From time to time, the clergy are asked ques­tions about “pol­icy” on par­tic­u­lar top­ics. For the most part, we han­dle var­i­ous ques­tions on an indi­vid­ual basis, using pas­toral judg­ment and Scriptural prin­ci­ple. However, we have been asked often enough about the top­ics below that we have for­mal­ized a response.

At present, we have these four policies:

1. Weddings
2. Baptisms
3. The Lord’s Supper
4. Confirmation and Communion

In all cases, if you wish ask us to con­sider your sit­u­a­tion, please feel free to call (215−396−1970) or email (info@​toknowchrist.​net) and ask for a pas­tor, briefly describ­ing your sit­u­a­tion. We will be glad to dis­cuss your spe­cific circumstances.

Weddings

St. John’s typ­i­cally only sched­ules or hosts wed­dings or funer­als for mem­bers and reg­u­lar atten­dees of St. John’s. Occasionally we may host events for oth­ers with whom we have a rela­tion­ship, but sched­ules do not typ­i­cally per­mit host­ing pri­vate events for the gen­eral pub­lic. If you wish ask us to con­sider your sit­u­a­tion, please feel free to call (215−396−1970) or email (info@​toknowchrist.​net) the office and ask for a pas­tor, briefly describ­ing your sit­u­a­tion. We gen­er­ally will be able to return your inquiry within 2 – 3 work­ing days.

Baptisms

Baptism, being a sacra­ment ordained by Christ him­self, is a seri­ous mat­ter of dis­ci­ple­ship and dis­ci­pline. If you do not reg­u­larly attend St. John’s and would like to be bap­tized or would like your child bap­tized, please be aware that we typ­i­cally will not bap­tize with­out a period of dis­cern­ment and instruc­tion, as well as requir­ing weekly church atten­dance. If you wish ask us to con­sider your sit­u­a­tion, please feel free to call (215−396−1970) or email (info@​toknowchrist.​net) the office and ask for a pas­tor, briefly describ­ing your sit­u­a­tion. We gen­er­ally will be able to return your inquiry within 2 – 3 work­ing days.

The Lord’s Supper /​ Holy Communion /​ Eucharist

Sometimes we are asked “who may par­tic­i­pate in the Lord’s Supper at St. John’s?” Note these three caveats: 1. If you are a bap­tized believer, in good stand­ing in any believ­ing church of Christ in the world, then we say: “Our fel­low Christians of other branches of Christ’s Church, and all who love our Divine Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in sin­cer­ity, are affec­tion­ately invited to the Lord’s Table.” 2. If you are not a bap­tized Christian, or if you are under church dis­ci­pline in your own church, you prob­a­bly should not par­tic­i­pate in the Lord’s Supper. 3. If you are uncer­tain, please feel free to con­sult with a pas­tor, and we will be glad to gen­tly dis­cuss and coun­sel with you regard­ing your sit­u­a­tion. Our desire is noth­ing less than to see “all who are weary and heavy-​​laden” come to Christ and find the rest He promises. As He him­self says: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gen­tle and hum­ble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My bur­den is light” (Matt 11.28−30). In any event, you may feel free to come for­ward when the Lord’s Supper is served, cross your arms across your chest, and we will gladly pray with you at the rail or after the wor­ship service.

Confirmation And Communion

An increas­ingly com­mon ques­tion is whether uncon­firmed peo­ple (of any age) may take the Lord’s Supper. We know that cus­toms vary. While a paper will be forth­com­ing on this topic, until then, note of this Article from the 39 Articles: “Confirmation is not to be counted for a Sacrament of the Gospel, being such as have grown partly of the cor­rupt fol­low­ing of the Apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures; but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper, for that they have not any vis­i­ble sign or cer­e­mony ordained of God.” (Article 25) Confirmation is an ancient and use­ful rite, vir­tu­ally uni­ver­sally prac­ticed in the uni­ver­sal church. It is part of Anglican polity and will not be set aside at St. John’s. However, con­fir­ma­tion is not a manda­tory Gospel rite, that is, it may not be imposed upon any­one as a mat­ter of faith. Therefore, the clergy will serve the Lord’s Supper to the uncon­firmed of any age, pro­vided that the fol­low­ing are all true:

1. That the per­son has been bap­tized, 2. That the per­son is not under dis­ci­pline in any part of Christ’s church for just cause, 3. That in the case of a minor child, the par­ents agree with the minor’s par­tic­i­pa­tion in the Supper and at least one par­ent is a bap­tized and prac­tic­ing Christian, and, 4. That in the case of one who reg­u­larly attends St. John’s, the per­son either intends to be con­firmed or demon­strates that she or he has been received into the larger church of Christ by some anal­o­gous method elsewhere.

This dis­cern­ment is to be done with a pas­tor. If you are con­tem­plat­ing this mat­ter and espe­cially if you are con­tem­plat­ing a change in your fam­ily prac­tice, please see the Rector. He will be glad to speak with you.