....set up a table in front of church, and when folks come out, have blessed grape juice and bread, and offer people the elements and a place to pray in quiet before they take communion, sidewalk style.
Or, invite those concerned to your home for a Bible study, and during the study, offer communion! For the legalists in the crowd, find a pastor to lead the communion service.
Or, if people can book your facility for bridal/baby showers, family re-unions, etc., book it for communion, after worship services. Thus giving the choice of leaving or staying to each person. In this manner, communion would be outside of the "official" duties of your pastor. Thus, even he can partake, if he so desires.
IMO, any
servant of our Lord Jesus Christ can
serve communion in rememberance of Him.
Also, I believe in Open communion. Each person should be able to participate in Remembering our Lord, as guided by what's in their heart. Whether a vote has or has not been taken, shouldn't determine whether a believer can or cannot participate. Again, IMO, as this is a decision to be made by each independent congregation.
That said, RD, has a good point about finding a pastor, if not finding one would bring about yet more disharmony in the assembly.
InTheLight, it sounds like you have some serious decision making to do after much prayer. To stay or to go. Personally, I'd have a hard time staying at a church that hasn't observed communion for so long. One that is offering excuses for ANY reason for not doing so.
Part of that reasoning is based on how our church handles communion. It is not on a fixed schedule of occurance. That's done so communion doesn't become a ritual, a habit, a going-thru-the motions on certain days. Time lapses between services varies, as does the time/place. Communion may be offered during Wednesday night Bible study, for example. Followed by one a week or month later on Sunday morning in the sanctuary. Even the method varies - go up front to receive or sit in the pews. Focus remains on our Lord and not on traditional ritual. (Hope that makes sense.)
If staying, becoming a member. IMO, as long as you remain a visitor to an assembly, your voice, your opinion matters little. I know it may sound harsh, but you are an outsider looking in, till you change that. Once you become a member, you should become privey to much that may be withheld from visitors on purpose. Finances of the church for example. Once you become a member, your voice should count as much as the person who sits beside you during services.
One more thought in closing. Are you attending a satellite campus or a true church plant? There is a difference. As a satellite, little authority to do anything locally is given, as the home church is in full control, relatively speaking. Requests and approvals must go up and down the chain of command. If I understand correctly, with a plant, the goal of the home church is to break that chain of command as quickly as possible. Since you are speaking of 4 years lapsing, is what makes me wonder.
Just my 2-cents.
& BTW, our service this morning will be communion and baptism of 7.
Praise our Lord!
