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Appendix D-7: Interpretative Statement on Act of Modification (App B-4)

The following statement was adopted by the 1993 General Assembly as a guide to understanding the scope and intent of the Act of Modification (see also Appendix B-4), which remains the primary and definitive legislation.

That Assembly adopt the following interpretative statement, for inclusion in the Book of Order as a guide to understanding the scope arid intent of the Act of Modification, which remains the primary and definitive legislation:

1) Assembly affirms that provision for elders to lead Communion is in part analogous to the Church’s acceptance of lay preaching, in the sense that both are service on occasion by selected lay persons in roles normally the function of those ordained as ministers of Word and Sacrament, but always at their request and under their oversight.

2) Assembly affirms that its provision for elders to lead Communion is not just for rare, remote, and altogether unusual parishes, or limited to cases of extreme necessity.

3) Assembly confirms however that elder administration of communion is not as of right, but – for the sake of order, and for the sake of the harmony of the Church is at the discretion of Presbytery.

4) Assembly urges Sessions to make requests for provision for elder administration of communion responsibly, and with reasons given.

In considering a request from a Session for permission to nominate, Presbytery shall have full discretion in the matter, but must consider the good order of the Church (meaning where Presbytery has informed grounds for fearing that in a particular parish elder administration of Communion would lead to disorder or disunity, it may decline permission to nominate), and may have regard to the following considerations:

a) Provision for elder administration where a Session believes it would help ensure regular or more frequent celebration of Communion. Such parishes may include those with ministerial vacancies, or with multiple preaching places, or without ready access to retired or non-parish ordained ministers with some living pastoral link with the congregation.

b) Circumstances or priorities within the life and mission of the congregation and its ordained ministry where a Session believes the parish’s effectiveness in mission would be enhanced by provision for elder administration on occasion such considerations may for example include the desire to relieve pressure on the ordained ministry in a parish where numerous bedside communions are required, or in some cases the authorisation of a lay parish assistant if an elder.

c) Any other relevant factors, at the discretion of Presbytery.

5) The Act of Modification and Regulation 85 remain the primary and definitive legislation.

6) Presbyteries and Sessions should also note the supporting regulations ‘The Selection, Training, and Authorisation of Elders to Administer the sacrament of Holy Communion, and the roles of Presbytery and Session’.