Can a lay person preside over the Lord's Supper?

JM · Apr 9, 2020

Okay, right off the bat I'll let you know where I stand by stating only ordained ministers of the Gospel can preside at the Lord's Supper.

A co-worker mentioned that her church was doing it "virtually" Easter Sunday by allowing each household to preside over the Lord's Supper...I was completely shocked (but shouldn't be).

Yours in the Lord,

jm

Carl Emerson · Apr 9, 2020

Yes I raised this in an earlier thread...

I am not ordained and have taken communion with friends for years.

This has been a very special time for Jesus to touch lives.

41 Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day. 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.…

3000 ordained ?????

JM · Apr 9, 2020

Carl Emerson said:
Yes I raised this in an earlier thread...

I am not ordained and have taken communion with friends for years.

This has been a very special time for Jesus to touch lives.

41 Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day. 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.…

3000 ordained ?????

Brother, the text doesn't claim 3000 presided over communion just that they were dedicated believers and took part in the breaking of bread.

Jay Sea · Apr 9, 2020

Every christian is part of the priesthood. Families, home groups, christians meeting for meals, should be having communion when they gather to praise God. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.

in love
Jay

Dave G. · Apr 9, 2020

Carl Emerson said:
Yes I raised this in an earlier thread...

I am not ordained and have taken communion with friends for years.

This has been a very special time for Jesus to touch lives.

41 Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day. 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.…

3000 ordained ?????

Ya, according to holy scripture yes. According to men of tradition and sacramental worship no.

SkyWriting · Apr 9, 2020

JM said:
Okay, right off the bat I'll let you know where I stand by stating only ordained ministers of the Gospel can preside at the Lord's Supper. A co-worker mentioned that her church was doing it "virtually" Easter Sunday by allowing each household to preside over the Lord's Supper...I was completely shocked (but shouldn't be).Yours in the Lord,jm

Any such rules are useless. My uncle was an ordained minister for 20 years and I saw no evidence that he had an ounce of faith.

JM · Apr 9, 2020

SkyWriting said:
Any such rules are useless. My uncle was an ordained minister for 20 years and I saw no evidence that he had an ounce of faith.

I'm not sure I understand your point. Are you a Donatist or something?

Thanks

Albion · Apr 9, 2020

The answer to the question of the OP is "no," JM, but that only applies to the historic, liturgical, sacramental churches.

As you know, there are many others in which the Lord's Supper isn't considered to be a sacrament or to involve the Real Presence and it may be observed as few as 1-4 times annually! So, the answer wouldn't apply to them.

Carl Emerson · Apr 9, 2020

JM said:
Brother, the text doesn't claim 3000 presided over communion just that they were dedicated believers and took part in the breaking of bread.

Im not sure that we have that detail. As breaking bread was done house to house many would need to be officiating... I suggest at least 100 or so. Detail is scant though.

JM · Apr 9, 2020

Carl Emerson said:
Im not sure that we have that detail. As breaking bread was done house to house many would need to be officiating... I suggest at least 100 or so. Detail is scant though.

Not arguing for Roman Catholicism but I was at World Youth Day in Toronto years ago. This event had 800,000 people in attendance and I would venture to say half took communion from the hand of a minister.

JM · Apr 9, 2020

Albion said:
The answer to the question of the OP is "no," JM, but that only applies to the historic, liturgical, sacramental churches.

As you know, there are many others in which the Lord's Supper isn't considered to be a sacrament or to involve the Real Presence and it may be observed as few as 1-4 times annually! So, the answer wouldn't apply to them.

Yes, but even Reformed folks wouldn't allow it. I believe to a regular American style conservative Baptist church and when I asked they said no only the spiritual Elders should be presiding over communion.

nonaeroterraqueous · Apr 9, 2020

I don't personally care one way or the other, but if in my home the father can preside over dinner, saying the blessing and making commencement, then I don't see why said individual is unqualified to preside over the ceremonial meal of communion. Each household is a church body all its own.

