Children & Holy Communion

Jesus took a little child whom he set among them and embraced, and he said to them, `Anyone who welcomes a little child such as this in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me, welcomes not me but the one who sent me.' Mark 9

Now that very same day, two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened. And it happened that as they were talking together and discussing it, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but their eyes were prevented from recognising him…

So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, `Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?' They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, `The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon.' Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread. Luke 24

Some background

In 1996 the House of Bishops provided guidelines on the admission of baptised persons to Holy Communion before confirmation. In the Diocese of Ely this was followed by an evening consultation and then the preparation of a Framework within which parishes might prepare to admit children to Holy Communion with the permission of the diocesan Bishop.

Since that time a significant variety of parishes in the diocese have applied to the Bishop for permission to admit children to Holy Communion. Some have been city parishes in Cambridge and Peterborough, and there have also been admissions in some of the most rural areas, in west Norfolk and in Shingay deanery.

The process of considering the change of practice is an extremely useful educational exercise for any parish which undertakes it. It provides an opportunity for a whole church to consider questions about initiation and nurture: about what Baptism means, about how children grow in faith and how they can be helped and supported in this and, if they choose to be really thoughtful, what confirmation might mean for older young people when it is no longer simply the gateway to Holy Communion. And it provides good possibilities for considering issues about lay ministry and commitment. This is particularly relevant to us at present as we begin to implement the ministry strategy report All Good Gifts Around Us.

A brief history of the moves towards the Admission of Children to Holy Communion in the Church of England

• In 1969 the Church of England established a Commission on Initiation chaired by the Bishop of Ely, The Rt Rev'd Edward Roberts. The Commission reported
• in 1971 (Christian Initiation: Birth and Growth in the Christian Society)
• In 1985 there was a further commission chaired by the Bishop of Knaresborough which produced the Report Children and Communion
• On the Way, Towards an Integrated Approach to Christian Nurture was produced on behalf of the House of Bishops published in 1995.
• House of Bishops' Guidelines on admission of children to Holy Communion published 1996 and welcomed by General Synod
• The Guidelines were published in 1997

• Ely Diocese Consultation in May 1998 followed by first admissions

John Westerhoff, the American Episcopalian Christian educationist contributed a very helpful essay to Issues in the Christian Initiation of Children, Catechesis and Liturgy. (Brown & Sokol 1989. LTP) In the essay, 'Cultic life and the initiation of children', Westerhoff sets out three distinct processes required for the development of an informed Christian faith. He describes formation, education and instruction. Formation, he says, inducts people into the body of Christ, shaping their faith and perception of life. Whilst this is a lifelong activity, it is especially necessary and appropriate for children. It ensures binding into the tradition.

Education and instruction are both necessary and important, but are later processes, and dependent on the formation process for their effectiveness. Instruction he describes as the process of acquiring knowledge and skills useful for a responsible Christian life in church and society. Education develops the capacity to reflect critically on experience in the light of Christian life and faith. In fact, Westerhoff suggests that Christian education, in the specialised definition which he gives it, is not possible before adolescence. But formation, inclusion in the life and worship of the Body of Christ, is vital to childhood faith. And one of the major contributions to formation is worship.

Worship is at the heart of our faith: it is what above all distinguishes the Christian community. And good worship communicates and fosters communication of the deepest meanings in ways which are beyond articulation - at least for most of us. 'Participation in the rite', says Westerhoff, 'creates meaning that otherwise cannot be communicated.'

The Admission of Baptised Persons to Holy Communion before Confirmation

A shortened form of the guidelines agreed by the House of Bishops

1. Since communion before confirmation is a departure from our inherited norm, it requires special permission from the diocesan Bishop.
2. The incumbent must ensure that the policy adopted for his/her parish is clearly and widely understood.
3. Baptism always precedes admission to communion.
4. In general the time of the first receiving should be determined not so much by the child's chronological age as by his or her appreciation of the significance of the sacrament.
5. The Church needs to encourage awareness of many different levels of understanding, and support the inclusion of those with learning difficulties in the Christian community. Particular care needs to be taken with the preparation of any who have learning difficulties, including children.
6. Before the person is first brought to Holy Communion, the significance of the occasion should be explained to him/her and to his/her parents, and marked in some suitable way before the whole congregation
7. A register should be kept of every person admitted to Holy Communion before confirmation, and each should be given a certificate (or, better, the baptismal certificate should be endorsed).
8. Whether or not a parish practices 'communion before confirmation', the incumbent should take care regarding the quality of teaching material used in the church. It should be reviewed regularly and the advice of diocesan officers and other professional advisers taken into account.
9. The priest must decide exactly how much of the liturgy communicant children will attend. Even if there is a separate 'Ministry of the Word' for children, anyone who receives Holy Communion should be present in the main assembly at least for the Eucharistic prayer.
10. No baptised person, child or adult, who has once been admitted to Holy Communion and remains in good standing with the Church, should anywhere be deprived of it.
11. Since baptism is at the heart of initiation, it is important for the bishop regularly to be the minister of holy baptism
12. In using rites of public reaffirmation of faith other than baptism and confirmation, care should be taken to avoid the impression that they are identical with confirmation. In the case of those people who have not been confirmed, it will be more appropriate for the incumbent to propose that they be confirmed.

How can we help you?

• Has your church yet considered the question of admitting children to communion before confirmation?
• Would it be appropriate for your church to explore further approaches to evangelism and Christian formation, baptism and confirmation?
• Would you like to be put in touch with a church where children have been admitted to Holy Communion and to learn of their experience?

If you think you would like help with any of these questions a member of the Children's Council would be delighted to help you. In the first instance, contact Ros Wright at the Resources Centre resources.centre@ely.anglican.org in the Diocesan Office (01353 652725) or email or telephone Julia Chamberlin (01353 652714), julia.chamberlin@ely.anglican.org , the Diocesan Children's Work Adviser.

Related links

• The Children's Council - Children and Holy Communion
• Children as Communicants
• Diocesan Framework for Admission of Children to Communion before Confirmation
• Children and Communion... What has happened? Review Meeting in October 2000
• Training Events