Introduction

Contents Introduction Baptismal Practice Eucharistic Practice Creeds Funerals Weddings Confirmation Conclusion & Questions

The following provides norms for worship in WV-WMD Synod Congregations served by pastors (presbyters) of ecumenical-partner denominations.

According to all full-communion agreements entered into by the ELCA and also the standard for dispensation for local alter & pulpit fellowship with members of church bodies subscribing to the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, worship (and other aspects of ministry) conducted in ELCA congregations by authorized non-ELCA ministers of Word & Sacrament is to be conducted under the standards of the ELCA. As practices are not identical (a situation exacerbated by the recent pandemic), the following are enumerated to avoid misunderstanding. Use of the Means of Grace: A Statement on the Practice of Word and Sacrament (1997) should be reviewed by all ministers of Word & Sacrament providing worship ministry in ELCA congregations.

The following is by no means exhaustive. The special and general rubrics for each order of service should be reviewed. Questions may be directed to the bishop.

Baptismal Practice

As to element: Water is to be used in baptism.

As to form: The baptism may be administered by either immersion or affusion. The Trinitarian baptismal formula is to be used without deviation, saying, "[Name], I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," following the rubrics provided in the ELW (or LBW).

As to presidency: The pastor loci is the normal minister of baptism. The pastor loci may, however, invite another minister of Word & Sacrament of the ELCA to preside. This invitation may also be extended to ministers of Word & Sacrament who qualify for exchangeability under the standing full-communion agreements. See the discussion of baptism in case of emergency infra.

As to time and place: Baptism is normally administered during the principal worship service of the congregation, but for practical and pastoral reasons, baptism may be administered at another time. For practical and pastoral reasons, baptism may also be administered at a place other than the church. Reasons for dispensation from the norm should be few.

In case of emergency: When the baptismal candidate is in periculo mortis (immediate threat of death), baptism should not be withheld. When a minister of Word & Sacrament is not present (and cannot arrive in time when summoned), a lay person should baptize, reporting immediately the baptism to the minister of Word & Sacrament.

As to multiple baptisms: No one is to be baptized more than once.

As to baptism of those who were purportedly baptized in heretical bodies: This is complicated as there is a variety of baptismal practices among the heretics. Some heretical baptisms we accept. Others we do not accept. Contact the bishop for guidance.

Eucharistic Practice

As to the material cause: bread and wine are to be used. Grape juice is permitted for those who cannot take the wine, but it is not preferred. No other elements shall be used.

As to formal cause: The verba (Words of Institution) is to be recited as indicated in the approved liturgies without variation in such a manner as it can be heard by those in attendance. During the recitation of the verba, the elements are to be on the altar and indexed by the recitation of the verba. Only those elements that have been thereby consecrated are to the distributed. Consistent with this norm, the elements are not to distributed to the recipients prior to the consecration (e.g., before the service begins). The verba may be set within a Eucharistic prayer (as provided for in the approved liturgies), and doing so is encouraged.

As to the offering of both species: While a recipient may receive by concomitance, both species are to be offered.

As to so-called virtual communion: There shall be no employment of the the so-called virtual communion.

As to the communing of those who have not received baptism: In keeping with the practice of the ancient church and historic Lutheran norms, only the baptized are to receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

As to the communing of excommunicants: Those under excommunication in their own church should not be communed without pastoral counsel.

As to lay presidency at the altar: While the laity may assist in the distribution of the Sacrament, lay presidency at the altar is precluded.

Creeds

The only creeds to be used in worship are those symbols enumerated in the Book of Concord, i.e., the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed (Quicunque vult).

In baptism and confirmation, the Apostles' Creed is to be used.

Funerals

As to fratneral rites: Fraternal rites are not to be part of the church's funeral rites proper, whether in the church, in the funeral home, or at graveside. It is a matter of pastoral discretion as to whether they shall be allowed before or after the church's funeral rite proper. It may be suggested that such rites be performed at the viewing if held at the funeral home.

Weddings

The intersection of civil law and ecclesiastical practice complicates weddings. Anyone performing a marriage ceremony shall abide by all applicable state/commonwealth laws in the civil jurisdiction within which the marriage ceremony takes place.

Virginia

The Code of Virginia requires that ministers performing marriage ceremonies in that commonwealth be properly authorized by the county or city court.

