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Children and Communion
Mary Hawes
November 2010
Children and Communion
Issues
Background
Theology
Regulations
Practicalities
Issues
Biblical perspectives
New Testament
Baptism is the sole entry rite into the church.
No explicit teaching on children and communion.
Jewish tradition – Passover.
Biblical perspectives
Do this in remembrance of meLuke 22.19
Day by day they broke bread at home…and ate with glad and generous heartsActs 2.46
For I received from the Lord…you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes1 Corinthians 11.23-26
Biblical perspectives
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup in an unworthy manner…..1 Corinthians 11.27
Background
3rd CenturyCyprian describes infants receiving
bread and wine from birth.
Anointing with oil and laying on of hands added to baptism. Children shared in all of this – including communion
History
4th & 5th CenturiesAugustine of Hippo and original sin –
John 6.53Growing size of DiocesesBaptisms performed by local priestsLaying on of hands delayed until the
bishop’s visitReceiving communion associated with
baptism
History
Eastern practice Priest performed full baptismal rite,
including infant Communion (using oils blessed by Bishop)
Western practice Baptism was performed locally but
anointing and imposition of hands was delayed until a visit from the Bishop
History
The Middle AgesBaptism – Communion -
ConfirmationGrowing theology of the ‘real
presence’Laity denied the wineChildren sometimes denied both
bread and wine
History
13th Century recommended age for Confirmation
varied from 1 – 7 years 1281
regulation that those not confirmed should be barred from Holy Communion
16th Centurycommunicating unconfirmed adults and
children was finally abolished (Council of Trent)
History
The Reformation Catholic View
Emphasis on what God does – imparting the Holy Spirit
Protestant View Emphasis on a
person’s response – individual response of faith
Cranmer’s 1549 Prayer Book emphasised the Catechism as the pre-requisite to Communion
‘there shall none be admitted to Holy Communion until such time as he can say the catechism and be
confirmed’
History
The Reformation Catholic View
Emphasis on what God does – imparting the Holy Spirit
Protestant View Emphasis on a
person’s response – individual response of faith
1662 Prayer Book compromise
‘there shall none be admitted to the Holy Communion until such time as he be confirmed or ready and
desirous to be confirmed’
History
19th Century The rise of the railways! Bishops
no longer had to rely on horse power to get around
Confirmation became seen as the completion of baptism and therefore the gateway to Communion
Just last century…
The growth of the Parish Eucharist Movement meant children were visible in church and present at the Communion service
Just last century…
1954
Baptism and Confirmation Today 1967
Ely Commission 1971
Christian Initiation: Birth and Growth in theChristian Society (the Ely Report)
1974Manchester, Peterborough & Southwark
‘experimental’
Just last century…
1985 Children and Communion (the Knaresborough
Report) 1988
Children in the Way 1991
All God’s Children? 1993
Communion before Confirmation – Culham Institute
Just last century…
1994
On the Way – Towards an integrated approach to Christian Initiation
1996
July – House of Bishops Guidelines, November – Guidelines accepted by General Synod
1997
House of Bishops’ Guidelines are published
Into the third millennium…
2005 Synod received a report on the current state of
play in England Most Dioceses permit parishes to admit children
to Communion before Confirmation 2006 – June 15th (Corpus Christi)
The Guidelines become Regulations under paragraph 1(c) of Canon B15A
2010 Going for Growth report goes to Synod About 15% of parishes now admit children to
communion before confirmation (18% in London)
Baptismal theology
A sign and seal of new birth
Adding to those whom the Lord calls
The start of a life-long journey of faith
Calling out of darkness
Baptismal theology
Dying to sin and rising to new life
Claimed by Christ
Cleansed from sin
Baptismal theology
Received into the Church
Touched with God’s love
Welcomed into the fellowship of faith
Images found in the Common Worship Baptism service
Eucharistic theology
Sacrifice Forgiveness Trusting in your
manifold and great mercies
Eucharistic theology
Covenant of grace We are not worthy Telling the story –
hearing our part in it Sending out into the
worldImages found in the Common
Worship Holy Communion service
Theological issues
The priority of grace Baptism as the complete
sacramental initiation into Christ Children as part of the covenant
people of God Understanding or faith? Gift or reward?
