INFANT COMMUNION

A Statement from The Office of the President
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
1333 South Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63122
United States of America

The Lord's Supper is for Christians who have been adequately taught the truths of the Christian faith and are thus able to examine themselves properly before receiving the Sacrament. Nowhere in Scripture do we read anything that would specifically indicate, or even imply, that infants are to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion. This is not to say that there is no room for discussion of an earlier first communion age, but this is quite a different issue than the question of communing babies or very young children.

Our Lutheran Confessions clearly indicate that, "The custom has been retained among us of not administering the sacrament to those who have not previously been examined and absolved" (AC XXV.1). This would not be possible with infants and very young children.

The Commission on Theology and Church Relations has released a very well-done response to questions about infant communion raised by pastors in one of our districts. I encourage you to call or write the CTCR and ask for a copy of their paper if you would like to pursue this issue further.