Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/89

Contributor - Will Kroon

Title - Crumbling Walls Around the Lord's Table

Topic - Church In The World

During the Season of Lent, the Church reflects again on the highlights of Christ's ministry. One of those highlights deals with the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. During the night when Jesus was betrayed He took bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to his disciples. Furthermore, He requested them to continue to break bread together till His final coming again.

On the one hand, we get the impression that the Church has taken the command of the Lord seriously, for the Sacrament is being celebrated in almost all denominations. On the other hand, we notice that something has gone wrong, that something has been altered. That is, the Church has given its own interpretation to that Sacrament, it has built "walls" around the Lord's Table to exclude those who view that Sacrament differently. The walls that have kept some churches from celebrating communion with others were, the insistence on having clergy who are ordained in the proper apostolic succession; having the proper view of Christ's presence in the elements of the bread and wine; requiring the public confession of one's faith; to name some of the better known ones.

When I wrote about this in Pioneer, in 1971 (17 years ago), I mentioned that some of the above-mentioned walls were beginning to crumble. Some denominations were beginning to make room at the Lord's table for those who did not belong to their own circle. In this article I would like to reflect on what has happened since and what is happening today.

The Anglican Church

Seventeen years ago the Anglican Church of New Zealand was making headlines by welcoming members from other denominations to the Sacrament of Holy Communion. The only restrictions given were that the sacrament had to be administered by a recognized clergyman and that the other denominations adhere to the teachings expressed in the Apostles' Creed.

That was a real example of a crumbling wall around the Lord's Table, at least in the Anglican tradition. Celebrating communion with a Baptist or even with a member of the Reformed Church was considered to be improper, to put it mildly. The Anglicans were willing to invite the members of the Old Catholic and Orthodox Churches to their communion, for these denominations held a somewhat similar view on Apostolic Succession.

What is happening today? Are the walls around the Lord's Table continuing to crumble? Here in Canada the Anglicans are very accommodating in cooperating with others, at least for special occasions or for special situations. For instance, at meetings of the Canadian Council of Churches they participate fully in inter-communion. A few years ago when I was asked to assist in an inter-church communion service, I served bread to the Primate of the Anglican Church.

When the ecumenical officer of the Anglican Church, who conducts monthly communion services in the hospital where I am serving, is not available, he invites me to conduct his service together with the volunteers from his parish. Occasionally we conduct a combined communion and healing service at our hospital. For these special occasions there is all the openness we need.

The Episcopalians (Anglicans) in the U.S.A., however, are not yet as accommodating, at least not in a formal setting. They feel that in good conscience they are not yet able to have inter-communion with denominations whose clergy have not received ordination through the laying on of hands by bishops in historical succession. This "wall" inhibits them from intercommunion with baptized and confessing Christians from other denominations. However, they are anxious to remove this wall through the somewhat cumbersome process known as "the Consultation of Church Union" (COCU). When the participating denomination in COCU receives the sign of episcopal succession they will recognize each other's baptism, membership and ordained clergy. It is hoped that this will remove the obstacles which prevents us from celebrating the Lord's Supper together.

Children at the Lord's Table

Seventeen years ago we also raised the question whether children of believing parents could be invited to the Lord's Table prior to having made a public confession of their faith. At that time the Churches in the Netherlands were beginning to deal with that issue. Not that the whole Dutch church was ready to deal with the matter at that time. What was happening was that some local consistories were giving permission to admit children to the Lord's Table before the issue was settled by the whole denomination. This is not done in a presbyterial/synodical form of government where these decisions are made in consultation with others.

Much has changed during these past seventeen years and walls continue to crumble. Various denominations on the North American continent have dealt with the issue of inviting children to the Lord's Table including the Reformed and Christian Reformed Churches. The latter churches have studied the matter for some time, but at last year's General Synod both the Reformed and the Christian Reformed Church gave permission to local consistories to invite children of believing parents to the Lord's Table. Certain conditions still have to be met but it is no longer required that public confession of faith has to be made by children prior to receiving the sacrament.

Reflection

As I reflect on the above-mentioned decision, I begin to wonder what the consistories have done with it. Thus far I have not sensed a great deal of soul searching or rejoicing among our members. Does that mean that children's communion is not a real burning issue in the Church?

On the one hand I wish it was a burning issue in the church. It would make me happy if a growing number of parents were eager to take their children with them to the Lord's Table. Our Lord would rejoice in that too, for He loves children. We say that loud and clear when we invite children to receive infant baptism. We do so wholeheartedly, for we believe that He includes them in His Covenant. Consequently, the Commission on Theology concluded that: "the proposal to include baptized children at the Lord's Table is fully consonant with the Reformed doctrine of baptism and the Lord's Supper and the work of the Holy Spirit..."

On the other hand, I feel that we should proceed carefully and be aware of the reluctance of those who feel that children should wait till they have made public confession of their faith. Throughout history the Church has often found it necessary to make such a requirement. There are situations when adults and/or children are not ready to accept the Lord's invitation to receive Him through the Sacrament. Those persons should refrain from the Lord's Table until they are spiritually ready. I have no difficulties with having some restrictions as long as it remains clear that the Lord is inviting all the faithful (that includes children) to His Table.

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