The Regulations
1 The Regulations came into force on 15th June 2006
The Regulations
2 Confirmation is no longer a requirement for Admission to Holy Communion for baptised children
The Regulations
3 The Bishop of London has agreed that parishes may make application to admit children to communion before confirmation
The Regulations
4 Application must be made on the appropriate form
The Regulations
5 Preparation, nurture and encouragement to confirmation
Consultation in LEPs
The Regulations
6 The Bishop can refuse applications, but reapplications can happen after a year
The Regulations
7 Permission can be revoked but application for this must be in writing
The Regulations
8 Pre-requisitions: Baptism Parental contentment Incumbent’s absolute
discretion
The Regulations
9 Register of Admissions
Record onto Baptism Certificate
The Regulations
10 Parish decision against MUST NOT prevent those who have already been admitted
The Regulations
11 Cathedral Peculiarities (!)
The Regulations
12 The Bishop of London has delegated responsibility to his Area Bishops
The Regulations
13 What to do in vacancy, suspension etc
Pastoral practicalities
Parental support Sunday group involvement Teaching on the meaning of
communion Regular parochial opportunities for the
renewal of baptismal vows Engagement with local church schools
Pastoral practicalities
Making room for differing views Developing an overall culture which
enables children to be worshippers Children who want to emulate their
peers Inter-parochial mobility A minimum age? The place of confirmation
Liturgical practicalities
Communion before confirmation means children attending communion
The need to make sense of their place in the service as a whole
Eucharistic prayers for use with children present
Continued teaching about the Eucharist
The Synagogue
The Synagogue
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The Upper Room
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
The HolyEucharist
The WordOf God
The HolyCommunion
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Opening andPenitential act
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Collect ofThe dayCollect of
the day
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Collect ofthe day
Old & NewTestamentreadings
Old & NewTestamentReadings
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Collect ofthe day
Old & NewTestamentReadings
TheGospel
TheGospel
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Collect ofthe day
Old & NewTestamentreadings
The Gospel
The Sermon
The Sermon
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Collect ofthe day
Old & NewTestamentreadings
TheGospel
The Sermon
The NiceneCreed
TheNicene Creed
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Collect ofthe day
Old & NewTestamentreadings
TheGospel
The Sermon
The NiceneCreed
Prayers ofthe people
Prayers of the people
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Collect of the day
Old & NewTestamentreadings
TheGospel
The Sermon
The NiceneCreed
Prayers ofthe people
ThePeace
ThePeace
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Collect ofthe day
Old & NewTestamentreadings
TheGospel
The Sermon
The NiceneCreed
Prayers ofthe people
ThePeace
Offertory
Offertory
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Collect ofhe day
Old & NewTestamentreadings
TheGospel
The Sermon
The NiceneCreed
Prayers ofthe people
ThePeace
Offertory
The GreatThanksgiving
The GreatThanksgiving
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Collect ofthe day
Old & NewTestamentreadings
TheGospel
The Sermon
The NiceneCreed
Prayers ofthe people
ThePeace
Offertory
The GreatThanksgiving
Prayer ofConsecration
Prayer ofConsecration
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Collect ofthe day
Old & NewTestamentreadings
TheGospel
The Sermon
The NiceneCreed
Prayers ofthe people
ThePeace
Offertory
The GreatThanksgiving
Prayer ofConsecration
BreakingOf Bread Breaking
Of Bread
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Collect ofthe day
Old & NewTestamentreadings
TheGospel
The Sermon
The NiceneCreed
Prayers ofthe people
ThePeace
Offertory
The GreatThanksgiving
Prayer ofConsecration
BreakingOf Bread
Communion
Communion
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Collect ofthe day
Old & NewTestamentreadings
TheGospel
The Sermon
The NiceneCreed
Prayers ofthe people
ThePeace
Offertory
The GreatThanksgiving
Prayer ofConsecration
BreakingOf Bread
Communion
BlessingDismissal
Blessing &Dismissal
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Collect ofthe day
Old & NewTestamentreadings
TheGospel
The Sermon
The NiceneCreed
Prayers ofthe people
ThePeace
Offertory
The GreatThanksgiving
Prayer ofConsecration
BreakingOf Bread
Communion
BlessingDismissal
The Synagogue
The Upper Room
The HolyEucharist The Word
Of God
The HolyCommunion
Opening &Penitential act
Collect ofthe day
Old & NewTestamentreadings
TheGospel
The Sermon
The NiceneCreed
Prayers ofthe people
ThePeace
Offertory
The GreatThanksgiving
Prayer ofConsecration
BreakingOf Bread
Communion
BlessingDismissal
Children’s voices
‘Why does the vicar say we are one body because we share one bread, when I don’t get any?’
Children’s voices
‘There are lots of things I don’t understand yet. But my family still feed me.’
Children’s voices
Why do you think Jesus wants us to share bread and wine?’
‘So that he can be really near us.’
Children’s voices
‘I like carrying the bread or wine up to the front. It’s like you’re helping Jesus get things ready for the supper.’
Next steps