What is the minimum age for Communion/Lord's Supper in Protestant churches that believe in the Real Presence?

[lak611]

I have a question for those of you who are Protestant or who used to be Protestant and are/were members of Protestant churches that believe in the Real Presence (for instance, Anglican/Episcopalian, Methodist, and Lutheran). At what age are people allowed to receive Communion? Is there any requirement for catechesis prior to be allowed to receive Communion?

 

[puzzleannie]

having attended these first communion celebrations of many relatives who are still Methodist, Lutheran or other mainstream denomination, the usual age is about 14 and it as at the same time as confirmation, which except for episcopalians, does not require the presence of a bishop and is not regarded as a sacrament.

 

[SerenaHC]

When I was ELCA Lutheran, there was no hard and fast rule. Our pastor took the attitude that no one was too young to receive Our Lord in the eucharist and he even broke the host into small pieces and gave it to toddlers, at their parent’s request. My children were seven years old when they received first communion in the ELCA. There was no specific catechesis beforehand. It was purely taught, by my pastor, to be given to them on the merit of their baptism and that all access to Christ should not be denied.

Some parents wanted their child to go through a first communion ritual. In my town, there were five ELCA churches and they all allowed the parents to decide when and how formalized first communion would be for their children. If the ELCA has a specific policy, it would probably be in the publication, The Use and Means of Grace.

 

[lak611]

When I was ELCA Lutheran, there was no hard and fast rule. Our pastor took the attitude that no one was too young to receive Our Lord in the eucharist and he even broke the host into small pieces and gave it to toddlers, at their parent’s request. My children were seven years old when they received first communion in the ELCA. There was no specific catechesis beforehand. It was purely taught, by my pastor, to be given to them on the merit of their baptism and that all access to Christ should not be denied.

Some parents wanted their child to go through a first communion ritual. In my town, there were five ELCA churches and they all allowed the parents to decide when and how formalized first communion would be for their children. If the ELCA has a specific policy, it would probably be in the publication, The Use and Means of Grace.

Thank you for the information. It is interesting that there are no actual rules by the denomination, that it is up to the individual pastors to decide.

 

[KarenElissa]

I have a question for those of you who are Protestant or who used to be Protestant and are/were members of Protestant churches that believe in the Real Presence (for instance, Anglican/Episcopalian, Methodist, and Lutheran). At what age are people allowed to receive Communion? Is there any requirement for catechesis prior to be allowed to receive Communion?

The United Methodist Church is very similar to what Serena described. Although first I’ll mention that the UMC doesn’t believe in the Real Presence. They believe that it is a sacrament and don’t believe that it actually changes into Jesus, but beyond that, they don’t really specify anything. And unfortunately in practice, many, if not most, members just believe it is a remembrance.

But as for how old, there isn’t really any set age. It is mostly up to the discretion of the parents, maybe with (name removed by moderator)ut from the pastor. Many young children receive. I know one of the pastor’s kid at the church I was part of loved communion at about 4. And many other kids her age participated. They usually just told the kids it was a sign of how much Jesus loves you.

 

[Tonks40]

My husband who was raised Anglican was baptized as an infant, and around the age of 16, was confirmed and received communion. There was a formalized education period prior to the latter sacraments. Due to the fact that my husband was a working student, he couldn’t attend classes with his siblings, so his pastor came over to his house one night and gave him an intensive lesson session.

I’m not sure if this is done in the TEC here.

 

[lak611]

The United Methodist Church is very similar to what Serena described. Although first I’ll mention that the UMC doesn’t believe in the Real Presence. They believe that it is a sacrament and don’t believe that it actually changes into Jesus, but beyond that, they don’t really specify anything. And unfortunately in practice, many, if not most, members just believe it is a remembrance.

But as for how old, there isn’t really any set age. It is mostly up to the discretion of the parents, maybe with (name removed by moderator)ut from the pastor. Many young children receive. I know one of the pastor’s kid at the church I was part of loved communion at about 4. And many other kids her age participated. They usually just told the kids it was a sign of how much Jesus loves you.

Thanks for the information. It is interesting because there are some other posters on these fora who are Methodist and believe in the Real Presence. I was unaware that the denomination itself had no actual statement of that belief.

