As a Baptist - The Episcopal Eucharist?

I’ve taken communion of my Mother’s United Methodist Church. (I attend with her about once a year and one of those times communion was served)

On the other hand, we were at a Catholic service with relatives and we did not participate in their Eucharist

[Jim]

On the other hand, we were at a Catholic service with relatives and we did not participate in their Eucharist

I believe Catholics wouldn’t extend communion to Protestants, although they would to Eastern Orthodox members. They look at the two rifts differently. This per a Catholic friend of mine who used to discuss theology with me frequently.

To speak to the original post…I don’t think I would pay so much attention to the denominational label as to the question of, “As far as I can tell, are they preaching the gospel here, or are they teaching it in such a way as to impair the gospel message?” If they were preaching the gospel, I’d participate. If they weren’t or if I was in doubt, I wouldn’t.

I agree with M. Osbourne. For example, I vividly recall attending a chapel service when I was in bootcamp. I partook of the Lord’s Supper, which was performed by a female minister of some sort of liturgical stripe (don’t remember which, I was just happy to be away somewhere “safe” for a few hours!).

It wasn’t an ideal situation, and I didn’t think much of it at the time, but circumstances aren’t always ideal. If you are a Christian, away from your home church and attending a service where the Gospel is preached and believed, partake if you wish. If your conscience will not allow it, don’t feel pressured.

I wouldn’t take the Lord’s Supper from a female Pastor now, just to clarify! I was 18 and had only been a Christian for three months …

Eric,

There are always two questions you have to answer when making this decision. The first, and more important, is whether or not the people are true believers. Communion is supposed to be a memorial service, but it cannot be a that for someone who has no part in the event being memorialized. My understanding of the Episcopal Church is that it is an American version of the Anglican church which is an English version of the Catholic Church. Individual people deserve to be dealt with on an individual basis, but when you are talking about a corporate issue like this, I would not participate in communion because I am not confident in the church’s gospel.

Assuming the first question is answered in the affirmative, there is a second question to consider. The second question, less important but still necessary, is whether these believers are living in obedience to scripture. By that I mean are there any issues present in the corporate body (not necessarily in specific individuals other than leaders) which would be worthy of church discipline in my estimation. If so, I still will not join myself together in community. I think that is the distinction Tyler is pointing back to as well.

Thought I’d throw this out as well …

In the military, you don’t get much of a choice as to who your Pastor is. If you are stationed the the States, no problem. If not, you’ll be aboard ship or stuck in a foreign country. You’ll have to make due with whoever the “Protestant” Chaplain is. You may get a man. You may get a woman. You may get a charismatic. You may get a fundamentalist. You may get a liberal. You may get a conservative. You may get a Baptist. You may get a 7th Day Adventist.

In all of this, you hold your nose and participate to the extent your conscience and a “charitable” interpretation of Biblical doctrine accept. The alternative is to stay with your wife back at housing, holding a private Bible study because you don’t want to sit under the preaching of a Presbyterian (for example)! I have known men who have preferred to do this, and more power to them, if that’s where they are.

It is in situations like this where hard-core convictions run smack into the face of harsh reality. Doctrinal differences then have to be prioritized. Some may say I’m a bit too pragmatic, but my experiences in the military have shaped where I’m coming from on this. When you’re away from home, you’re not always going to be in a position to sit under the preaching of someone just like you.

ejohansen-

You ask a very good question, and I understand your conflictedness.

I suppose, that if it were me, I would feel free to take the communion insofar as I knew that they defined ‘brother’ and ‘believers’ correctly. The understanding of communion may be right (and it sounds like it is), but if they do not have the gospel, then they are not our spiritual brothers.

That may run the risk of answering a question with a question, but that’s what I think. Like I said, it’s a toughie and I’d have to think about it some more.

I guess my own view would be that I see it as a primarily local church ordinance. I would probably abstain for that reason and also for not being sure what their belief about the gospel was.

I ask for your input as to why or why not participate in the Lords Supper when at an event such as this. Is it appropriate to partake or not?

I think Josh P is on the right track here. Communion is a symbol not just of individual salvation but of unity in the body. It is an ordinance of the church, not of individuals. To take communion with people is to affirm unity with them. On that basis, I would not take it.