Do you commune when visiting other traditions?

[FireDragon76]

Do Lutherans believe the elements become the body in memorialist contexts -- say, a Baptist service? with grape juice?

It depends on which Lutherans you ask. I think the tendency among the ELCA is to say yes, though they lose the benefit of the assurance of having all their sins forgiven through the sacrament, because they deny that it is a sacrament. I have heard some LCMS deny that a baptist would have valid sacraments, but I am no expert on this.

We do not necessarily believe the bread changes in the sense of ceasing to be bread. However, we believe that Christ is truly present in the sacrament in his human body. It is not merely a divine presence.

Do they believe it is no longer the body when the service ends?

The Lutheran confessions do not address this question. At my particular parish, the sacrament is reserved.

 

[gordonhooker]

What bothers me more is the relative disharmony between preaching and the sacraments in some Episcopalian and Anglican churches.

? sorry I have no idea what your point is...

 

[Kalevalatar]

The major European Lutheran national churches (Nordic and Baltic) and Anglican churches of England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Spain and Portugal are fully in communion within the Porvoo Communion. Baptized members of any of the Porvoo Churches are regarded as members of all other member churches and welcomed to receive sacramental and other pastoral ministrations.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

Yes, if invited.

 

[Bessie]

This thread is very interesting to me, as an Orthodox Christian (We have closed communion, both directions). However, the Roman Catholic church says that our orders are valid and invites us to commune with them. This isn't extended the other direction, and if we did receive communion at a Catholic church it would result in excommunication on the Orthodox side. I did hear a story that some Catholics who my roommate knows asked their priest if they could receive communion at the Orthodox church and he told them yes, but make sure you watch what they are doing closely because if they figure out you're not Orthodox they won't let you. I was pretty horrified by that, but also would be shocked if they managed it. Priests tend to ask questions of people they don't recognize.

 

[Anhelyna]

I'm at present attending an Orthodox Church as I can't get to my own for a few weeks , and I would not dream of going forward for Communion - even though the priest and I know each other very well. We respect each other's traditions and Traditions.

As Bessie says - most Orthodox priests do ask questions [ as does my own EC Priest ] if someone they don't know comes forward. Orthodox and EC Parishes tend to be a bit smaller than the congregations in 'mega Churches ' and so the unknown person does tend to stand out - and I have seen some refused Communion

 

[Naomi4Christ]

This is such nonsense. I don't understand why anyone puts up with it.

 

[Albion]

No one's making you or anyone else put up with it. There are plenty of other churches that practice an open communion.

 

[Willie T]

I take communion whenever I am visiting other churches. Most often that has been in Baptist and Presbyterian churches, because those are the churches my extended family attends, but I have received communion in a variety of other Protestant churches as well.

My thought is that it is God who acts, who chooses to be present in the Eucharist. Our clumsy prayers don't create God's presence. Mercifully, God comes to us when we invite God's presence (and sometimes even without an invitation!), even when our prayers are theologically inaccurate.

The of discerning person, indeed.nly exception is churches where I am not welcome at the altar: Roman Catholic churches, for example, and some kinds of very narrow Baptists. I follow their rules out of courtesy. But the barrier is entirely on their side; I would receive communion with Roman Catholics if they permitted it.

A wise and discerning person. It is clear you worship God, and not a Denomination.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

No one's making you or anyone else put up with it. There are plenty of other churches that practice an open communion.

I agree that open communion is the norm.

I don't get why people conform to closed communions, and make themselves second class citizens.

Go somewhere that welcomes you!

 

[Bessie]

I agree that open communion is the norm.

I don't get why people conform to closed communions, and make themselves second class citizens.

Go somewhere that welcomes you!

It isn't about being second class citizens. Churches with closed communion aren't doing it to make people feel bad, the people there genuinely believe that communion is 1. The actual, physical, body and blood of Christ and 2. that receiving it without being united to the church and all its beliefs can result in harm both physically and spiritually to the person who is doing it, and 3. that communion is a true sign and expression of unity and extending it to people who don't actually hold the same beliefs makes no sense.

The church is open to all, anyone who wants to become Orthodox and commune with us may do so. Incidentally, we give our babies communion because we don't differentiate between levels or classes of membership. Most protestant and Catholic churches don't even offer communion to all of their own but require they be of a certain age or have levels of knowledge. It seems odd to me to get worked up about closed communion when there are people excluded among your own membership.

