To Memorialize the Synod
to Require Supervision and Discipline in Practice of Close(d) Communion

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has maintained and still maintains, in continuity with the ancient church, the historic practice of closed or close Communion (see W. Elert, Eucharist and Church Fellowship in the First Four Centuries); and

WHEREAS, The Holy Supper expresses the participants' deep union, through Christ's body and blood, with God and with each other (1 Cor. 10:16-17); and

WHEREAS, Joint participation in the Supper of the Lord expresses agreement in the apostolic faith and doctrine, including, of course, the confession that the bread and wine in this Supper are the actual body and blood of the Lord (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 10:16-17); and

WHEREAS, The ancient church and the church of the Lutheran Reformation saw the promiscuous observance of the Holy Supper with members of churches which opposed the full apostolic truth of the Gospel, in any article, as a desecration of this most holy Sacrament (see Rom. 16:17; 1 Cor. 10:18; 11:26-29; Gal. 1:6-9; Heb. 13:10); and

WHEREAS, To receive the Sacrament at the altar of another confession, or to give it to communicants of another confession, is to deny or compromise one's own confession; and

WHEREAS, The practice in many congregations of regularly communing those of another confession is a violation of Scripture and our confessional integrity, and does not serve the unity of the church; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That South Dakota District memorialize the synod to reaffirm its biblical practice of closed or close Communion; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod require its President, District Presidents, Circuit Counselors, and other officials, to carry out their responsibilities of supervision and discipline in regard to the practice of closed or close Communion.

Acts 2:42 (ESV) 

    And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Romans 16:17 (ESV) 

    I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

1 Cor. 10:16-18 (ESV) 

    The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?  [17] Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.  [18] Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?

1 Cor. 11:26-29 (ESV) 

    For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

    [27] Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.  [28] Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  [29] For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

Galatians 1:6-9 (ESV) 

    I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— [7] not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  [8] But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.  [9] As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Hebrews 13:10 (ESV) 

    We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.