Open communion (and closed communion)

Open and closed communion refer to a parish or denomination's policy on who is invited to receive Communion at a service. Open communion invites all baptized Christians regardless of denominational background; common in Anglican, Methodist, ELCA, PCUSA, and most evangelical congregations. Closed communion restricts reception to members of the specific denomination; the Catholic and Orthodox Churches practice a form of closed communion (reservation to members in good standing), as does the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). Close communion (sometimes distinguished from "closed") restricts reception to baptized believers but not by denomination; this is a minority position in some Baptist congregations. The pastor or priest typically extends the specific invitation explicitly before Communion.