Lutheran Baptism and Holy Communion to Reflect Real-life Experiences

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will practice Baptism and Holy Communion that is "rooted in the real-life experience of word and sacrament, the means of grace, as they are administered across a large and diverse church," said the Rev. Wyvetta Bullock.  She is the executive director for the ELCA's Division for Congregational Ministries.
     Bullock introduced "The Use of the Means of Grace: A Statement on the Practice of Word and Sacrament" to more than 1,000 voting members of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly -- the church's chief legislative body -- gathered at the Pennsylvania Convention Center Aug. 14-20.  The statement must be adopted by the assembly to become an official statement of the ELCA.
     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 sacramental practice statement is as significant as the ecumenical proposals put forth at this assembly, in terms of the impact in the life of our ELCA congregations," said the Rev. George P. Mocko, bishop of the ELCA's Delaware-Maryland synod.
     Voting members explored the specifics of the proposed statement at three one-hour hearings yesterday, with members of the statement's task force available to field questions and comments.
     The statement's section on Holy Communion, particularly issues around the communion of children, received more comments from participants at the hearings than the other four sections. The practice of communing young children varies throughout the church.  Mobility has been cited as a practical concern as congregations attempt to welcome as new members, children who may already be communing while children in the hosts congregation do not.
     The statement says, "Out of mutual respect among congregations, children who are communing members of a congregation of this church who move to a congregation with a different practice should be received as communing members. They and their parents also should be respectful of the traditions and practices of their new congregation."
     "Children know they are being excluded," said the Rev. Julie Hart, Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, Springfield, Ill.  "One thing small children, and even infants, understand is that when family gathers around the table, with the understanding that Holy Communion is God's family meal for God's people, they know they are not being fed.   Why are mommy and daddy being fed and am I not?' As pastor, I see the look of confusion and disappoint in their eyes.  So, I am very happy with what the statement says," said Hart.
     A woman from the plenary floor said, "If you tell a child,  Jesus feeds the hungry,' then you will have children put out their hands.  They, too, want to experience the presence of God."
     "The statement seeks to encourage study and discussion of the sacraments in the congregations of this church and increase teaching about the sacraments by the bishops and pastors of this church," said Bullock.
     "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," said Bullock.  "In 1992 the ELCA's Church Council designated the Division for Congregational Ministries as the lead ELCA unit for the development of the statement.  A task force was then appointed to carry out this work," she said.
     In an interview the Rev. Paul R. Nelson, ELCA director for worship, said that voting members at the assembly have a big responsibility.  "This will be their opportunity to decide whether the statement actually reflects what they want the church to say about sacramental practices.  They also have a right to alter it, if they choose to do that."  If it is adopted educational programs for the church will begin "for the teaching at all levels."
     "The most revolutionary piece in the statement is the accent on the role of sponsors ... and parents of children and adults who are coming to Baptism, and the idea that congregations are encouraged to select at least one sponsor from among congregational members for each candidate," said the Rev. Gordon W. Lathrop, professor of liturgics and chaplain, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia -- a seminary of the ELCA. "That is a really an interesting idea; it is a suggestion towards unity.  It is not required, but it is an idea of encouragement. Baptism is a one time thing, but it takes a lifetime to do it," he said.
     The statement says, "Both adults and infants benefit from having baptismal sponsors.  The primary role of the sponsors is to guide and accompany the candidates and/or their family in the process of instruction and Baptism.  They help the baptized join in the life and work of the community of believers for the sake of the world."
     "The hearings reflected what we learned also in the written conference of the first draft of the statement.  That is, people told us over and over again that they appreciate the chance to be serious about the sacraments; they talk to one another about them and to engage in conversation about something that really matters to them," said Nelson.  "Having a room of ELCA Lutherans who are committed to such serious considerations of these questions related to the sacramental practices was the highlight of these hearings," he said.
     The assembly will vote on the statement the morning of Aug. 19 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.