WB Wonkavision
Submitting to Be More Viral
During the American Revolution, an unprecedented event beyond most people’s control, John Wesley made a choice. The writing was on the wall: the Church of England would disappear in the new American country. But Wesley knew the Methodist branch of Anglicanism could continue to thrive. Rather than see American Methodists cut off from regular Eucharist, Wesley illegally ordained Thomas Coke and made him a superintendent of the Methodist Church in America. This was for the express purpose of having Coke ordain other Methodist superintendents in the Colonies. Now the sacrament and the Methodist way could continue in uncertain times. Wesley had no authority to ordain anyone. In a sense, you could claim that all Methodist clergy (myself included) are technically illegitimate.
But nobody’s saying that…not even the Anglicans (I don’t think). Wesley “submitted to be more vile” in extraordinary times. In other words, he got creative and thought outside of the accepted ruleset to ensure vital worship and scriptural holiness would continue to spread like a virus.
Virtual Communion
With the unprecedented social distancing required in COVID-19 times, churches are relying on technology to gather together. I don’t know how Zoom makes money, but they are making bank off my church right now. Churches with the ability to live stream are producing online worship. Churches with a lower budget are relying on the creativity of smartphones and Facebook Live to connect in praise, preaching and prayer. But now that we know it could be 6+ weeks before we see each other in person again, many churches are toying with the idea of virtual communion. Even the folks who would have thought this anathema before are wondering now, do desperate times call for desperate measures?
Wesley had an incredibly high opinion of the benefits of regular Holy Communion. In Sermon 101: The Duty of Constant Communion, Wesley writes:
If, therefore, we have any regard for the plain command of Christ, if we desire the pardon of our sins, if we wish for strength to believe, to love and obey God, then we should neglect no opportunity of receiving the Lord’s Supper; then we must never turn our backs on the feast which our Lord has prepared for us. We must neglect no occasion which the good providence of God affords us for this purpose. This is the true rule: So often are we to receive as God gives us opportunity. (I.3)
Two Paths to Communion
Today, faithful United Methodists are interpreting our present moment in two distinctly different ways. The first is that we have temporarily lost all opportunity to partake of Holy Communion. We cannot meet together in person, therefore we cannot share of one loaf and one cup. We serve an incarnate Christ, and if we cannot practice his presence together in person, we cannot truly experience communion. Thus, we must see this as a time of fasting from the Lord’s Table. This is the path my bishop has laid forward (I’m not sure if there’s an agreement across the entire group of Bishops). How much more sweet will Holy Communion be when we get to have it together again in person after months of being apart! This is a beautiful solution that certainly reminds us of the natural rhythms of life, and that sometimes feasting can only come after fasting.
The second path is to become innovative, to “break the rules” because God has given us an unprecedented opportunity to do so. We’re already engaging swaths of people through online worship, many of whom are longing to meet together again in person. We’re already providing interactive online experiences with real call and response, where folks are really praying and praising with us online. Why couldn’t we come up with liturgies that allow the elders to bless the elements virtually, and folks at home partake of their own bread and cup at the same moment in time as all the other worship participants?
A Challenge to Think About It
Communion is already a virtual experience, even when it is “embodied” in worship. The Church is virtually connected with all Christians past, present and future who are not physically with us when we break bread. We belong to an Invisible Church, the Body of Christ connected across time and space. We take communion from the table to homebound members so they can virtually connect with the gathered community. When cancer or other serious illness takes a person from her physical community, are the cards, calls, and emails she gets less real a sign of love because they are “virtual”? When it is impossible for an elder to be present, do we not allow for a lay person to baptize someone (I’m pretty sure that’s in there)?
So why can’t the elder leading worship online lead us through invitation, confession, pardon, and Great Thanksgiving? Why can’t we say, these are unprecedented times, and the grace of God is bigger than our present darkness?
I’m not about to tell you to defy your bishop, but I am challenging us to engage in a robust and creative conversation around the sacraments at this time. I highly recommend this article by Dr. Deanna Thompson, and this one by Rev. Jason Byasee. Virtual communion does not have to set a precedent or become a permanent solution. It would need some deep theological thinking to help keep it vital and meaningful for all involved. But that’s a challenge I think is worth putting some brain cells behind. Y’all let me know what you’re doing in your conferences and churches!
And while you’re educating your folks about the Duty of Constant Communion, check out this episode of Wesley’s Take the Web, where John and Charles give a 1 minute rundown on Holy Communion!