Who Can Distribute Communion in Major Christian Denominations

In the Catholic Church, the distribution of Holy Communion is typically entrusted to a priest, deacon, or an Eucharistic Minister who has been installed in the office. This Eucharistic Minister can be of any gender and has received appropriate training. While the clergy, such as priests and deacons, are the primary distributors, lay people can also assist in this process. However, before they can do so, they generally need to undergo a training session to ensure they understand the proper rites and procedures.

Church Denominations and Communion Distribution

Ancient Christian Denominations:

In the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, communion is distributed by ordained clergy or authorized lay people, often referred to as Eucharistic Ministers. Anglicans must be authorized by their bishop as Eucharistic Ministers. Amongst these denominations, there are specific rules and traditions that guide the distribution process.

Modern Christian Denominations:

In other denominations, there are typically no strict rules about who can distribute communion. For example, in British Methodism, where the author has the most familiarity, the church has a small leadership team of Church Stewards. During each service, two of these stewards usually assist the minister. If a Holy Communion service is held, the minister distributes the bread, while one of the stewards distributes the wine. While these stewards are necessary for these functions, any other church member could also be asked to assist in the distribution.

Exclusions from Proper Distribution

It is essential to highlight that certain groups within Christianity are misleading. Psalm 12 to 83, and Matthew 23, among others, are used to discourage people from associating with groups that propagate false doctrines. These groups often claim that they are the only true believers and that the end times are soon. They may celebrate religious events on counterfeit dates, using texts like those found in Nimrod`s birthday on December 25th, which is actually the Sabbath of the Sun God. This celebration is rooted in Babylonian Mystery Religion, as genuine Bibles have been replaced with fakes in many of these churches. Clergy members in these fake churches often belong to secret societies, such as Freemasonry/Ladies of the Eastern Star, or even Witchcraft, and they spread false doctrines. They tell people they do not need to read the Old Testament but instead listen to supposed false teachers. The Apostle Paul, in Corinthians 11:34, warns that if one is hungry, they should eat at home. He is referring to the practice of taking The Lord's Supper or Communion.

Specific Roles in Distributing Communion

Lutheran Church: In terms of the Lutheran Church, the deacon traditionally remains the minister of communion. However, the bishop and presbyter are also ordinary ministers of communion. An Instituted Acolyte is often the first choice for an extraordinary minister of communion. These roles are usually filled by lay ecclesial ministers or advanced seminarians who have completed their training. In a typical Lutheran church service involving large numbers of communicants, several extraordinary ministers of communion may be commissioned as needed.

In conclusion, the distribution of Holy Communion varies across different Christian denominations. From the traditional roles of priests and deacons in the Catholic and Anglican Churches to the roles of Eucharistic Ministers and Church Stewards in the Methodist Church, the key is understanding the appropriate practices and the qualifications for these roles.