wfn.org | Lutheran Statement on Baptism and Holy Communion Passes Overwhelmingly

[ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 20, 1997

LUTHERAN STATEMENT ON BAPTISM AND HOLY COMMUNION
PASSES OVERWHELMINGLY
97-CA-39-MR

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- Voting members of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America's Churchwide Assembly overwhelmingly
approved "The Use of the Means of Grace: A Statement on the
Practice of Word and Sacrament," a statement on sacramental
practices.  The church's fifth biennial assembly is meeting here
Aug. 14-20.
     The Rev. Karen G. Bockelman, Circle Pines, Minn., thanked
the church for its attention to the sacraments and its passion
for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Bockelman chaired the task force
that developed the statement.
     "This will articulate the ELCA churchwide understanding of
how administration of the sacraments should be practiced," said
the Rev. Paul R. Nelson, ELCA director for worship.  "It will
encourage congregations and their pastors to discuss the
sacraments, teach the sacraments and reflect on the way churches
practice the sacraments in light of what the larger church says."
     The new statement provides for "the communion of the
baptized," while an earlier guideline indicated "the communing of
infants is precluded."  In the ELCA children are customarily
introduced to the sacrament around the fifth grade.
     While the statement was adopted almost unanimously, the
assembly discussed its recommendations for instruction of young
children and their families, weekly celebration of Holy
Communion, and preference for wine and wheat bread over grape
juice and other options.
     "It is a fantastic document, there is no doubt about that,"
said the Rev. Hans O. Andrae, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church,
Jeannette, Pa.
     The Lutheran church recognizes the Lord's Supper and Baptism
as sacraments -- sacred acts instituted by Jesus Christ.  The
document's four major parts are The Proclamation of the Word,
Holy Baptism, Holy Communion, and the Means of Grace and
Christian Mission.
     The call for a statement on sacramental practices began with
a request from the ELCA's Conference of Bishops, as well as from
several ELCA synods to the 1989 Churchwide Assembly.  In 1992 the
ELCA's Church Council designated the Division for Congregation
Ministries as the lead ELCA unit for the development of the
statement.

For information contact:

Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html