Pastoral oversight and Holy Communion
I have been a WELS member for 45 years. I am divorced but living with a male partner. I was asked to step down by my pastor from teaching Sunday School 3 years ago. I recently started regularly going back to my church. Due to my living arrangements and after 2 meetings with pastor and no intentions on getting married, pastor is asking me to refrain from receiving Holy Communion. He is not telling me to stop hearing the word of God at church but refrain from this. Can he tell a church member they cannot take Communion due to their sin?
Yes, your pastor has that authority and responsibility. Your pastor has the responsibility of watching over the souls entrusted to him (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2).
The Bible explains that people can harm themselves by receiving the Lord’s Supper “in an unworthy manner” (1 Corinthians 11:27-30). When there are wrong attitudes about sin, the sacrament or Jesus, people can receive the Lord’s Supper to their spiritual harm. By telling you to refrain from receiving the sacrament at this time of life because of your circumstances, your pastor is showing appropriate love and concern for you.
While there are biblical restrictions and guidelines on the distribution and reception of the Lord’s Supper, you and all people are welcome to hear the word of God read and proclaimed in church. No doubt, your pastor is hoping and praying that by hearing the word of God you will have a change of heart—and also change your living arrangements—so that you can be a guest at the Lord’s Supper again.
Your pastor’s actions indicate that he takes seriously his responsibility of spiritual oversight of the souls entrusted to him. Like Ezekiel (Ezekiel 3:17-21), he seeks to warn individuals of sin and point them to the Savior for forgiveness. You really can be thankful for such a pastor.