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-confirmed yet communicant children who regularly and faithfully commune at their home congregations; and

WHEREAS, The majority of our member 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 has 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 angels always behold the face of their Father in heaven, to stumble through confusion and offense (Matt. 18:6; see Ap XV 49);

therefore be it

Resolved, That the English District in convention unequivocally affirm the practice of first Communion prior to confirmation as a God-pleasing practice and a legitimate way to faithful reception of the Lord’s Supper; and be it further

Resolved, That the English District in convention encourage member congregations and pastors of the English District to recognize the validity of the aforementioned practice of first Communion prior to confirmation that they may commune visiting children who, though not yet confirmed, are nevertheless communicant members in good standing at their home congregations; and be it further

Resolved, That the English District in convention memorialize the 2026 Synod convention to adopt the same position; and be it further

Resolved, That the English District survey her member congregations in order to determine the percentage of congregations making use of the Rite of First Communion prior to Confirmation, and publish the results of said survey among our congregations; and be it further

Resolved, That the English District in convention memorialize the 2026 Synod convention to survey all member congregations in order to determine the percentage of congregations making use of the Rite of First Communion prior to Confirmation, and publish the results of said survey among the congregations of Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That the English District prepare a tool kit for congregations and pastors that both equips pastors who desire to implement such a rite to teach about the practice of first Communion prior to confirmation and that, likewise, equips pastors to instruct congregations who do not yet understand the God- pleasing nature of the Rite of First Communion prior to Confirmation so that such congregations who do not observe this practice gladly welcome and receive visiting communicant children who desire to receive the Lord's Supper, and that encourages all communicant members to announce for Communion when visiting congregations other than their own.