The Teaching Corner

This is a question I have run into fairly frequently in my brief time as a seminary student and pastor.  While ELCA congregations and many other Protestant denominations practice “open” communion, inviting all baptized Christians whether Lutheran or not to commune, the Roman Catholic Church and other Christian denominations, such as the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, practice what is sometimes called “closed” communion.  [Note:  Even “open” communion is not open to just anyone, but is only for baptized Christians.  Baptism is the first sacrament any Christian receives and non-Christians should not receive Communion.]

     While some people are tempted to see “closed” Communion as unwelcoming and not hospitable, the main reason that certain denominations practice closed communion is for the protection of visitors.  Most churches that practice closed communion believe in a real presence of Christ within the sacrament.  This presence exists regardless of the personal faith or piety of the communicant.  This means that while the sacrament of Communion is deeply valuable for those who need it and approach it with a contrite heart, it can also be detrimental to anyone taking Communion unworthily.  Therefore, certain churches practice closed communion, restricting communion to only their membership, because they do not know the personal faith and piety of non-members and do not wish them to commune wrongly by accident.  

      Within the Catholic Church this is further compounded by the doctrine of Transubstantiation (where the substance of the bread and wine is literally transformed into the body and blood of Christ while the appearance and outward attributes accessible to our senses remains that of bread and wine) and their understanding that the Roman Catholic Church remains the one true church.  Therefore, for Catholics, the true sacrament only occurs within the celebration of the Catholic mass and is only for those who hold to the doctrine of Transubstantiation--meaning baptized Catholics in good standing.

      While many churches that practice “open” communion believe the effectiveness of the sacrament is dependent upon the personal faith of the individual communicant, all Lutherans believe that Christ is truly present in, with, and under the elements of bread and wine regardless of the personal faith or piety of the individual communicant.  However, most ELCA congregations practice open communion because it is impossible for us to judge the faith and piety of a communicant, and we believe the individual Christian rather than the denomination or pastor is the only one who can truly decide if they are worthy to receive communion.  (The only unworthy person is someone who comes to the sacrament without any desire for Christ’s presence and forgiveness.)  Therefore, we rely on education to keep our communicants communing safely (similar to a “swim at your own risk” sign).