SkyWriting · Apr 9, 2020

JM said:
I'm not sure I understand your point. Are you a Donatist or something?

Thanks

Any such rules are useless. You can't prove ones faith.
Anyone can lead in communion. But I'm aware various
faiths have their holy rules. I'm flexible to their rules.

Albion · Apr 9, 2020

JM said:
Yes, but even Reformed folks wouldn't allow it. I believe to a regular American style conservative Baptist church and when I asked they said no only the spiritual Elders should be presiding over communion.

That's right. I was mainly thinking of the many non-denoms, Pentecostals, Bible Churches, and smaller Protestant denominations.

JM · Apr 9, 2020

SkyWriting said:
You can't prove ones faith.
Anyone can lead in communion.

That was what I was looking for when you claimed a family member didn't have faith.

Proceed.

JM · Apr 9, 2020

Albion said:
That's right. I was mainly thinking of the many non-denoms, Pentecostals, Bible Churches, and smaller Protestant denominations.

I am a member of an Elder lead congregational Baptist Church. They often use Reformed theological material in their teaching and preaching. Looks like the Lord has placed me there...until an orthodox Anglican parish springs up at at least.

hedrick · Apr 9, 2020

In the Reformed community we would say that there is nothing Biblical requiring it. However for a number of practical reasons we generally require a minister. (Traditionally that is expressed as "church order".) Some Reformed churches allow specially trained elders where there aren't enough pastors available. I have no problem with that.

But these are for normal situations. You could imagine odd emergency situations where a Christian community might authorize someone else. On the other hand, in a Reformed community I'd expect that in most situations that person would be elected an elder.

JM · Apr 9, 2020

hedrick said:
In the Reformed community we would say that there is nothing Biblical requiring it. However for a number of practical reasons we generally require a minister. (Traditionally that is expressed as "church order".) Some Reformed churches allow specially trained elders where there aren't enough pastors available. I have no problem with that.

But these are for normal situations. You could imagine odd emergency situations where a Christian community might authorize someone else. On the other hand, in a Reformed community I'd expect that in most situations that person would be elected an elder.

hedrick, that would not be the Reformed position. The Confessions clearly express that the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:11-21) which includes the Lord's Supper belongs to ordained ministers.

WCF 27.4 states:

There are only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the Gospel; that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord: neither of which may be dispensed by any, but by a minister of the Word lawfully ordained.

Larger Catechism Question No. 176 states: "The Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper agree, in that the author of both is God; the spiritual part of both is Christ and His benefits; both are seals of the same covenant; are to be dispensed by ministers of the gospel, and by none other."

hedrick · Apr 9, 2020

A virtual communion service wouldn't have people preside at home. Rather, they would be part of a celebration that is presided over by a minister in a central location. There's nothing in Reformed theology requiring the person presiding to touch the elements. In our church the elements served in the balcony start there, i.e. they aren't brought up from the floor.

The most famous example of this was a Presbyterian communion service where one of the members participating was on the moon.

The PCUSA has officially authorized virtual communion services, but they would have a pastor presiding. They don't actually say whether the people at home eat elements that they have prepared or not, though I think that's implied. Specifics are up to the Session.
http://oga.pcusa.org/site_media/med...ion_communion_in_an_emergency_or_pandemic.pdf

faroukfarouk · Apr 9, 2020

JM said:
Okay, right off the bat I'll let you know where I stand by stating only ordained ministers of the Gospel can preside at the Lord's Supper.

A co-worker mentioned that her church was doing it "virtually" Easter Sunday by allowing each household to preside over the Lord's Supper...I was completely shocked (but shouldn't be).

Yours in the Lord,

jm

Acts 2.42 is likely to be practised until the Rapture, in one way or another. It's a line of doctrine and practice rather than a line of clerisy, as I see it.

Can a lay person preside over the Lord's Supper?

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