Question:

I have a strange question. I grew up in the Episcopal church, took some time off due to the minster.... Anyway since DD was baptized, our new minister has given her a piece of a communion wafer. Is this not acceptable? I have noticed many strange looks from other people.

Answer:

Your question isn't strange at all. Child communion is a very ancient, and quite recent practice of the Church. It's just that there's a little intervening period of a few hundred years during which it *wasn't* practiced, that some older or more conservative members are having trouble getting over.

Doctrinally, we believe that Baptism is a full, complete and adequate initiation into the life of the chuch. You know that from the many times you've recited the Creed "We believe in One Baptism for the remission of sins". The Holy Eucharist is the food of the Church. Everyone who is a member of the Church has the right and duty to partake in the Holy Eucharist. The Traditional Anglican catechism says that we acknowledge "two sacraments as generally necessary for salvation: that is to say baptism, and the Supper of the Lord".

In spite of this doctrine, the practice arose in the church of witholding the eucharist from people until they were confirmed; and of reserving confirmation to adults who were able to make the promises for themselves. In the 1970's when the churches went through a period of radical reform, the ancient practice of "communion of the baptized" was restored. But many people still didn't practice it with children, and especially not with very young children or with babies. Many people want their children to "understand what it means" before they partake of communion.

I would argue that, if we had to wait until we "understand", there would be a very empty altar rail each Sunday. We don't withold Baptism on the basis of understanding, because we acknowledge that it is God's grace and the actions of the church that effect the sacrament, not the attitude of the catechumen being baptized. The same doctrine holds for communion, which is also a sacrament. Besides, children "understand" very well the feelings of being left out or included.

Your minister is acting correctly, both from the perspective of doctrine and the perspective of compassion. Both of my daughters received a drop of wine with a crumb of the host at their baptism. It was their first food apart from breastmilk.

Regards,

Pamela