Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: harry@atmos.washington.edu (Harry Edmon) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: open communion Message-ID: Date: 9 Feb 90 07:25:38 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington Lines: 44 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu The policies of the three largest Lutheran bodies do (and do not) vary. For those who don't know them the three bodies (in order of size) are: 1. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). 2. The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS). 3. The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). The "offical" policy of all three churches is only to commune those person who belong to denominations who are in Altar Fellowship with the main denomination. The differences between the three Lutheran bodies has do to with what the basis is for Altar Fellowship, and how rigorously the policy is enforced. The ELCA is the most relaxed and liberal of the three. They have been developing Altar Fellowship with the Episcopal and Reformed Churches. In addition, they are not as strict with their congregations when they stray from the "offical" line. The LCMS (my denomination) only has Altar Fellowship with a few other Lutheran bodies in the world. The LCMS had Altar Fellowship with the ALC (a predecessor body to the ELCA), but dissolved it when the ALC got "to liberal". The LCMS also had Altar Fellowship with WELS, but they dissolved it when the LCMS got "too liberal". The actual practice of a LCMS congregation may vary from strict observance to completely open. My own congregation is on the moderate side (there are no liberals in the LCMS :-), we publish our stance on what Communion means (the true body and blood of Jesus Christ, given and shed for the remission of sins) and invite all those who believe likewise to join us. If a person wants to commune regularly with us, they are asked to talk with the Pastor. The WELS has the most conservative stance. They have a very narrow definition of Fellowship that even prohibits the saying of prayers with those who are not in Fellowship with them. For example, at LCMS conventions we always invite the other Lutheran bodies to send representatives and give them time to address the convention. Both the ELCA and WELS send representative, but the WELS representatives will not address the convention since that is "Fellowship". -- Harry Edmon INTERNET: harry@atmos.washington.edu (206) 543-0547 UUCP: uw-beaver!atmos.washington.edu!harry Dept of Atmospheric Sciences, AK-40 University of Washington