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Editorial: Much ado about holy communion
From "Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>Date Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:43:46 +0800
3081 Edition
March 14-20, 2011
Ecumenical Column
Editorial: Much ado about holy communion
Written by Li Meng-tse
Translated by Lydia Ma
“This is my body given for you…. this cup is the new covenant in my blood,
which is poured out for you.” I recite these familiar verses every time I
preside over communion. But this time, my mind keeps wandering to the
oft-debated question of who may partake in the holy communion.
Is holy communion a ceremony commemorating a promise between Christ and
Christians and therefore only those who’ve been baptized and have accepted
Christ as their personal savior are eligible to participate? Or is holy
communion a pure gift of grace that Christ grants to all unconditionally and
therefore open to everyone regardless of whether they’ve been baptized?
It seems both sides of the argument has its own loyal supporters and the issue
has drawn plenty of controversy within and among churches over the years
In October 2010 then United Church of Christ Japan (UCCJ) Moderator stepped
down after 8 years of service because of this issue, further highlighting how
controversial or sensitive this issue can be among churches. Though UCCJ is
Japan’s oldest church denomination and includes 33 different member
denominations, such diversity makes reaching unanimity on issues such as church
doctrine very difficult.
What began as an advisory against giving communion to non-baptized members soon
transformed into a war between evangelicals and social progressives within
UCCJ. Seminars and discussions followed and each side clung to its own
convictions, prompting a call to settle the matter through a vote once and for
all.
After the vote, those who supported barring non-baptized people from taking
communion won the vote, and those who disagreed with this doctrine stormed out
of the meeting in anger.
Though the meeting adjourned and a new moderator was eventually chosen
afterward, the issue is far from being settled and tension remains in the air.
it’s now up to new leaders of the UCCJ to find the delicate balance between
being an innovator or a revolutionary while maintaining the traditional
convictions of the church and leading Japanese churches onward.
(Editor’s note: Li Meng-tse is a PCT pastor currently ministering in Tokyo.)
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