Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: hammer@sp29.csrd.uiuc.edu (David Hammerslag) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: open communion Message-ID: Date: 12 Feb 90 09:34:38 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Reply-To: hammer@uicsrd.csrd.uiuc.edu Organization: University of Illinois Center for Supercomputing Research and Development Lines: 29 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu [In article , harry@atmos.washington.edu (Harry Edmon) told us that the three largest Lutheran bodies (ELCA, LCMS, and WELS) commune only those who belong to denominations that are in Altar Fellowship with them. > 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. --clh] This is not correct. The ELCA will commune baptized Christians who understand their need for confession and reconcilliation and who believe that in receiving the elements they receive reconcilliation and forgiveness. For example, RCs are certainly welcome to commune at an ELCA church. > The ELCA is the most relaxed and liberal of the three. They have been > developing Altar Fellowship with the Episcopal and Reformed Churches. I believe you are confusing the question of who can receive communion with who can celebrate the Eucharist. [I confirmed in separate correspondence that the distinction intended here is between participating in communion as a member of the congregation and as a pastor who conducts the rite. He is not making any distinction between communion and eucharist. --clh] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David Hammerslag | "Woe to those who are wise in their own hammer@uicsrd.csrd.uiuc.edu | eyes and clever in their own sight." Isaiah 5:21 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------