 

[lak611]

My husband who was raised Anglican was baptized as an infant, and around the age of 16, was confirmed and received communion. There was a formalized education period prior to the latter sacraments. Due to the fact that my husband was a working student, he couldn’t attend classes with his siblings, so his pastor came over to his house one night and gave him an intensive lesson session.

I’m not sure if this is done in the TEC here.

Thanks for your information. It sounds like they have a very thorough catechesis.

 

[KarenElissa]

Thanks for the information. It is interesting because there are some other posters on these fora who are Methodist and believe in the Real Presence. I was unaware that the denomination itself had no actual statement of that belief.

Yup, the belief of the actual people pretty much runs the gamut. Partly because people haven’t been taught what the UMC says about anything. Poor catechist is by no means just a Catholic problem! And partly because on pretty much any issue, the UMC allows for various beliefs.

Here is a statement from their website: “The Christian church has struggled through the centuries to understand just how Christ is present in the Eucharist. Arguments and divisions have occurred over the matter. The Wesleyan tradition affirms the reality of Christ’s presence, although it does not claim to be able to explain it fully…”

 

[O.S.Luke]

Yup, the belief of the actual people pretty much runs the gamut. Partly because people haven’t been taught what the UMC says about anything. Poor catechist is by no means just a Catholic problem!

Beliefs in the Catholic church run the gamut too. Just because some Catholics embrace a woman’s right to choose doesn’t mean that the Catholic Church embraces abortion. The official UMC teachings embrace the Real Presence. Just as the Orthodox, we have no claim to explain it fully. You cannot explain a mystery.

The official belief:

United Methodists, along with other Christian traditions, have tried to provide clear and faithful interpretations of Christ’s presence in the Holy Meal. Our tradition asserts the real, personal, living presence of Jesus Christ. For United Methodists, the Lord’s Supper is anchored in the life of the historical Jesus of Nazareth, but is not primarily a remembrance or memorial. - from This Holy Mystery, the UMC’s interpretative document of the Eucharist

O+

 

[lak611]

Beliefs in the Catholic church run the gamut too. Just because some Catholics embrace a woman’s right to choose doesn’t mean that the Catholic Church embraces abortion. The official UMC teachings embrace the Real Presence. Just as the Orthodox, we have no claim to explain it fully. You cannot explain a mystery.

The official belief:
O+

Thank you! That definitely clarifies the Methodist belief.

 

[BostonMyrtleBea]

At my brother’s Episcopal church, the parents decide. My brother and sister-in-law allow it at 6 years old.

 

[Contarini]

I have a question for those of you who are Protestant or who used to be Protestant and are/were members of Protestant churches that believe in the Real Presence (for instance, Anglican/Episcopalian, Methodist, and Lutheran). At what age are people allowed to receive Communion? Is there any requirement for catechesis prior to be allowed to receive Communion?

There is a trend since the rise of the liturgical movement and the Protestant equivalents of the Vatican-II liturgical revisions (the 1979 American Book of Common Prayer; the 1989 UMC Hymnal; etc.) to adopt the Eastern practice of infant communion and abolish any age limit for receiving communion. The consensus among liturgical, mainline Protestants is that grace is not something that we receive primarily through proper understanding–in fact, none of us really understand how the sacraments work.

By and large, those Protestants who believe in the Real Presence are more likely to allow for infant communion–the more low-Church folks are more likely to think that catechesis is necessary first, because for them grace comes through the sacraments only as mediated by our thoughts and emotions.

This was not the case in the past, and is not the case for the more traditional high-church folks like the LCMS.

Edwin

 

[lak611]

There is a trend since the rise of the liturgical movement and the Protestant equivalents of the Vatican-II liturgical revisions (the 1979 American Book of Common Prayer; the 1989 UMC Hymnal; etc.) to adopt the Eastern practice of infant communion and abolish any age limit for receiving communion. The consensus among liturgical, mainline Protestants is that grace is not something that we receive primarily through proper understanding–in fact, none of us really understand how the sacraments work.

By and large, those Protestants who believe in the Real Presence are more likely to allow for infant communion–the more low-Church folks are more likely to think that catechesis is necessary first, because for them grace comes through the sacraments only as mediated by our thoughts and emotions.

