The Committee recommends concurrence as amended as follows:
Whereas, it has been our practice for two centuries to use what the ritual printed in our hymnals has referred to as "the pure, unfermented juice of the grape" for Holy Communion; and
Whereas, this terminology was inadvertently omitted when the present hymnal was adopted;
Therefore, be it resolved, that the 1996 General Conference restore this phrase to our ritual by ordering that the words "The pure, unfermented juice of the grape or an equivalent shall be used during the service of Holy Communion" be added beneath the heading of "A Service of Word and Table I," "A Service of Word and Table II," and "A Service of Word and Table III."
And be it further resolved that this petition as amended be referred to the General Board of Discipleship and the United Methodist Publishing House of the United Methodist Church requesting that future development, writing and publication of worship resources related to the Eucharist convey responsible sensitivity and instructions on behalf of participants in Holy Communion for whom fermented elements would be a stumbling block to a drug-free lifestyle and that any future revisions of The United Methodist Hymnal and The Book of Worship convey this same sensitivity and instruction for unfermented elements in an appropriate manner.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Calendar Item Text: 2153-NonDis1996 United Methodist General Conference