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The
Bishop's Journal
May 2002
More Bread!
"More bread," she pleaded as her mother gently pulled her back down the aisle and into the pew. "More bread!"
We had just finished the post-communion prayer and our young protester, perhaps two years old, had chosen this moment to bolt for the altar in search of an additional morsel from the fresh and fragrant loaf that we had shared in that day's eucharist.
Her capture was speedily - if not quietly - accomplished! But none of us missed the unintended poignancy of her words. We all smiled and the knowing tone of our collective chuckle left no doubt as to who had preached the most significant message that morning.
Like me, many of you had your first communion on the day of your confirmation. In fact, that was our church's standard practice until the late 1970's when grade five became the normative age of first communion for most Lutherans in North America. But the change didn't stop there. Christians in many denominations, it seems, were beginning to question the practice of restricting access to the Lord's table on the basis of age. In fact, a growing consensus was developing around this issue: a consensus that, in 1991, led the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada to become the first of many North American church bodies that now articulate "communion of the baptized" as an official policy of the church.
Simply stated, this policy meant that baptized persons, regardless of age, would now be welcome to the Lord's table, at the discretion of their parents and in consultation with the parish pastor. Participation in the sacrament is then supported by age-appropriate catechesis and education that is provided both at home and at church.
It was a big step - a significant step. And now, just ten years later, most congregations in our synod have altered their sacramental practices accordingly. In fact, the enthusiasm with which this change has been embraced, has been nothing short of astonishing!
But why? Was it because the theologians and leaders of the church were so persuasive in their arguments? Was it due to the lucidity and strength of the educational resources that were prepared to help people reflect on this question? I don't think so.
The Latin phrase "lex credendi lex orandi," is sometimes used by theologians to describe the way in which the "things we believe" inform the "way we pray." And while it is often the case that theology informs practice, sometimes it works in the reverse! Sometimes it's "lex orandi lex credendi." Sometimes, the things we do inform the things we believe! And that, I think, is what we've experienced with communion of the baptized - or as some voices are now describing it - the "birthright" of the baptized.
Our shared experience of inviting our children to join us at the table has convinced us of that this was the truly right thing to do! It's helped bring the full worshipping community - the whole family - back together again. It's helped renew our shared participation in the sacrament of the altar. It's given us all a fuller experience of what the kingdom of God is really all about.
"And a little child shall lead them." More bread, indeed!
The Rev. Michael J. Pryse,
Bishop
