Communion before confirmation
Deal or no deal?
Biblical perspectives
?
Biblical perspectives

Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes
me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the
one who sent me.
Mark 9.37
Biblical perspectives

If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these
little ones who believe in me, it would be better if a great
millstone were hung around your neck and you were
thrown into the sea.
Mark 9.42
Biblical perspectives

Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it
is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.
…whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little
child will never enter it.
Mark 10.14,15
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 me
– Luke 22.19
Day by day they broke bread at home…and
ate with glad and generous hearts
–

Acts 2.46
For I received from the Lord…you proclaim
the Lord’s death until he comes
– 1 Corinthians 11.23-26
Biblical perspectives

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks
the cup in an unworthy manner…..
– 1 Corinthians 11.27
History
?
History

3rd Century
Cyprian describes infants receiving bread and wine
from birth.
Anointing and laying on of hands added to baptism.
Children shared in all of this – including
communion
History

4th & 5th Centuries
–
–
–
–
–
Augustine of Hippo and original sin – John 6.53
Growing size of Dioceses
Baptisms performed by local priests
Laying on of hands delayed until the bishop’s visit
Admission to communion associated with baptism
History

Eastern practice
–

Priest performed full baptismal rite, including
infant Communion (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 Ages
Baptism – Communion - Confirmation
–
–
–
Growing theology of the ‘real presence’
Laity denied the wine
Children sometimes denied both bread and wine
History

13th Century
–

1281
–

recommended age for Confirmation varied from 1 – 7 years
regulation that those not confirmed should be barred from Holy
Communion
16th Century
–
communicating 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…
?
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

1971
Christian Initiation: Birth and Growth in the Christian
Society (the Ely Report)

1974
Manchester, Peterborough & Southwark
‘experimental’

1985
Children and Communion (the Knaresborough
Report)
Just last century…

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…
?
Into the third millennium…

2005
–
–

2006 – June 15th
–

Synod received a report on the current state of
play in England
Most Dioceses permit parishes to admit children
to Communion before Confirmation
The Guidelines become Regulations under
paragraph 1(c) of Canon B15A
2009
–
About 10% of parishes now admit children to
communion before confirmation
Baptismal theology
?
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
?
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
world

Images found in the Common Worship
Holy Communion service
Theological issues
?
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?

Liturgical issues
?
Liturgical issues




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
Pastoral issues
?
Pastoral issues





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 issues






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
Children’s voices
?
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.’
Children’s voices
‘What do you think
about when you
have the bread and
wine?’
‘Being at the Last
Supper with Jesus
and His friends. It’s
like being one of
them.’

?
?
?



Further reflection
Help from the Diocesan Officers
Consultation with the church
–
–
–

PCC
Parents
Children
Consultation with local school
Communion before confirmation
Deal or no deal?
Mary Hawes, 2007