some LCMS pastors in a desire to faithfully commune their members began a practice which has come to be known as “internet Communion”; and

WHEREAS, The practice of “internet Communion” introduces a spatial gap that severs the consecration of the elements from the reception of the elements and therefore introduces doubt where there should be clarity and confidence in the sacrament (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:26; Augsburg Confession XIII); and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions teach, on the basis of God’s Word, that valid Communion involves the proper consecration, distribution, and reception of the elements, and that nothing has the character of a Sacrament apart from its appointed use, such “use” being defined by the Formula of Concord as “the entire external, visible action of the Lord’s Supper instituted by Christ” (Formula of Concord Solid Declaration VII:86); and

WHEREAS, The Council of Presidents in its unanimously adopted statement of September 11, 2021, “To Encourage Advocating In- Person Communion,” rightly affirmed that “No theological justification for the novel practice of online or virtual Communion has existed within the Synod or in the Lutheran tradition nor has been advanced in the circles advocating for it on the basis of the principally relevant texts (sedes doc tri nae) of Holy Scripture or of the Lutheran Confessions”; and

WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations has properly confessed, on the basis of God's Word, the true doctrine and practice of the Lord’s Supper and has rejected the practice of “internet Communion” in the documents titled “Communion and Covid-19” and “One little Word Can Fell Him: Addendum to Communion and Covid-19”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS Minnesota South District encourage all pastors and congregations to reject the practice of “Internet Communion”; and be it further

Resolved, That we commend the desires of faithful pastors to care for their flocks in a time of pandemic, granting charity and latitude to our brothers in the office due to the emergency nature of the situation confronting us all; and be it further

Resolved, That the Minnesota South District memorialize the Communion” on the basis of God’s Word and the Lutheran Confessions; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Minnesota South District encourage the faithful practice of in-person Communion services in our public worship services and in such cases of pastoral care where Communion is desired.