This was not the case in the past, and is not the case for the more traditional high-church folks like the LCMS.

Edwin

Thank you! That was a very helpful explanation.

 

[Grace_Seeker]

having attended these first communion celebrations of many relatives who are still Methodist, Lutheran or other mainstream denomination, the usual age is about 14 and it as at the same time as confirmation, which except for episcopalians, does not require the presence of a bishop and is not regarded as a sacrament.

I’m going to suggest that you have a relatively limited exposure to make a statement such as “the usual is”.

As a United Methodist pastor, I can tell you that confirmation at 14 would actually be unusual. More common is age 12 and 13. But I have seen it as young as 10 and as old as 16. Also, confirmation is not linked to communion in the United Methodist Church. We “usually” will offer communion to anyone who desires to receive it regardless of age or church membership.

Having been on staff in a Lutheran Church (ELCA) I can also tell you that this denomination has no official policy regarding the age for either communion nor confirmation. They do have quite a bit of historic practice. I worked in the bishop’s office and I knew ofseveral churches in our synod that served everyone communion just like the United Methodists do, but the majority had some type of 1st communion class which was everywhere from 1st grade to 5th grade. And in others they did tie it to confirmation, which was almost universally offered to 7th and 8th graders – some being confirmed at the end of their 8th grade year, and others not till the beginning of their 9th grade year. Among those that had historically waited till after confirmation before receiving their first communion, several were in the midst of changing that policy and were lowering it by one year a year until they reached a point around 1st grade in a few years time.

 

[lak611]

I’m going to suggest that you have a relatively limited exposure to make a statement such as “the usual is”.

As a United Methodist pastor, I can tell you that confirmation at 14 would actually be unusual. More common is age 12 and 13. But I have seen it as young as 10 and as old as 16. Also, confirmation is not linked to communion in the United Methodist Church. We “usually” will offer communion to anyone who desires to receive it regardless of age or church membership.

Having been on staff in a Lutheran Church (ELCA) I can also tell you that this denomination has no official policy regarding the age for either communion nor confirmation. They do have quite a bit of historic practice. I worked in the bishop’s office and I knew ofseveral churches in our synod that served everyone communion just like the United Methodists do, but the majority had some type of 1st communion class which was everywhere from 1st grade to 5th grade. And in others they did tie it to confirmation, which was almost universally offered to 7th and 8th graders – some being confirmed at the end of their 8th grade year, and others not till the beginning of their 9th grade year. Among those that had historically waited till after confirmation before receiving their first communion, several were in the midst of changing that policy and were lowering it by one year a year until they reached a point around 1st grade in a few years time.

Thanks! That was helpful.

 

[Grace_Seeker]

From This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion, by Gayle Carlton Felton, published by Discipleship Resources (a wing of the United Methodist Publishing House), session 3, “Encountering Christ at the Table”, p. 23:

For many United Methodists the remembrance or memorial aspect of the Eucharist is the sole, or at least prime, meaning that they recognize. But Holy Communion involves much more. A sacrament is a sign-act in which God uses the tangible and material as vehicle for spiritual grace. In Holy Communion, Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is truly present with and for the church. Christ’s presence is not limited to particular words or actions or objects; it is in the totality of the experience. The presence is not physical; Christ cannot be seen or touched, but Christ can be perceived and experienced by those who come to the Table.

 

[lak611]

Beliefs in the Catholic church run the gamut too. Just because some Catholics embrace a woman’s right to choose doesn’t mean that the Catholic Church embraces abortion. The official UMC teachings embrace the Real Presence. Just as the Orthodox, we have no claim to explain it fully. You cannot explain a mystery.

The official belief:
O+

From This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion, by Gayle Carlton Felton, published by Discipleship Resources (a wing of the United Methodist Publishing House), session 3, “Encountering Christ at the Table”, p. 23:

These official quotes are helpful. I always thought that Methodists believe in the Real Presence, not just a memorial.

 

[O.S.Luke]

I believe the Eastern Orthodox commune baptized infants using a spoon.

 

[lak611]

I believe the Eastern Orthodox commune baptized infants using a spoon.

You are correct. Eastern Catholic churches do the same.