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Alarmy
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Alarmy
Church News

'The Holy Communion cup is still a sensitive issue,' says church leader as CofE releases new Covid guidance

by Alex Collett

The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) has spoken to Premier about the Church of England’s revised Covid-19 rules.

This come after the relaxation of Plan B Covid-19 restrictions within public places.

John Stevens, the Fellowship's director has told Premier that the revised rule around the sharing of the Communion cup still poses a challenge.

He said: “One particular issue in the church is taking Communion.

“Again in my particular church culture, we don’t really have a problem with that because we have pre-cut pieces of bread or wafers and we use small cups.

“In the Church of England it’s more difficult because church rules mean you have to use a common cup for communion.”

The Church of England guidelines states: “The common cup may now be shared, but the Bishops wish to make clear that, given continued potential risks to health, it remains permissible for the president to be the only person who receives Holy Communion in the form of wine.

“Whilst variations in forms of service are at the discretion of the minister who is to conduct the service, it is recommended that a consistent policy is worked out in a parish and carefully communicated.”

Stevens believes every church have to set their own guidelines for their own church congregational needs.

He concluded: “It’s up to individual churches to make their own choices as to what is best in their situation.

“Exercising wisdom about the number of people in the building, the ventilation, whether people are extremely vulnerable.

“What people in the congregation feel to make them feel most comfortable to attend.”

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