wfn.org | ELCA Board Examines Sacramental Practice Statement

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 17, 1996

ELCA BOARD EXAMINES SACRAMENTAL PRACTICE STATEMENT
96-23-068-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A proposed statement on sacramental
practices in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was
examined and amended by the board of the church's Division for
Congregational Ministries at its meeting here Oct. 11-13.  A
unanimous vote in support of the "The Use of the Means of Grace:
A Proposed Statement on the Practice of Word and Sacrament"
brought the work of the division's Task Force on Sacramental
Practices to a conclusion.
     The board recommended that the ELCA Church Council print the
document and distribute it to the church for study.  The Church
Council will review the document here Nov. 8-11.  The board also
recommended that the 1997 ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopt the
amended document as a replacement for the 1989 statement on
Communion practices.
     ELCA bishops reviewed the statement at their conference in
White Haven, Pa., Oct. 3-8.  "The bishops expressed their
affirmation and appreciation to the task force, for the quality
of the proposed statement, with applause," reported the Rev. Paul
R. Nelson, director for worship.
     The board's revision of the statement focused on theology,
clarifications and writing style.  "The overall project describes
the use for common practice and understanding without insisting
on a rigid uniformity for congregations to follow in the long
run," said Nelson.
     In its draft form, the statement's section on Holy
Communion, particularly in the case of communing young children,
received more comments from respondents than the other four
sections: preface, Proclamation of the Word, Holy Baptism, and
Holy Communion.
     The new statement says, "Admission to the Sacrament (Holy
Communion) is by invitation of the Lord, presented through the
church to those who are baptized."  This is consistent with the
church's 1989 statement on Communion practices.
     The proposed statement still does not suggest a specific age
at which children should begin to receive Communion.  The
statement says, "There is no command from our Lord regarding the
age at which people should be baptized or first communed.
Congregations of this church may establish policies regarding the
age of admission to Holy Communion."
     "The real tension exists between specifying an age and/or
grade level and allowing flexibility for the congregation," said
the Rev. Nancy Amacher, Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Shoreview,
Minn.  "The congregation, with the guidance of the document, can
engage in lively discussion and make a decision for themselves
regarding 'the age of admission to Holy Communion,'" she said.
     "The document provides the best possible reflection of the
church as a whole," said Richard Moe, Sioux Falls, S.D., board
chair.  "I was highly impressed with the care and concern the
board members had taken to ensure that the concerns from all over
the church received consideration," said Moe.
     "The ELCA is clearly a church in which practices differ a
great deal.  Often it is evident that those diferences are based
on region of the country and predecessor church body.  There are
also other bases, such as orientation toward membership growth,"
said the Rev. Michael R. Rothaar, the division's director for
planning.
     "With the review and refinement by the bishops, by the task
force, and by the instrumental work of the board, the document
will effectively serve the work of the church," said the Rev.
Wyvetta Bullock, the division's executive director.

For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service,
(312) 380-2958 or AHAFFTEN@ELCA.ORG; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir.,
(312) 380-2955 or FRANKI@ELCA.ORG