Children and Communion

Dear All,

You may be aware that the PCCs at St Luke’s and St John’s have been exploring the possibility of admitting children to Communion before Confirmation. We have discussed the pros and cons at PCC meetings and the Revd Steve Dixon, the Children’s Work Officer for the Diocese of Manchester, spoke at an open meeting earlier in the year. As part of the decision making process the PCCs at both Churches want to hear from the congregations about their views on this subject before we take things further. In this month’s letter I am going to outline some of the questions and considerations we have looked at as PCCs.

Who is a member of the Church?

Any person who has been baptised is a full member of the Church. Once we have been baptised we are as much a part of the Body of Christ as anyone else. It is important to think of ‘member’ in terms of members of a body, or parts of a body. In Baptism we become a part of a living organism not members of an organisation!

What about Confirmation?

Confirmation does not make us fuller members of the Church nor is it ‘a gateway to Communion’, rather, through it God confirms or strengthens us in our Christian life and we confirm our desire to follow Christ. Baptism makes us full members of the Church. Confirmation strengthens us for service.

What’s wrong with the system we’ve got?

On the one hand we are saying that through baptism Children are full members of the Church but on the other we are not admitting them to the central act of the Church’s life. At the moment we Confirm youngsters at precisely the age when they are beginning to kick against anything their parents’ think is a good idea! Why not give Confirmation the weight it deserves by delaying it until a later age when the person can make a more mature choice to be confirmed? Why not give Baptism and Holy Communion the weight they deserve by admitting baptised children to share in the central act of the Church through being prepared to receive Holy Communion?

But will the children understand what they are doing when they take Communion?

None of us fully understand what happens when we receive Holy Communion! Children certainly can understand that Jesus told us to do it in remembrance of him, that God is present in a unique way when we receive it, that Communion is very special, that the bread and wine have a special significance, and that it’s something we do together as a Church. Children tend to understand things better by active participation rather than detached observation! Understanding what happens when we take Holy Communion is a lifetime’s work – not just for children! Holy Communion is God’s gracious welcome to us, not a puzzle to be understood. We baptise babies who have no idea of what’s going on in baptism precisely on the understanding that Baptism is God’s gracious welcome into the life of the Church. It is also true to say that most parents and godparents at babies’ Baptisms only have a loose understanding of what Baptism is all about. It is the job of the Church to help everyone grow in their understanding of the Christian faith.

The children will be thoroughly prepared to receive Communion by attending a 4-6 week course. At the moment, youngsters preparing for Confirmation only spend one week looking at the significance of Communion.

Will there be any minimum age?

The guidance the PCCs have received from the diocese is that ‘the age for admission will depend on the child’s appreciation of the significance of the sacrament. The Bishop has directed that the age for admission should be at the discretion of the parish priest, but advises that in the case of particularly young children, guidance should be sought from the Diocesan Children’s Work Officer’. In every case we will be guided by the child, parents, carers and Sunday school teachers.

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You will, no doubt, have many more questions. I have not had time to go into the practical details of how it will work in practice. I have tried to help you think about whether you agree or disagree in principle with admitting children to Communion. If you would like to read a fuller examination of the issues we have looked at I can pass on to you a report by the Revd Steve Dixon.

The PCCs still have lots of work to do and we really want to hear your views so please speak either to myself or a member of St John’s or St Luke’s PCCs. I would like to end this article by quoting Revd Andy Lindop who recounts the experience of St Paul’s, Astley Bridge in admitting children to Communion in 2001.

“How have the children themselves reacted? When asked, the universal sense was one of approval. Nearly all said they felt more included and part of the church family. Some said it made them feel more grown up and inclined to take their faith more seriously. All have continued to worship regularly and come to Communion whenever possible. For all it has been a natural continuation of their Christian development and involvement in the life of the church.

Secondly, how has the rest of the church family reacted? My observation is that no one has batted an eyelid! Worship has continued as before with not a ripple on the pond.” (September 2001)

Please pray for the PCCs at St John’s and St Luke’s that whatever decision we make we give glory to God.

Yours in Christ,

Matthew