Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: mike@turing.cs.unm.edu (Michael I. Bushnell) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: open communion Message-ID: Date: 5 Feb 90 08:41:31 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 39 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu The comments on the openness of communion might like to hear what the Presbyterian Church says in its Directory for Worship: (W-2.4011) The invitation to the Lord's Supper is extended to all who have been baptized, remembering that access to the Table is not a right conferred upon the worthy, but a privilege given to the undeserving who come in faith, repentance, and love. In preparing to receive Christ in this Sacrament, the believer is to confess sin and brokenness, to seek reconciliation with God and neighbor, and to trust in Jesus Christ for cleansing and renewal. Even one who doubts or whose trust is wavering may come to the Table in order to be assured of God's love and grace in Christ Jesus. Baptized children who are being nurtured and instructed in the significance of the invitation to the Table and the meaning of their response are invited to receive the Lord's Supper, recognizing that their understanding of participation will vary according to their maturity. It is a long standing tradition in Presbyterian churches to welcome all believers to the table. Michael I. Bushnell \ This above all; to thine own self be true LIBERTE, EGALITE, FRATERNITE \ And it must follow, as the night the day, mike@unmvax.cs.unm.edu /\ Thou canst not be false to any man. Telephone: +1 505 242 2329 / \ Farewell: my blessing season this in thee! [I'd be interested how "long standing". The Presbyterian churches used to be known for "fencing the table", where you had to present communion tokens in order to take communion. To a large extent this was intended to promote self-examination. I haven't been able to find any exact information, so I don't know when this stopped or exactly what it consisted of. But I'm inclined to doubt that it allowed for open communion. --clh]