St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

In our "Questions to the clergy" slot, John will try to answer any query you throw at him, without hesitation, deviation or repetition...

Communion before confirmation?

Q. Please could you explain to me why my granddaughter is being given her “first communion” but she isn’t being confirmed?

A. We don’t do this at St Luke’s, but quite a few Church of England churches do. Here’s the story:

There are basically three reasons why many Christians (including me) feel that children should be allowed to receive the bread and wine at communion services, even though they haven’t been confirmed yet. First, there’s no hint in the bible that children weren’t allowed in the earliest days. (The verse which is sometimes quoted, 1 Corinthians 11:28, isn’t really about children, it’s really about irresponsible adults.) Second, a lot of children have a very real deep faith, and we ought to acknowledge it. And third, it allows confirmation to be what it’s really supposed to be - an opportunity for people to declare their faith once they are of an age to have properly made up their minds*.

So since 1991 there has been a scheme to allow children to take communion before being confirmed. At first this was experimental, then in 1996 some guidelines were issued, and in 2000 these were debated by General Synod.

Revised regulations are due for a debate this month. I’ll be there, getting my fourpenny-worth in!

The guidelines/regulations don’t give an age when children are allowed. They say that the church should prepare the children properly and “make provision for their continuing nurture in the Christian life”, and encourage the children to be confirmed at the appropriate time. They say that the children must have their parents’ / guardians’ permission. They don’t say that there should be a special ceremony for the “first communion”, but many churches, like the one you mention, are doing that.

The guidelines used to say that once anyone is admitted to communion in one church they can take it in any church, for ever. That was my main problem about this subject, because I think confirmation - a public declaration of faith - is very important. But it seems the bishops have backtracked on this point: the new regulations don’t say “anyone ... forever”.

So your granddaughter is being allowed to take communion on a temporary basis, on the understanding that she’ll be confirmed when she’s ready.

John Hartley

* See The Link, July 2003 page 8.

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. February 2006, Page 8.
Home Page. Index of articles: by subject, by date. In this issue: (February 2006) Deanery Plan, Mark, Song, Question. Other questions.	In our "Questions to the clergy" slot, John will try to answer any query you throw at him, without hesitation, deviation or repetition... Communion before confirmation? Q. Please could you explain to me why my granddaughter is being given her “first communion” but she isn’t being confirmed? A. We don’t do this at St Luke’s, but quite a few Church of England churches do. Here’s the story: There are basically three reasons why many Christians (including me) feel that children should be allowed to receive the bread and wine at communion services, even though they haven’t been confirmed yet. First, there’s no hint in the bible that children weren’t allowed in the earliest days. (The verse which is sometimes quoted, 1 Corinthians 11:28, isn’t really about children, it’s really about irresponsible adults.) Second, a lot of children have a very real deep faith, and we ought to acknowledge it. And third, it allows confirmation to be what it’s really supposed to be - an opportunity for people to declare their faith once they are of an age to have properly made up their minds. So since 1991 there has been a scheme to allow children to take communion before being confirmed. At first this was experimental, then in 1996 some guidelines were issued, and in 2000 these were debated by General Synod. Revised regulations are due for a debate this month. I’ll be there, getting my fourpenny-worth in! The guidelines/regulations don’t give an age when children are allowed. They say that the church should prepare the children properly and “make provision for their continuing nurture in the Christian life”, and encourage the children to be confirmed at the appropriate time. They say that the children must have their parents’ / guardians’ permission. They don’t say that there should be a special ceremony for the “first communion”, but many churches, like the one you mention, are doing that. The guidelines used to say that once anyone is admitted to communion in one church they can take it in any church, for ever. That was my main problem about this subject, because I think confirmation - a public declaration of faith - is very important. But it seems the bishops have backtracked on this point: the new regulations don’t say “anyone ... forever”. So your granddaughter is being allowed to take communion on a temporary basis, on the understanding that she’ll be confirmed when she’s ready. John Hartley See The Link, July 2003 page 8.
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