Here are their reasons...
- "we went from 4 times a year" (back in the days of the circuit rider; none actually remembers this) to once a month, then twice a month now every Sunday; this is too often!
- Q. Why is it too often? A. "It's not special when you do it every week".
- Q. You do know that you may abstain if you feel you should? A. "I don't like sitting through something I am not participating in.
- The service is too long, it is boring.
- "I'm saved by faith, so I don't need it".
- I am not comfortable telling family and friends who I invite that they can not receive the Sacrament, so I will not invite them. (we explain that in the bulletin).
- I get board doing the same thing every Sunday. (one member said she finds matins boring too.)
I could go on and on and on, but those are the main reasons. These reasons are coming from people who were instructed and catechized in our Synod, and most in our Church. The previous pastor fought for over 10 years to restore weekly communion, we are currently doing better, they had communion offered on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays and festivals; Matins on the 2nd and 4th. Some noticed this change and are pushing back.
I discussed with Pastor, and we agree, no more concessions as now they expect Pastor and Elders to cave in on everything else. Much of our Council fail to show humility and Charity, and refuse to hear God's word or heed the confessions; to the point where the want to micromanage Pastor and Elders, to the point where thy feel that they collectively and exclusively in our congregation hold the office of the Keys even to the extent that they believe it is their authority, not Pastors, to excommunicate.
The last Church I belonged to, their council had much the same attitude regarding frequency, and demanded that we allow open communion. Pastor and we Elders refused and continued to follow Synod and the Confessions. The Church split with the majority going to non liturgical reformed protestant evangelical communities. We closed that Church two years later.
Council has it in their minds that we can sustain for 5 years, so that is where we are headed as well.
There are more reasons, but these are the main ones.