CLOSED COMMUNION
RESOURCES

Click
here to return to the closed communion policy page
The following links will take you to
several excellent essays that explain the biblical and historical
practice of closed communion. We recommend them all for your
edification. Links
marked with
are
PDF files. To view or print PDF files, you need the free Adobe Reader
installed on your computer.
- Closed
Communion: What is It?, Closed
Communion: Why Do We Practice It?, and Closed
Communion: Who Should Commune? by Rev. Jonathon Krenz
What
About Fellowship in the Lord's Supper
by Rev. Alvin L. Barry
Questions
About Communion Attendance by Rev. Kevin Vogts
- Why
Closed Communion? (from the web site of Trinity
Lutheran Church, Austin, TX)
- What
is "Closed Communion" and Why do Some Lutherans Practice it? by Rev.
Paul T. McCain
- An
Explanation of Closed Communion
by
Rev.
Paul
T.
McCain
- Closed
or Close Communion? (from the web site
of
Bethel
Evangelical Lutheran Church, Du Quoin,
IL)
- Fellowship
at the Altar, Close
Communion and the Holidays, and Close
Communion and Extraordinary Situations by Rev. Don
Engebretson
- Closed
Communion Cone-sized Catch 22? by Rev. Larry Beane
Straight
Talk About Closed Communion by Rev. William P. Terjesen
The
Biblical Practice of Closed Communion in the Light of 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
by Rev. William P. Terjesen
- 1
Corinthians 11:29 -- "Discerning the Body" and its Implications
for Close(d) Communion by Rev. Ernie Lassman
- The
Difficulty With Closed Communion by Rev. James Roemke
- The
Historic Practice of Closed Communion (from the web site of Bride
of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wichita, KS)
-
The
Unity of the Lord's Teaching and Closed Communion by Rev. Bryan
Wolfmueller
Step
Up to the Altar: Thinking About the Celebration by Rev. Dr.
Joel D. Biermann
Your
Neighbor and Closed Communion by Rev. Dr. Ronald Garwood
If you wish to study in-depth
theological reports on the Missouri Synod's doctrine and practice related to the
Sacrament of Holy Communion, you should consult
the following documents from the LCMS
Commission on Theology and Church Relations:
The Lutheran Church -
Canada (LCC), a church body in fellowship with the LCMS, has the following
detailed examination of closed communion available on its web site:
Finally, if you have any
questions at all about the practice of closed communion, we at Saint Paul's welcome and encourage you to discuss this
with our pastor. Please feel free to e-mail
us or call the office at 410-592-8100 during normal business hours.