Now that Christmas is past, we can turn our attention to a number of items of unfinished business, and even consider some new developments.
First, some important items which are still being developed. Answers are beginning to come in from those who been invited to be Assistant Wardens, and members of the Prayer Ministry Team (for healing). As it is important to get both of these right, it may still take a little time before we can publish the names, but before too long both groups should begin their ministry. The Church Council has agreed to proceed with the planning of a Pastoral Care Scheme of the type described last year. During Lent we shall have some after-church sessions, as we did for 'New Beginnings', and start to consider a pastoral care scheme in more detail. Lastly, for this latter, the Council has agreed to look into some minor changes to the church interior (purchasing an ambo, and creating a music area - ask me or any Council member for more details). We shall also start to consider what more extensive changes might be made to the church, but I do not expect any major decisions to be made until after agreement has been reached on a pastoral care scheme. One major scheme at a time is enough!
One new issue to consider is the question of children & communion. Until recently, most Church of England churches gave communion to children only after they had been confirmed, and most bishops did their best to keep this as the norm. [The "rules" are complicated. The Book of Common Prayer says "And there shall none be admitted to the holy Communion, until such time as he be confirmed, or be ready and desirous to be confirmed." However, this was written at a time when a bishop might only visit parts of his diocese every twenty years or so.I Many Church of England churches now admit children to communion before confirmation (with the approval of the bishop concerned), and most dioceses have guidelines for permitting this. This is not a development that I have supported. I do not think that it harms children to have to wait until they are old enough for something. Confirmation is more meaningful (and its effects more lasting) if it happens after children have reached an age where the decision is their own, rather than a result of peer pressure or family tradition. (In fact I prefer confirmation to be at the age of 16 rather than 12.) However, it is not my opinion that matters, but finding the best way of meeting th pastoral needs of my congregation.
Nowadays, the fashion is for children to take communion before confirmation. [I can't think of a better term than 'fashion'. However, 'fashion' is used in a completely neutral sense.] 'Fashion' alone would not be a reason for changing our policy at St Ursula's, nor would it convince me to change my views, but changing fashions, and a change in the make-up of our congregation, can give rise to a new pastoral situation, and that is something that needs thinking through.
'The problem at St Ursula's' is that many of our children have moved here with their parents, rather than growing up in the congregation. Many of the families who join us come from churches that do admit children to communion. Their children are automatically entitled to receive communion here. This means tha most Sundays, I give communion to some children (because they have come from a church that gives communion to children), while refusing it to others (because they do not come from such a church). Some of those not given communion are clearly disappointed, and some want to know why they cannot have it when their friends do. Asking all children to 'wait until they are old enough' before they take communion, is a defensible pastoral policy. Asking only some children to wait, while giving communion to others, doesn't look like a policy at all, just an exercise in arbitrary capriciousness. So perhaps I, and we, should re-think this subject.
I hope that is enough to explain 'the problem'. If you would like a longer introduction to this topic, please ask me for a copy of the Church Council Paper on 'Children & Communion'. We shall be setting up a group of Council members and others, to study this problem and bring proposals to the Church Council. If you would be interested in being part of this, especially if you are a parent with children below confirmation age, please let me know in writing.
Yours in Christ,
Richard Pamplin