§20-23. Order authorizing ministers to perform ceremony. When a minister of any religious denomination produces before the circuit court of any county or city in the Commonwealth, or before the judge of such court or before the clerk of such court at any time, proof of his ordination and of his being in regular communion with the religious society of which he is a reputed member, or proof that he is commissioned to pastoral ministry or holds a local minister's license and is serving as a regularly appointed pastor in his denomination, such court, or the judge thereof, or the clerk of such court at any time, may make an order authorizing such minister to celebrate the rites of matrimony in the Commonwealth. Any order made under this section may be rescinded at any time by the court or by the judge thereof. No oath shall be required of a minister authorized to celebrate the rites of matrimony, nor shall such minister be considered an officer of the Commonwealth by virtue of such authorization.

Check with the appropriate court well in advance of the first wedding over one is officiate to be certain that all requirements are met.

Additional rules contained in Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Code of Virginia should also be reviewed .

West Virginia

Three sections of West Virginia Code deserve special note:

§48-2-401. Persons authorized to perform marriages. A religious representative who has complied with the provisions of section 2-402, a family court judge, a circuit judge or a justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals, is authorized to celebrate the rites of marriage in any county of this state. Celebration or solemnization of a marriage means the performance of the formal act or ceremony by which a man and woman contract marriage and assume the status of husband and wife. ¶For purposes of this chapter, the term "religious representative" means a minister, priest or rabbi and includes, without being limited to, a leader or representative of a generally recognized spiritual assembly, church or religious organization which does not formally designate or recognize persons as ministers, priests or rabbis.

§48-2-402. Qualifications of religious representative for celebrating marriages; registry of persons authorized to perform marriage ceremonies; special revenue fund. (a) Beginning September 1, 2001, the Secretary of State shall, upon payment of the registration fee established by the Secretary of State pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, make an order authorizing a person who is a religious representative to celebrate the rites of marriage in all the counties of the state, upon proof that the person: (1) Is eighteen years of age or older; (2) Is duly authorized to perform marriages by his or her church, synagogue, spiritual assembly or religious organization; and (3) Is in regular communion with the church, synagogue, spiritual assembly or religious organization of which he or she is a member.

§48-2-403. Ritual for ceremony of marriage by a religious representative. A religious representative authorized to celebrate the rites of marriage shall perform the ceremony of marriage according to the rites and ceremonies of his or her religious denomination, church, synagogue, spiritual assembly or religious organization and the laws of the State of West Virginia.

Before celebrating/solemnizing a marriage, be sure to meet the requirements of §48-2-402, specifically registration.

As to the rite, surprizingly WV Code requires that the rite to be employed be that of the denomination of the minister. If the marriage is being conducted under the auspices of and ELCA congregation of the WV-WMD Synod, the rite employed should be that of the ELCA.

Confirmation

Unlike our Episcopalian counterparts, pastors usually preside at confirmations. Confusing even to some ELCA pastors, the confirmation rite is hidden within both the ELW and LBW in the rite titled Affirmation of Baptism. In fact, the ELW makes no explicit reference to confirmation.

If using the LBW, n.b. rubric #16 on page 201. Prayer #275 is used only for confirmation, and it is accompanied by the laying on of hands.

If using the ELW, n.b. the absense of any mention of confirmation. Neither the traditional prayer reserved for confirmation, "Father in heaven, for Jesus' sake, stir up in          name          the gift of your Holy Spirit; …," nor its alternate is set apart with clear rubics as being reserved for confirmation (see ELW, p. 236). As the applicable rubric uses the word may, employ the confirmation only when confirming, and accompany it with the laying on of hands. Neither use the confirmation prayer nor imposed hands if not confirming.

Note the following:

• Confirmation is performed only once. It is not repeatable. A person may participate in the Rite of Affirmation of Baptism repeatedly, but not the Rite of Confirmation.
• The prayer for confirmation (as identified in the paragraphs above) is used only for confirmation. It is not used in affirmation of baptism.
• The laying on of hands is used only in confirmation. It is not used in affirmation of baptism. Normally, both hands are imposed in the laying on of hands.
  

Conclusion & Questions

Periodically one encounters an ELCA congregation where these norms are not followed. This is usually the consequence of ignorance and/or a previous pastor willfully deviating from norms. Regardless of the source, the norms enumerated above are to followed under the terms of ecumenical service in the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod.

Questions should be directed to the bishop.