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The Open Debate on Open Communion in The Episcopal Church
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 August 2023
Abstract
In May 2022, the Diocese of Northern California submitted resolution C028 to the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, in which they asked for a repeal of Canon 1.17.7, which limits reception of Holy Communion to the baptized. While the resolution did not make it out of committee, it touched off a church-wide debate about the practice of communion without baptism, generally referred to as ‘open communion’. This article examines the nature of the debate in the summer of 2022, and highlights some issues around discussions concerning baptism and Eucharist in The Episcopal Church. It is hoped that in doing so, this will aid further dialogues in the Church about the practice of open communion.
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- © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Journal of Anglican Studies Trust
References
1 ‘General Convention of The Episcopal Church 2022 Archives’ Research Report: Resolution No. 2022-C028’, fihttps://www.episcopalarchives.org/sites/default/files/gc_resolutions/2022-C028.pdf (accessed April 4, 2023).
2 The Anglican Theological Review lists a number of influential articles from 2004 to 2012 on this topic that provide a helpful entry-point into how the conversation around open communion was proceeding in the 2000s and early 2010s. Of particular note among those articles are James Farwell’s ‘Baptism, Eucharist, and the Hospitality of Jesus: On the Practice of “Open Communion”’, Anglican Theological Review 86.2 (2004), pp. 215-38; as well as his response to Kathryn Tanner, ‘A Brief Reflection on Kathryn Tanner’s Response to “Baptism, Eucharist, and the Hospitality of Jesus”’, Anglican Theological Review 87.2 (2005), pp. 303-10. Tanner’s article is ‘In Praise of Open Communion: A Rejoinder to James Farwell’, Anglican Theological Review 86.3 (2004), pp. 473-85. The list of sources may be found at ‘The Open Table’, https://www.anglicantheologicalreview.org/conversations/the-open-table/ (accessed April 7, 2023).
3 ‘General Convention of The Episcopal Church’, pp. 1-2.
4 Farwell, ‘Baptism, Eucharist, and the Hospitality of Jesus,’ 230; Robert MacSwain, ‘Touching the Third (Altar) Rail: Lessons Learned about Theological Discourse on Baptism and Eucharist in The Episcopal Church,’ Anglican Theological Review 105.2 (2023), pp. 194-210 (197).
5 ‘A Statement on Baptism and Eucharist in The Episcopal Church’, p. 2. https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pentecost_LeBer_06.05.2022-3_C028.pdf (accessed April 4, 2023).
6 ‘A Statement on Baptism and Eucharist’, pp. 2-3.
7 ‘A Statement on Baptism and Eucharist’, p. 2.
8 In the interest of full disclosure, the author of this article was one of the 22 signees.
9 ‘Episcopal Theologians Release Statement Expressing Concern about Open Communion’, https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2022/06/01/episcopal-theologians-release-statement-expressing-concern-about-open-communion/ (accessed April 5, 2023).
10 ‘Episcopal Theologians Release Statement’, quoting the ‘Commentary on Eucharistic Sharing’.
11 According to the report from the 2009 IALC meeting, ‘The International Anglican Liturgical Consultations are the official network for liturgy of the Anglican Communion, recognized by the ACC and the Primates’ Meeting, and holding first responsibility in the Communion to resource and communicate about liturgy on a communion-wide basis.’ Their statements are not binding on Communion Members, but represent a wider approach to Anglican liturgy than may often be found within individual provinces. Thus, while the 1995 Dublin Statement is not binding in any way, it is a helpful touchpoint for gaining a broader understanding of Anglican eucharistic and liturgical theology. International Anglican Liturgical Consultation, ‘Report to the 14th Meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council, May 2009’, p. 1. https://www.anglicancommunion.org/media/39808/ialc.pdf (accessed July 13, 2023).
12 International Anglican Liturgical Consultation, ‘Renewing the Anglican Eucharist: Findings of the Fifth International Anglican Liturgical Consultation, Dublin, Eire, 1995’, p. 1. https://www.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/IALC-Dublin-Renewing-the-Anglican-Eucharist.pdf (accessed June 15, 2023).
13 IALC, ‘Renewing the Anglican Eucharist’, p. 1.
14 IALC, ‘Renewing the Anglican Eucharist’, p. 2.
15 Farwell, ‘Baptism, Eucharist, and the Hospitality of Jesus’, p. 219 n.7.
16 World Council of Churches, Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry: Faith and Order Paper No. 111 (Geneva: World Council of Churches, 1982), p. 10.
17 Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission, ‘The Huron Statement: Font to Table’, p. 3. fihttps://liturgyandmission.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/2012-huron-statement-font-to-table.pdf (accessed April 5, 2023).
18 ‘Episcopal Theologians Release Statement’.
19 ‘A Statement on Baptism and Eucharist’, p. 3.
20 IALC, ‘Renewing the Anglican Eucharist’, p. 1.
21 The Episcopal Church, Handbook for Ecumenism (New York: The Episcopal Church Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, 2013), p. 41.
22 Tanner, ‘In Praise of Open Communion’, p. 481.
23 For an important and timely discussion about the current place of doctrine in The Episcopal Church, see MacSwain, ‘Touching the Third (Altar) Rail’.
24 Farwell, ‘Baptism, Eucharist, and the Hospitality of Jesus’, p. 236.
25 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Use of the Means of Grace: A Statement on the Practice of Word and Sacrament: Adopted for Guidance and Practice (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1997), p. 41.
26 World Council of Churches, Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry, p. 12.
27 World Council of Churches, The Church Towards a Common Vision: Faith and Order Paper No. 214 (Geneva: World Council of Churches Publications, 2013), p. 24.
28 MacSwain, ‘Touching the Third (Altar) Rail’, p. 197.
29 Lizette Larson, ‘ “Baptismal Ecclesiology without Baptism?” What Is the Episcopal Church Doing?,’ Pray Tell: Worship, Wit & Wisdom, https://www.praytellblog.com/index.php/2022/05/12/baptismal-ecclesiology-without-baptism-what-is-the-episcopal-church-doing/ (accessed April 7, 2023).
30 International Anglican Liturgical Consultation, ‘IALC Report on Liturgical Formation of the Baptised’, p. 2. https://www.anglicancommunion.org/media/493609/The-Liturgical-Formation-of-All-the-Baptised_ACC18_IALC_2301.pdf (accessed June 15, 2023).
31 MacSwain’s article (‘Touching the Third [Altar] Rail’)provides a helpful reflection on that anti-intellectualism, particularly with regards to how it relates to doctrinal matters.
32 Farwell explores this dynamic in ‘Baptism, Eucharist, and the Hospitality of Jesus’, pp. 229-31.
33 MacSwain, ‘Touching the Third (Altar) Rail’, p. 197.
34 MacSwain also discusses this in ‘Touching the Third (Altar) Rail’ on p. 209, noting that open communion ‘empowers clergy at the expense of the laity,’ which itself makes an individual priest a gatekeeper to the Eucharist.
35 IALC, ‘IALC Report on Liturgical Formation of the Baptised’, p. 3.