wfn.org | Study seeks better understanding of Holy Communion

["NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Feb. 6, 2004 News media contact: Linda Green 7 (615)742-5470 7 Nashville,
Tenn. 7 E-mail: newsdesk@umcom.org 7 ALL {044}

NOTE: Photographs are available at umns.umc.org. For related coverage of the
Pre-General Conference News Briefing, see UMNS stories #033-035, #040, #042
and #045.

By Linda Green*

PITTSBURGH - United Methodists are hungry for a better understanding and a
richer experience of Holy Communion than what is practiced in their churches.

That's the finding of a study committee that, for the past four years, has
been working to clarify United Methodist Holy Communion tradition, theology
and practice to give the denomination a positive vision of what the sacrament
can be in local churches.  

The result of the committee's work is a document called "This Holy Mystery: A
United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion," which was discussed during
the Jan. 29-31 Pre-General Conference News Briefing in Pittsburgh, sponsored
by United Methodist Communications.

Delegates attending the 2004 General Conference - the denomination's top
legislative body which meets April 27-May 7 - will be asked to approve the
"Holy Mystery" document as the official interpretive statement of the
theology and practice of Holy Communion in the denomination. The document is
also intended to help the church be in accord with ecumenical movements in
sacramental theology and practice.

In addition, the delegates will be asked to approve a resolution requesting
that teaching resources be developed to give individuals clear guidance in
relationship to the Lord's Supper and that churchwide agencies provide print
and electronic resources for United Methodists learning their way into vital
Eucharistic celebration.  

The resolution encourages the 2004 General Conference to commend to the
United Methodist Church the principles, background and practices in "The Holy
Mystery" for interpretation and use of the services of Word and Table found
in the United Methodist Hymnal and the United Methodist Book of Worship. 

One of the most important components in the interpretive report is the
section on grace and the means of grace, according to the Rev. Gayle C.
Felton, the author of the Holy Communion document.

United Methodists have always talked a great deal about grace, but its
meaning may not be clear, especially to those who are most active in the
church, she pointed out.

Felton said the document's portion on grace clarifies the church's Wesleyan
tradition and specifies how the sacraments can be best understood as a
special but not exclusive means of grace.   

One of the difficulties, according to Felton, is that the sacrament has been
emphasized less by the church, even though it is part of the Wesleyan
heritage. She noted that John Wesley was both an Anglican priest and a street
corner evangelist, adding that "these two aspects of Wesley are the two
authentic aspects of United Methodism."

What do United Methodists want from Holy Communion? According to information
from lay people across the church, they want more than they are receiving.
Pastors need to be better educated in sacramental theology and practice, and
church leaders must hold pastors accountable for their sacramental theology,
practice and teaching, according to Felton.   

Frequency of communion also is considered. "United Methodist congregations
are encouraged to move toward a richer sacramental life, including weekly
celebration of the Lord's Supper at the services on the Lord's Day," states
the "Holy Mystery" report.  It also notes that Holy Communion can be
appropriately celebrated on other occasions in the life of the church, from
the congregation to the denominational.

The document addresses a controversy across the denomination about who is
welcome at the table or to whom is the invitation given: Is Holy Communion
only for the baptized or is it open to everyone? Who is worthy to receive it?

"Any person who answers in faith the invitation, 'Christ our Lord invites to
his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to
live in peace with one another,' is worthy through Christ to partake of Holy
Communion," the study says.

Concerns about unworthiness are based largely on misinterpretation and false
fears.	"Within the United Methodist tradition, people who participate in the
sacrament are assured of the forgiveness of their sins and of pardon through
their participation in the Invitation and the Confession and Pardon," the
document states.      

The document asserts that the table is open to all who would partake of the
sacrament and calls on pastors and other church leaders to alleviate the
fears and worthiness concerns through counseling, teaching and prayers for
healing. 

"This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion" is
available for study and download at the United Methodist Board of
Discipleship's Web site at www.gbod.org/legislation/hcfinal2.pdf.

# # #

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville,
Tenn. UMNS is a unit of United Methodist Communications.

 
 

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org