Lutheran Statement on Baptism and Holy Communion Passes Overwhelmingly

     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.

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