Chris writes

Dear Friends,  

CAN A LAY PERSON PRESIDE AT COMMUNION?  Over the past few months awareness has been raised across the diocese, that for the Church of England to have a meaningful future in Essex and East London, new ways of ‘being church’ are going to have to be imagined and implemented.  Increasingly the service of Communion by Extension is being used not just in multi-parish rural benefices, but by others to cover holidays etc.  I strongly support this, as it makes perfect sense pastorally to have a lay person, from within the community of faith, to cover when the parish priest(s) are not available.  Some people object to this on theological grounds.  However, many who do object, often support lay people taking communion to the sick and the housebound - what is the difference? There is also a case for me to use Communion by Extension, even when a priest is present.  I do not think that it very affirming for lay people only do what the clergy do, when the clergy are absent - that is why I have encouraged Laurie, Hilary, Jo, Richard and guest speakers to help with services when I am here not just when I am away. 

Many years ago the clergy did everything, led the service, read from the Bible, preached, led people in prayer and of course presided over communion.  It is now generally accepted in the church that all these, bar presiding at communion, can be (should be?) done by lay people.  What is it about presiding at communion, that many still see as the preserve of those in holy orders?  The church has always seen its ministry as an equal balance of Word and sacrament - neither one should take precedence over the other.  At the last diocesan synod, Bishop Stephen said that he could not envisage a communion service where there was not also a sermon.  However, this flies in the face of the practice of many churches in the C of E; the early said (BCP?) service on a Sunday morning will often have no sermon.  This has led to a distortion that the sacraments are more important than preaching.  

You can be baptised by a lay person!  Lay people are allowed to baptise new born babies, who are at risk of dying.  Theologically this baptism must be as valid as any other baptism, unless you believe that a person can be baptised for purely pastoral reasons - discuss?  For someone like me who believes in lay presidency, the importance of any sacrament is placed on the recipient rather than the giver.  It is of far greater importance how we receive baptism (especially for our children) and communion, then it is about who officiates at the service. 

Chris