communion

[toby99]

Do you think it is ever ok to take holy communion if you have not been confirmed?

[Whickerman]

In the Catholic church there's a 5 year gap between making your first communion and your confirmation, so yes on that count.

[toby99]

Thanks - do you know about C of E?

[naomi24]

I don't believe it is acceptable - but why would you want to?

[123everton]

To each their own...

[naomi24]

123, true ... but what I meant is if someone hasn't taken the trouble to be confirmed, but they take holy communion, they're only doing half the job, so to speak. They aren't fully committing themselves.

[jake-the-peg]

I wonder if Jesus confirmed the apostles before the last supper?

[naomi24]

Doubt it - he didn't have the rule book.

[brionon]

He confirmed ALL the Females at the Last Supper.
They didn't know which way to turn.

[Cetti]

Hi toby, This is an issue which really makes my blood boil - and it takes a lot to make me angry!!!

The answer to your qustion is a simple 'Yes' of course it's ok to take communion whenever and wherever you wish. The Church of England has a great deal to answer for and this is one of them, adhering to rules that prevent ordinary people from taking the Lord's Supper, just because they haven't been on a six week course that's ends with what appears to be a Certificate of Communion at an outdated service by a very ancient Bishop of somewhere or other!!!

We've recently moved house and I refuse to go to our local church because they grandly state - Communion for all those that have been Confirmed! How dare they and what arrogance? If that were the case my husband would be banned from being by my side at the altar and we would never celebrate this special time together.

Thankfully more and more churches are removing these very cruel rules, though sadly there will still be Christians who listen to manmade rules instead of the words of Jesus.

[naomi24]

Cetti, I feel a bit like that. I wasn't able to marry in the Anglican church because my husband was divorced - but the vicar said if we wanted to come along after a civil ceremony, he'd be happy to bless the marriage. How on earth can he bless a marriage that he thinks it shouldn't have happened in the first place? Does that make any sense? It didn't to me - so we didn't go down that route.

[naomi24]

Sorry, my English didn't make much sense there either! 'that he thinks it' - that he thinks .........

[toby99]

Naomi, going back to your earlier answer - surly by being in a church and wanting to take Holy Communion is commitment enough - isn't it?

Thanks Cetti - I am sure that God didn�t want and indeed doesn't really care about all these rules, as you said they only deter you from going to church.

[Cetti]

No toby, you're right of course He doesn't care!

A rule laid down by some cleric in a bygone age that prevents His beloved children from partaking in something that is the very essence of the Christian faith I imagine would make Him very sad or extremely angry - or both.

No, it's shameful! I've lost count the number of times I've challenged vicars, priests etc only to be told 'well, it's tradition, or well, it's laid out in the Book of whatever....It will change though, be assured of that.

If you are asking for yourself toby, then go ahead and take Communion. You are not answerable to any vicar etc.

That was good of him, naomi, wasn't it? Did you get a pat on the head as well?

[toby99]

I am asking for myself Cetti and i'm afraid I did on Sunday - I did because I wanted to and because it felt right. I probably wanted to (for all the right reasons) more than the majority of people there.

[naomi24]

Cetti and Toby, in my opinion the Church has done Jesus no favours at all - in fact it's done him a great disservice. I'm happy with what he taught - but I'm not happy with all the nonsense that came after him. I initially thought that Toby was asking about the 'rules', and wishing to abide by the rules, but it seems not, so my apologies, Toby, for the misunderstanding.

No, Cetti, I didn't get a pat on the head - the vicar couldn't reach because I ran away as fast as my legs would carry me!

[toby99]

I agree Naomi, the church has done a great dis service and what worries me is that the youngest person there, apart from myself, was age 70-80 an above. What will become of our churches in the future?

[naomi24]

I don't go to church, Toby, but I know that the small congregation at our church also has an average age of about 75.

[Bellringer]

I was brought up in the Methodist tradition. When attending services in the Cof E I have always been invited to take communion with the statement. "If you take communion in your own Church, you are welcome to take it here" or words to that effect. I regularly do so with my wife who is C of E inclined.
It is your belief that counts (well it is in my book)

[Octavius]

I suppose it is a bit like joining a club and then not renewing your membership subscriptions but expecting to enjoy the same benefits ad infinitum!

Generally I would say that there is no problem with it, presuming you have been baptised in the first place you can confirm, strengthen or deepen your relationship with God at any time. If you feel the need to go through the sacrament of confirmation, then that is up to you.

[toby99]

Thanks Octavius, I don't actually feel the need to be confirmed, but felt unconfortable about taking holy communion without, but now I have heard other views I feel ok about it.