 

[seeking.IAM]

Folks, this is an Anglican forum and my original post was, "To my fellow Anglican..." particularly asking about Anglican practice when visiting other churches. I am well familiar with Orthodox and Roman Catholic closed communion. That is not what this thread is about. It is about Anglican's visiting other churches where they do have an option to commune (i.e. not Orthodox or Roman Catholic).

 

[Paidiske]

It isn't about being second class citizens.

Intellectually, I understand that this is true. Emotionally, it can feel very much like "you're not good enough."

Often this is about how the stance of a church is communicated. A little tact can go a long way, but is often lacking!

 

[Willie T]

I'm at present attending an Orthodox Church as I can't get to my own for a few weeks , and I would not dream of going forward for Communion - even though the priest and I know each other very well. We respect each other's traditions and Traditions.

As Bessie says - most Orthodox priests do ask questions [ as does my own EC Priest ] if someone they don't know comes forward. Orthodox and EC Parishes tend to be a bit smaller than the congregations in 'mega Churches ' and so the unknown person does tend to stand out - and I have seen some refused Communion

You know I love you, K, but basically saying........... "Yeah, you worship God, but maybe not the 'right' one like we do." ???

 

[Bessie]

Intellectually, I understand that this is true. Emotionally, it can feel very much like "you're not good enough."

Often this is about how the stance of a church is communicated. A little tact can go a long way, but is often lacking!

I totally get that, truly. I agree that presentation makes a difference. Anyway I was just trying to say that my belonging to a church with closed communion made reading through this thread interesting, because it's a different paradigm than I'm used to. My intent wasn't to advocate for anyone else to do what we do or to offend anyone, I'm sorry to see that my chiming in was offensive to some.

 

[seeking.IAM]

...My intent wasn't to advocate for anyone else to do what we do or to offend anyone, I'm sorry to see that my chiming in was offensive to some.

No offense taken, Bessie. It's just that I didn't want to see this thread derailed to a subject of closed communion in those places that practice it. There are plenty of other places for that discussion.

 

[Bessie]

No offense taken, Bessie. It's just that I didn't want to see this thread derailed to a subject of closed communion in those places that practice it. There are plenty of other places for that discussion.

Thanks, I'm glad you weren't offended.

 

[Padres1969]

Thank you for your reply and thought about the possibility of things becoming objectionable. I suppose that is really the intent of my question: Is there any point where participating would become objectionable to my fellow Anglicans, and if so what could it be? When does something change so much that it is not the same thing?

• "Symbolic," not real presence?
• Cookies and coke as elements?
• Language involved in consecration of the elements?
• Non-ordained officiant?
• Etc.

I might draw the line at cookies and coke as elements since even if you're memorializing the last supper in a strictly symbolic way, they did drink wine and eat bread... not Oreos and Coke.

But as for the others, I wouldn't let those stop me. If Christ doesn't want to make his presence in the bread and wine because the Christians performing the worship service take a symbolic view, or the officiant is not ordained, or they use the wrong words, that's fine. Worst that's happening is I'm eating some bread and drinking some wine.

The times I refrain from partaking are if its a denomination that I know forbids non-members from partaking like Catholics or LCMS. Or if it's a denomination who are in that grey area that may or may not be Christian depending on your criteria, such as at a Mormon meetinghouse.

 

[CanadianAnglican]

I do not receive from other traditions. The Eucharist represents the highest level of communion one can hold, and to receive in a tradition which denies fundamental tenets of the faith (including, ironically enough, the presence of Christ in the Eucharist) is to bear false witness to oneness of the Body. We are called, by Christ, to be one, but we patently are not. Answering his prayer is to become one, as he and the Father are one, not to simply pretend to be one and gloss over our differences.

If a blessing is offered, I will go up to receive that.

 

[gordonhooker]

I do not receive from other traditions. The Eucharist represents the highest level of communion one can hold, and to receive in a tradition which denies fundamental tenets of the faith (including, ironically enough, the presence of Christ in the Eucharist) is to bear false witness to oneness of the Body. We are called, by Christ, to be one, but we patently are not. Answering his prayer is to become one, as he and the Father are one, not to simply pretend to be one and gloss over our differences.

If a blessing is offered, I will go up to receive that.

Having been Anglo Catholic all my life that is not a view I have come across with like minded people of our persuasion.