Reforming Communion among United Methodists
Shane Raynor over at Wesley Report responds to Andrew here, agreeing that we should move towards weekly celebration of the blessed sacrament, but undecided (or disagreeing) that we need to "rethink the Open Table."
For my two cents, I think the meaning of "Open Table" in The United Methodist Church is already a muddled thing. Open to whom? To Christians of other denominations? Certainly. What about to unbaptized believers in Christ? Ummm... Or to adherents of other religions altogether? Or atheists? Appeals to Wesley's words about some experiencing "conversion" at the table are somewhat misleading, since virtually everyone he worked with in 18th Century England were in fact baptized (Wesley's point is that, then as now, not all baptized individuals were truly converted in heart).
The ancient discipline of the Church catholic, dating back at least to the Didache , is that only the baptized may recieve Communion. This is the practice of Lutheran and Anglican "open table" churches: all baptized Christians are invited to recieve. Other Lutherans, along with Roman Catholics, the Orthodox, and some Baptists and others only allow members of their own church to recieve at the Table.
If we United Methodists insist on using the language of "open Communion" or "open table" at all, I'm of the opinion that we ought to understand "open Communion" in the Anglican fashion - open to all baptized Christians. This has always been the orthodox position of the universal Church and, if we consider the power of the sacrament, it actually makes good sense pastorally as well.
St. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 11 precisely in an attempt to exercise eucharistic discipline - something that is not even possible if we accepted "utterly open communion." Eucharistic discipline is also a primary reason for reserving sacramental authority to the ordained, by the way. In 1 Cor. 11, Paul attempts to "discipline" the chaotic eucharistic practice precisely (as he says in the passage) for the well-being of the church members. The sacrament is so powerful, it can actually be spiritually dangerous to those uncommitted to Christ or if it is mis-used (Paul even suggests that it might kill people). Maybe we should back up and ask ourselves just what DO we believe about the power of the Lord's Supper.
With regards to unbaptized individuals who desire to recieve Holy Communion, I like what Bishop Willimon says: Why is it that they do not also desire to recieve baptism? Have we even taught them about the relationship between the sacraments?
Labels: Ecumenical stuff, Methodism, Sacraments